Paul Sassone

An overlooked aspect of this presidential campaign is that journalists — particularly TV journalists — are doing a bad job.

The campaign just can’t be squeezed into the usual mold of campaign coverage.

There’s no conspiracy. The inadequacy comes from an intent to be fair to both candidates. So, when a journalist mentions something good or bad about one candidate, he/she has to mention something good or bad about the other candidate.

This approach is called equivalency.

But, suppose one candidate has a lot more bad things to mention than the opponent. Then, journalists feel obliged to hunt up something bad for the other candidate. which is why you often hear on the news, “It was a bad day for both presidential hopefuls … .’’

But bad things aren’t always — or even very often — equivalent.

Nevertheless, because both candidates are treated equivalently the worse candidate doesn’t appear worse. One is as bad as the other, the public often (wrongly) perceives.

Take our two presidential contenders:

Donald Trump urges supporters to beat up protesters.

Donald Trump was fined for giving a campaign contribution to a group supporting the reelection of Florida’s attorney general, who then decided not to open a fraud investigation into Trump University.

Donald Trump refuses to release his tax returns.

Donald Trump openly disparages Hispanics, African-Americans, Muslims, anyone different from him, apparently.

Donald Trump openly boasts that he donates to candidates in both parties so he can get what he wants. When he gives them money “they kiss my ass.’’

Donald Trump’s plan to destroy terrorism in a week turns out to be that that his plan is to ask generals for a plan.

Donald — well, you get the idea.

On the other hand, Hilary Clinton’s bad things consist of using a private email server and being involved in the Clinton Foundation.

There has been plenty of inuendo, but no proof that either activity has hurt national security, or that anything illegal took place.

Yet, every day, journalists repeat — because there isn’t anything new — the same old stuff about email servers, etc. as the equivalency for some outrage Trump has perpetrated that day.

Journalists should report, clarify and correct, not indulge in some kind of political tit for tat.

And — heaven forbid! — that could result in just one presidential candidate having a bad day.

But, that would be accurate and fair reporting.

–Election coverage doesn’t always have to be tit for tat–