THE PRECIPITOUS fall of Gary Hart has churned up a lot of difficult questions about how politicians' personal lives and the press's news judgment affect American politics. candidate does and with whom he spends his time say something about who he is; who he is determines what he would do as President.

Reporters have a responsibility to investigate who politicians are, and editors have a responsibility to present that news in a way comensurate with its importance. What editors choose to run and how prominently they run it affects the news, and this power requires good judgment. As a rule, front page banner headlines should be reserved for hard news, not stories with hazy implications about candidates' personalities.

In the case of Gary Hart, the news media made a sensational front-page news story out of a personality story. The New York Times ran a front-page profile of a Miami bit-part actress. It also ran "day after" polls which reflect sensational responses to sensational stories, not stable public opinion. This approach to news is more than bad judgment. It shows complete disregard for the power of the media to affect campaigns, and for its responsibility to make a story as prominent as it is important.