World: Localized reporting for Obama victory

Coverage in Kenya, where a public holiday was declared on Thursday in honor of the victory, has focused on Obama's ties there.  Papers have done everything from spend election eve with Obama's grandmother to track reactions among Kenyans living both at home and in the U.S.

International surveys by the BBC have "tracked the opinions of 22,500 people in 22 countries before last summer's political conventions," finding Obama an overwhelming favorite over John McCain.

The difficulty of covering results in a different time zone had some organizations antsy to declare a winner.  The Guardian's web site reported "Obama moving toward historic victory," ninety minutes before American TV networks called the race.

The importance of this election had many internationals wondering how the next president would impact them.  The Korea Times in Seoul reported South Korean officials as "discounting speculation that an Obama win would change Washington's stance toward North Korea."   Changes to American policies toward Israel aren't "likely," reported The Jerusalem Post.

Source:  Poynter.org