[Written as a comment regarding NPR's decision to only use an honorific the first time the President is referred to in a news story, and simply as "Obama" after that.]
I think when you've been elected to the Presidency you deserve a certain level of respect. Nobody is talking about calling him "Your Excellency" are they? News organizations can still cover the President and use a modicum of respect in how he is addressed.
I ask because I have not noticed -- how are the Justices referred to in first and second mentions? Is it "Justice Roberts" or "Chief Justice Roberts" the first time and simply his last name following? Obviously there should be consistency.
It's telling that businessmen and women are calling each other "Sir" or "Ms. Jones" in meetings all over the country today, college students are calling their teachers "Professor Smith," but the President only gets one referent of respect and after that, he's "Obama" like the news program is as informal as a coffee shop conversation.
In press conferences, all the reporters say "Mr. President," do they not? Why should news coverage differ from direct address, in terms of honorific?
[Written in response to this post on NPR's website]