While Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal became the 13th Republican on Wednesday to join the 2016 Republican presidential field, the top English and Spanish-language network evening newscasts all but dodged Jindal’s decision by providing a total of 54 seconds across English networks ABC, CBS, and NBC.
As for the Spanish-language networks, MundoFox and Telemundo ignored Jindal’s announcement completely while Univision aired an 18-second news brief on Wednesday’s Noticiero Univision by co-anchor Jorge Ramos.
On NBC Nightly News, Jindal also received an 18-second news brief from anchor Lester Holt where he labeled Jindal a “conservative lawmaker” and took note of how he made his intentions known earlier in the day online (but was the only network to not mention his Indian heritage):
Tonight, there are now 13 Republican candidates officially running for president as Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal jumped into the race for the nomination today. The conservative lawmaker released one of the more unique announcement videos in recent years, showing Jindal and his wife speaking to their three young children about their decision.
The CBS Evening News was only able to scour a few additional seconds as a brief by anchor Scott Pelley topped out at 25 seconds:
Bobby Jindal, the Republican Governor of Louisiana, today became the latest to run for president. Jindal, who’s 44, calls himself the youngest candidate with the longest resume. The son of Indian immigrants, he was educated at Oxford, and he's been governor nearly eight years. There are now 13 Republicans competing. The Democrats have four and the election is 16 months away.
Clocking in with the lowest number of seconds was ABC’s World News Tonight as anchor David Muir read an 11-second brief on Jindal: “To the race for 2016 tonight, a new face jumping in. Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal, now the 13th Republican candidate, making history as the first Indian-American to make a serious bid for the White House.”
As for coverage prior to his announcement on the Wednesday morning network newscasts, only NBC’s Today mentioned Jindal for 17 seconds at the conclusion of segment about the change in U.S. policy when it comes to dealing with hostages overseas.
In comparison to Jindal’s 54 seconds of coverage, fellow 2016 GOP candidate Ben Carson received 23 seconds on the June 4 network evening newscasts while Carly Fiorina saw only 34 seconds after her announcement that also fell on June 4.
When former Texas Republican Governor Rick Perry launched his second White House bid, the “big three” of ABC, CBS, and NBC gave him one minute and 19 seconds of coverage (with the CBS Evening News providing 42 of those seconds). Somewhat similarly, the networks reserved one minute and 31 seconds for Rick Santorum’s campaign announcement on May 27 with 54 seconds of that total having come from ABC’s World News Tonight with David Muir.
The transcript of the news brief from June 24's NBC Nightly News can be found below.
NBC Nightly News
June 24, 2015
7:12 p.m. EasternLESTER HOLT: Tonight, there are now 13 Republican candidates officially running for president as Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal jumped into the race for the nomination today. The conservative lawmaker released one of the more unique announcement videos in recent years, showing Jindal and his wife speaking to their three young children about their decision.
The brief from the CBS Evening News with Scott Pelley on June 24 is transcribed below.
CBS Evening News with Scott Pelley
June 24, 20156:43 p.m. Eastern
[ON-SCREEN HEADLINE CAPTION: In the Race]
SCOTT PELLEY: Bobby Jindal, the Republican Governor of Louisiana, today became the latest to run for president. Jindal, who’s 44, calls himself the youngest candidate with the longest resume. The son of Indian immigrants, he was educated at Oxford, and he's been governor nearly eight years. There are now 13 Republicans competing. The Democrats have four and the election is 16 months away.
The transcript of the news brief that aired on ABC’s World News Tonight with David Muir on June 24 can be found below.
ABC’s World News Tonight with David Muir
June 24, 2015
6:44 p.m. Eastern[ON-SCREEN HEADLINE CAPTION: Jindal Jumps in]
DAVID MUIR: To the race for 2016 tonight, a new face jumping in. Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal, now the 13th Republican candidate, making history as the first Indian-American to make a serious bid for the White House.
