The Big Three broadcast networks lavished an incredible amount of attention on Barack Obama's tour of the Middle East and Europe last week. Compared to a very similar trip by John McCain last March, the ABC, CBS and NBC evening newscasts gave Obama more than ten times the coverage — 92 minutes for th
e Democrat's eight-day trip, compared to just eight and a half minutes for the Republican's seven-day tour.
The MRC's Peter Sasso calculated that the CBS Evening News was the most obviously tilted, with more than 34 minutes of Obama coverage during the eight days from July 20 through July 27. Back in March, McCain's seven-day trip garnered a piddling ten seconds from CBS, a ridiculously lopsided 200-to-1 disparity. For its part, ABC's World News gave Obama nearly as much coverage as CBS (about 33 minutes), or roughly 15 times more attention than they provided McCain's trip (slightly more than two minutes). NBC Nightly News spent nearly 25 minutes covering Obama, or about four times more than they gave McCain back in March (a little over six minutes).
All three networks led their evening newscasts with Obama on Saturday, Sunday, Monday and Thursday; ABC and CBS also opened with Obama on Tuesday, while NBC that night began with the impending landfall of Hurricane Dolly. In March, McCain's travels never topped the news even though he hit most of the same countries: Iraq, Jordan, Israel, Britain and France, with Obama also visiting Afghanistan and Germany.
While the network anchors who flew to meet with Obama did pose some tough questions — such as pressing him to admit that the troop surge he opposed has been a success — there was giddy celebration as well. On Thursday, NBC's Brian Williams touted how "the first ever African-American running as presumptive nominee of the Democratic Party brought throngs of people into the center of Berlin, streaming into this city, surging to get close to him, to hear his message," while ABC featured the reaction of one German who proclaimed Obama "my new Messiah." [Audio/video (1:05): Windows Media (4.16 MB) and MP3 audio (370 kB)]
A Fox News/Opinion Dynamics poll conducted during the trip found 67% of voters think the media want Obama to win. Are the other 33% blind?
For more, see the July 25 CyberAlert.
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No Bias here. nothing to see
July 29, 2008 - 10:21 ET by athoughtor2No Bias here. nothing to see here just keep moving. "don't pay attention to the man behind the curtain."
Bias so Bad
July 29, 2008 - 10:30 ET by allanfThe bias has gotten so bad that even the MSM would worry- if they cared at all about their profession. As Wallace of CBS used to rant - they are journalists unconcerned with the bottom line.
Tell me
July 29, 2008 - 10:38 ET by Delsasomething I don't know!
As we saw earlier
July 29, 2008 - 10:59 ET by c5thenBrian William's would tell us that it's "all in the eye of the beholder". It's obvious that the Democratic candidate for President is much more news worthy than the Republican candidate for President.
By the way, the other 33% in the Fox News / Opinion Dynamics poll probably do not watch TV much at all. And judging by the circulation numbers for most newspapers, they obviously don't read those either.
The day that "politician" became a career choice is the day we started losing the Republic. Let's get it back! Alan Keyes '08.
MSM must give more to 'bama
July 29, 2008 - 11:09 ET by SouthJersey1953If they don't give B(censored middle initial)O a 10 to 1 ratio on the airwaves, how can they help him get elected? They are only trying to do their job, give them a break!!
not just the time
July 29, 2008 - 11:16 ET by sawing batta....but the lopsided content.
My five year old asks better questions than these clowns...heck, put him out there and see if Barry can withstand more than three levels of my son's questioning...i bet he'd expose the folly of this lefty's philosophy (like the Cap Gains question in the debate).
Question #1: Why do you believe in XYZ?
Question #2: OK. Why?
Question #3: But, why?
10:1 isn't too bad
July 29, 2008 - 11:53 ET by ThisnThatIt could have been worse, because all three networks (for some reason) thought it was important to include other news, too. And why? For balance, of course! That's how they can claim they were fair: "See, we included other topics in our newscasts".
Actually, wasn't the ratio more than 10:1 -- if you measure the positive vs negative comments?
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If you can read this, thank a teacher. If it is in English, thank a Soldier. - My barber
Worried
July 29, 2008 - 12:24 ET by MaytagThey MSM must be worried . The people I talk to in Wi. were not impressed and several are leaning back to McCain. If they couldn't sell obambi with all that coverage they must have a faulty product..
DRILL DRILL DRILL THEN YOU GET MY VOTE GO JOHN GARD
As more and more data
July 29, 2008 - 12:45 ET by celatorAs more and more data reveals beyond doubt that the MSM are highly politicised toward the left, the disgrace of the MSM deepens.
This is how I see it: The Obama campaign is one big show business audition along the lines of The Chorus Line.
Where are the MSM? In the audience? Nope. Doing careful analysis? Nope. They are in the chorus, right there on the stage with the "star" of the show, singing and dancing their little hearts out, following the lead of their boss, Obama. You can hear the MSM now, "One, two three, KICK! Jazz hands, jazz hands!"
And they think no one has caught on. Just pathetic.
The major media report only half the news. Why are they surprised they have only half the potential audience?
Funny
July 29, 2008 - 18:14 ET by mbs6Thanks for giving me a laugh... the part about 'Jazz Hands' really kills me.
McCain has to BUY air time/Obama gets it free
July 29, 2008 - 15:02 ET by JayTeeTalk about Campaign financing by the MSM Lobby !!!
The MSM Has crossed the line..If Obama Is all the News All the time
The Republican Revolution will not be Televised
McCain campaign finance
July 29, 2008 - 15:07 ET by TruthMongerMcCain campaign finance reform has worked out splendidly hasn't it
Obama Peaking Too Fast--Prediction
July 29, 2008 - 18:51 ET by Kirk TurnerObama is peaking way too fast--just like he did against Clinton. Only this time there are no primary victories to stop his fall. Ironically, the press is going to ruin his chances to be president. By two weeks after the convention, people will be so sick of hearing Obama that they will cast their gaze in the other direction out of sheer boredom.
It is the old rope a dope, and this time the dope is the constituency press that fawns over Obama. Remember, Americans get tired of everything; it is our way. We set them up, then knock them down, just like Britney, Michael, George W., Clinton, and Elvis.
This election is going McCain's way, and the media are too stupid to know it. Obama's media are setting up a backlash. Once the backlash happens, they'll petulantly pull the racist card to keep people in line, and then Obama will surely lose.
And the more money he spends on ads, the more he will be old news. All his money will work against him.
He'll always remember those heady days in Europe, though.