The MRC's recent study of cable news election coverage was a topic of discussion during the April 25 edition of Fox New's Happening Now. During the segment, Fox News Radio host Alan Colmes and radio host Tammy Bruce both agreed with the study that GOP candidates had received much more air time than their Democrat counterparts, but had different theories as to why the coverage was so skewed. Bruce argued that the media didn't focus on Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders for fear of exposing their flaws, while Colmes countered that the lopsided coverage was merely the result of the GOP campaign being more entertaining, and the "conflict on the right."
The MRC study looked at the amount of interview time the remaining candidates (in both parties) and their surrogates got on Fox, CNN and MSNBC prime time shows during a four week period. During this time, GOP candidates received 27 hours, 21 minutes of air time while Democrat candidates only got 8 hours and 43 hours of air time.
You can read the original, two-part study here:
The Prime Time Primary: Trump vs. His Rivals on Fox News, CNN and MSNBC
The Prime Time Primary: How Cable News Has Covered the Democrats
Transcript:
JON SCOTT (host): Brand new data shows the Republican race for president is getting much attention on television news networks than the Democratic contest. That according to the Media Research Center, a conservative media watchdog. Why is that happening?
Let's take it up with our media panel. Tammy Bruce, a radio talk show host and Fox News contributor. Alan Colmes, host of the Alan Colmes Show, nationally syndicated by Fox News Radio. Do you agree with the premise? I mean, does your observation support the premise that the Republican race is getting more attention?
TAMMY BRUCE: Yeah, it's getting more attention, I think that's clear. On one hand, on the positive end, it's because they're much more interesting people. On the other hand, there is, I think -- now I don't even think it's conscious on the left anymore, in the legacy media, I think it's subconscious. Because any time you cover Bernie or Hilary, it's got to be negative. You've got to discuss the FBI's investigation of that main candidate. You then have to discuss Bernie Sanders, and how he's a lunatic on the issue of the economy. You've got to go into issues where none of it can be fun, it's all bad, and so why should you even do it -- and especially when, really, no one really does want to see them on television. Now, maybe at a rally Bernie is great, but on television, not so much. So, you've got both the wonderful aspect of the Republicans being fascinating, and, on the other hand, the Democrats not so much.
ALAN COLMES: Fascinating people, fascinating. Look, the premise is right, but your reasoning, I believe, is not exactly accurate. I know it's hard to believe I'd disagree with you. But, you know, it's because the conflict is on the right. There's conflict in the Republican party. We pretty much believe at this point that Hillary Clinton will be the nominee. You've got a fractured Republican party, with two top candidates in Cruz and Trump who the party establishment finds anathema. That they don't even like them, they don't want them, we have a possible contested convention. That's where the story is, and that's why -- and plus you have Donald Trump, out there making ridiculous, offensive, insulting statements, and those kind of statements get press, they get attention. Plus you've got a guy who did 14 years on the apprentice. Of course he's going to get attention. The media attention is there for those reasons.
