In TV Coverage, Kerry Runs a Deficit

[True_Blue]

When President Bush delivered a routine stump speech to a group of New Mexico homeowners on March 26, CNN and Fox News each carried his appearance for 35 minutes, and MSNBC for 33 minutes.

When John Kerry gave what was billed as a major address on national security at George Washington University on March 17, he was knocked off the screen by a large explosion in Baghdad. CNN and Fox each dropped Kerry (who had been reduced to small box) after three minutes, and MSNBC never picked him up. But as the Iraq coverage continued, all three networks carried Vice President Cheney in California attacking Kerry as weak on national security -- Fox for 28 minutes, MSNBC for 23 and CNN for 13.

In the daily battle for airtime, Bush has drawn more than three times as much live cable coverage as his Democratic challenger, yet another example of the advantages of incumbency.

A review by The Washington Post, using a video monitoring service, finds that the cable news networks have covered more Bush events and stayed with them longer. From March 3, the day after the senator clinched the nomination, through Friday, they have devoted 12 hours and 11 minutes to live appearances by Bush -- including Tuesday's prime-time news conference, which was also carried by NBC, CBS and ABC. Kerry's live cable coverage during this period: 3 hours 47 minutes.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A22713-2004Apr18.html

[fearnobush]

1. If the WaPo called them the cable Whore Media. FOX, CNN, MSNBC

All Bush Whores. I bet Kerry would get a least a few more hours.

[KissMyAsscroft]

2. Straight from the pages of DUH magazine.

:eyes:

[w4rma]

3. "advantages of incumbency" is just their excuse to push for Bush, imho(nt)

[girl gone mad]

4. more like..

advantage of being able to sick the FCC on any media critics.

[DeepModem Mom]

5. Well, good on Howie Kurtz for at least raising the issue -- n/t