“Former FBI Director James Comey has not said a single word in public, but the liberal media have been salivating for days over his upcoming testimony on Thursday,” writes Mike Ciandella, a research analyst at the Media Research Center, a conservative media watchdog.
The network has gone “bonkers,” he says in a Wednesday post at MRC’s NewsBusters blog.
“Case in point: from noon on Thursday, June 1 when the date for the testimony was set, until noon Wednesday, CNN has already devoted more than 10 hours of coverage to testimony that has yet to even occur,” reports Mr. Ciandella, noting that the network has been using a “Comey Countdown” logo for the last three days.
Mr. Ciandella and three other analysts methodically followed CNN’s coverage on the Comey matter, tracking the content of such programs as “Inside Politics” and “New Day.” In all, the network aired 10 hours and seven minutes about Mr. Comey and his upcoming testimony, much of it framed with commentary.
“Instead of waiting to hear what Comey actually says in this hearing, airtime is spent on conjecture, speculation, and innuendo about the potential damage he might cause to the Trump administration,” says Mr. Ciandella, who compares it to the typical “endless” pre-game coverage surrounding the Super Bowl.
He cited a particular comment from “CNN Newsroom” co-anchor Poppy Harlow, who claimed on Tuesday that Mr. Comey’s testimony would have global appeal.
“We will all be watching – the world will be watching,” Ms. Harlow told her audience.
• Jennifer Harper can be reached at jharper@washingtontimes.com.
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