Media Research Center has the numbers on the networks’ Trump obsession

NEWS AND OPINION:

The major networks simply can’t resist the 45th president as he seeks to return to the White House.

A precision-minded study by the Media Research Center reveals that the three major broadcasters’ fixation with bashing Donald Trump is causing both his fellow candidates and substantive policy issues to be “shunted to the sidelines.”

It’s all in the numbers.

The center’s analysts looked at all coverage of the Republican candidates on the ABC, CBS and NBC evening newscasts from Jan. 1 through Dec. 31, 2023, including weekend coverage. Here are the key findings, which were released Thursday.

In 2023, Trump received 1,192 minutes of evening news airtime, which was 79% of all GOP candidate coverage. Leading challengers Ron DeSantis and Nikki Haley appeared to be an afterthought among the broadcasters. The Florida governor warranted 166 minutes of coverage, while the former U.N. ambassador and South Carolina governor got only 35 minutes of airtime over the entire year, according to the analysis.

“The networks trashed Trump with ferociously hostile coverage: 91% negative, vs. just 9% positive. DeSantis and Haley fared better, but neither received more good press than bad. Coverage of DeSantis was 73% negative vs. 27% positive; Haley’s press was split down the middle: 50% negative and 50% positive,” wrote Rich Noyes, a senior editor at the center.

Actual policy coverage was overlooked.

“Campaign trail discussion of substantive issues such as the economy, immigration and abortion were buried under an avalanche of media attention to Trump’s legal cases. The evening newscasts devoted 992 minutes to Trump’s various legal problems in 2023, eight times more than was spent on all policy issues combined (121 minutes),” Mr. Noyes said.

Find the complete study at Newsbusters.org.

NOW THERE’S A THOUGHT

One South Carolina Republican has a pivotal question to ask when it comes to legislative bills in the U.S. Senate.

“So many of the bills we’re looking at require us to help secure the border for Israel — that’s a good thing. Securing Ukraine’s border — that’s a good thing. But how about our border? Do Americans not deserve to have a border that is secure so that Americans are safe?” asked Sen. Tim Scott while appearing Thursday on Fox News.

“The answer is absolutely, positively, unequivocally, yes. So, let’s make sure that whatever passes through the House and the Senate takes care of America first. We need to make sure that our border is secure. We are frankly the city on the hill, and that requires us to be safe,” Mr. Scott said.

FOXIFIED

The public appeal of politics has not waned — and it often guarantees noteworthy ratings for news organizations that feature them.

Fox News offered a three-day series this week of candidate town meetings in Des Moines, Iowa, all moderated by “Special Report” anchor Bret Baier and Martha MacCallum, anchor of “The Story.”

The finale featured former President Donald Trump, which proved Fox News’ highest-rated telecast of 2024 so far — with an audience of 4.3 million viewers, according to Nielsen Media Research.

CNN’s Republican presidential debate between Nikki Haley and Ron DeSantis aired opposite Mr. Trump’s appearance and drew an audience of 2.5 million.

“The debate was CNN’s lowest rating of a presidential election season dating back to the 2016 cycle. FNC continues to hold the record for the highest-rated presidential debate of the season with nearly 13 million tuning in this past August,” Fox News said in a written ratings report released Thursday afternoon.

THE MARCH GETS READY

The countdown is on for the 51st annual March for Life. The world’s largest annual human rights demonstration, according to organizers, is set for Jan. 19 on the National Mall. They have also revealed the speakers for the event.

They include House Speaker Mike Johnson; Rep. Chris Smith, New Jersey Republican; Benjamin Watson, former NFL tight end; pastor Greg Laurie of Harvest Christian Fellowship with his wife, Cathe; Antonio de Mello, Community of Jesus in Brazil; Jean Marie Davis, executive director of Branches Pregnancy Resource Center; Aisha Taylor, author of “Navigating the ‘Impossible’: A Survival Guide for Single Moms From Pregnancy Through the First Year of Motherhood”; and Dominick Tolentino, Penn State University senior and president of Students for Life Club.  

“We are overjoyed to welcome these inspiring pro-life leaders at this year’s 51st March for Life,” said Jeanne Mancini, president of March for Life Education and Defense Fund, in a written statement shared with Inside the Beltway.

“For the past 51 years, the March for Life has powerfully witnessed the tragedy of abortion, while calling for stronger protections for women and the unborn. This year’s speakers will address the 2024 theme — Pro-life: With Every Woman, For Every Child — which is at the heart of the pro-life movement, in their remarks. We will also celebrate the heroic work of pregnancy care centers and maternity homes, while offering a roadmap to how we will truly achieve a life-affirming culture that respects the inherent dignity of all human life,” Ms. Mancini said.

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POLL DU JOUR

• 57% of U.S. adults think Donald Trump is the most likely candidate to become the Republican nominee for president in 2024.

• 5% cite Ron DeSantis as the most likely nominee.

• 5% cite Nikki Haley.

• 2% cite Chris Christie.

• 1% cite Vivek Ramaswamy.

• 2% cite “someone else.”

• 26% are not sure who the most likely Republican nominee will be.

SOURCE: An Economist/YouGov poll of 1,593 U.S. adults conducted Jan. 7-9. The poll was taken before Mr. Christie dropped out of the race Wednesday.

• Contact Jennifer Harper at jharper@washingtontimes.com.