WarSclerotic

Shocker! Roy Moore gets 40 times more coverage than Bob Menendez, Washington Times, Jennifer Harper, November 15, 2017

(Please see also, The Media That Cried Wolf. — DM)

A new study comparing broadcast coverage of Roy Moore and Sen. Bob Menendez finds Mr. Moore garnering 40-times more coverage than the Democratic lawmaker, who faces corruption charges. (Associated Press)

The news media has provided intensive coverage of the ongoing woes of Republican Senate candidate Roy Moore, and the coverage often showcases melodrama, speculation and sensationalism. Reporters and anchors, in fact, frequently repeat the same “damning accusations” and key phrases against Mr. Moore says Rich Noyes, research director of the Media Research Center, a conservative press watchdog now monitoring the news about Mr. Moore produced by the “Big Three” broadcast networks.

“From the evening of November 9 through the morning of November 13, the ABC, CBS and NBC morning and evening newscasts have generated 79 minutes, 42 seconds of coverage of the Moore case,” says Mr. Noyes, who compared what kind of attention the networks have been giving the corruption trial of Sen. Bob Menendez, New Jersey Democrat.

The coverage is downright “paltry,” according to the analyst, who says that since the lawmaker’s trial began Sept. 5, ABC and CBS managed to produce two minutes of coverage combined and NBC has offered none. Find the analysis here.

“The media’s reaction to Moore makes their double standard on scandals all the more glaring. Since early September, a sitting United States Senator has been on trial for corruption involving the abuse of his office — and the media have essentially buried the story,” says Mr. Noyes. “Add it all up, and the Moore scandal has already consumed nearly 40 times more airtime on the networks than a Democrat’s corruption trial — even though the Menendez case is based on an actual federal prosecution, as opposed to a story in The Washington Post.”

He refers to an expose published by the newspaper on Thursday claiming Mr. Moore has “initiated a sexual encounter” with a 14-year-old girl and other young women in 1979. More women have independently stepped forward with similar claims since the story was published. The special election in Alabama is scheduled for Dec. 12.

“A Democrat’s corruption scandal is kept under wraps, while a Republican’s alleged transgressions are given saturation coverage,” Mr. Noyes concludes.

This entry was posted on November 15, 2017 at 7:07 PM and is filed under Judge Roy Moore, Media and Democrat corruption trial, Media and Trump supporters, Sen. Menendez corruption trial. You can subscribe via RSS 2.0 feed to this post's comments.

Tags: Judge Roy Moore, Media and Democrat corruption trial, Media and Trump supporters, Sen. Menendez corruption trial