CNS Election Watch

November 1, 2016

ABC Skips WikiLeaks Story on When President Obama Knew of Clinton’s Private Server

As WikiLeaks continued to drip hacked emails from Clinton Campaign Chairman John Podesta’s Gmail account, CBS and NBC covered the latest developments on Oct. 25 — but not ABC. The emails in question were from top aide Cheryl Mills to Podesta after President Obama said in...

ABC / CBS / NBC / Trump

October 31, 2016

To Cover or Not to Cover Melania Trump

More than one week after the release of the 2005 Access Hollywood tape, Melania Trump broke her silence. For ABC and NBC her Oct. 17 interview with CNN’s Anderson Cooper was major news. CBS ignored it totally. Which network was right? ABC’s David Muir began with...

Blog Post / CBS / Clinton / NBC

October 31, 2016

Same Story, Two Networks: CBS, NBC Differ on Arizona Republic Story

After the Arizona Republic endorsed a democratic presidential candidate for the first time in its 126-year history, outraged readers launched death threats at the paper’s staff. On Oct. 17, as part of a package about rising tensions in the elections, NBC devoted 20 seconds to the threats. Mi-Ai...

ABC / Polls / Trump / Uncategorized / Undecided Voters

October 31, 2016

Fraudulent Fraud Claims

Trump’s claims of voter fraud have populated network coverage this week. Top Republicans have voiced concern that Trump won’t accept defeat if he loses the election. All three networks showed Trump repeating his claim at multiple speeches, but the similarities end here. CBS and NBC...

Clinton / NBC / Trump

October 31, 2016

NBC Misses Key Facts in Clinton Hacked Email Coverage

NBC’s Andrea Mitchell covered the release of hacked emails from the Democratic campaign on Oct. 11. Did she tell the whole story? She began, “Another email showing contact between the Clinton campaign and the Justice Department: Clinton Press secretary Brian Fallon writing he was in touch with the...

ABC / Blog Post / CBS / Clinton / NBC / Polls / Trump

October 28, 2016

Networks Hint Hillary Clinton Will Win Election

When does discussing polls turn away voters? For two weeks, CBS’s Scott Pelley has said no candidate has recovered from being so far behind in polls this close to the election as Donald Trump. On Oct. 18, the day before the final presidential debate, NBC’s political director, Chuck...

CBS / Pence / Trump

October 23, 2016

On possible ticket rift, one pro says be “choosy” with coverage

The controversy surrounding Donald Trump’s Access Hollywood audio clip with Billy Bush raised questions about a rift in the Republican presidential ticket. CBS explored this in depth. Here’s what Mike Pence had to say on Oct. 10: “It takes a big man to know when he’s wrong...

CBS / Clinton / NBC / Polls / Trump / Undecided Voters

October 21, 2016

NBC Leaves Viewers Just as “Undecided” as Voters

On Oct. 3, Republican nominee Donald Trump launched a series of attacks in the battleground state of Colorado. Trump blasted Hillary Clinton on her stamina and marriage saying, “She can’t make it 15 feet to her car, give me a break,” and “I don’t even think...

ABC / Blog Post / CBS / Clinton / NBC

October 20, 2016

Do Clinton campaign emails on WikiLeaks warrant extensive network coverage?

When WikiLeaks released thousands of emails hacked from Clinton campaign chair John Podesta, they consumed a good deal of broadcast time from Oct. 10 to Oct. 12. Most were related to campaign discussion about how to present their candidate favorably. Are they worth all the coverage? Consider some of...

ABC / CBS / NBC / Trump

October 17, 2016

Trump’s Demeaning Words: Not Made for Evening News

A video of the 2005 conversation between Donald Trump and Access Hollywood host Billy Bush dominated coverage Oct. 7. It is unusual for networks to present profanity-laced language from a major party’s presidential nominee. But that is what CBS, NBC, and ABC had to do — and they all did...

ABC Skips WikiLeaks Story on When President Obama Knew of Clinton’s Private Server

To Cover or Not to Cover Melania Trump

Same Story, Two Networks: CBS, NBC Differ on Arizona Republic Story

Fraudulent Fraud Claims

NBC Misses Key Facts in Clinton Hacked Email Coverage

Networks Hint Hillary Clinton Will Win Election

On possible ticket rift, one pro says be “choosy” with coverage

NBC Leaves Viewers Just as “Undecided” as Voters

Do Clinton campaign emails on WikiLeaks warrant extensive network coverage?

Trump’s Demeaning Words: Not Made for Evening News

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