As Foreign Policy reached the spotlight, two TV shows covered it with significant negative coverage toward opposite candidates. Negative coverage on Foreign Policy for these shows has been almost double the negative coverage on other topics.
Both Shows Have Had Significant Negative Foreign Policy Coverage
Chart shows percentage of statements about Foreign Policy in Special Report with Bret Baier and Hardball with Chris Matthews that are negative to Romney and Obama. Time frame is August 20 – September 17.
In the past few weeks, Foreign Policy discussion in election coverage has increased dramatically. TV News and Talk Shows covered the topic more than did print. 9.6% of TV coverage in the past month focused on Foreign Policy, and just 3% of Print coverage was about Foreign Policy. MSNBC’s Hardball with Chris Matthews and FOX’s Special Report with Bret Baier have had very negative coverage on the topic in the past month. Unsurprisingly, Bret Bair and company have had more negative coverage toward Obama than Romney, and vice versa for Chris Matthews and his Hardball crew. Almost half (49.5%) of Foreign Policy discussion on Hardball has been negative to Romney.
In comparison with how each show covered other topics, both shows have had less negative coverage than in discussion of Foreign Policy. For Hardball, Romney and Obama have been covered half as negatively in other topics as in Foreign Policy. In Special Report with Bret Baier, the coverage of other topics has also been half as negative to Romney as in Foreign Policy discussion, but just 8% less negative coverage toward Obama.
Other Topics Haven't Had As Much Negative Coverage
Chart shows percentage of statements about topics other than Foreign Policy in Special Report with Bret Baier and Hardball with Chris Matthews that are negative to Romney and Obama. Time frame is August 20 – September 17.
