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New York, March 20, 2008: Barrack Obama is fighting for the survival of his campaign. Up-to-data analysis of political coverage in US TV news shows a collapse of media support for Barrack Obama after the revelation of the divisive remarks from his long-term spiritual mentor, the Rvd. Jeremiah Wright. “Although Obama fought back with his speech in Philadelphia,” explains Roland Schatz, President of Media Tenor International, “the discussion has undermined his claim to transform race relations in the US.” At the same time, analysis of political coverage in ABC, CBS, NBC and Fox news, shows Hillary Clinton reclaiming lost ground after her win in Texas.
TV coverage of the Democratic nomination continues to focus on campaigning and leadership issues – which more and more evolve into Obama’s Achilles’ heel. Doubts about his lack of experience have haunted him since the beginning of the campaign, but they have been balanced by the momentum of his early wins. But after his failure to beat Clinton in Texas, criticism prevails. In March, more than 1 in 4 statements on Obama’s leadership qualities was negative. The latest setbacks at the polls have driven critical reporting about Obama, while Hillary Clinton profited from her comeback. “As none of the two contenders is expected to win a majority of delegates, journalists anticipate advantages for Clinton,” Schatz points out.
Negative TV coverage of the economy reached a new peak in March. As the financial meltdown on Wall Street continues, politicians struggle to maintain an optimistic outlook, while more than 70% of Americans see their country already in a recession. However, the economic problems have had little impact on the Presidential campaign. But when TV reported about the economic policies of the candidates, critical comments prevailed. “It seems unlikely that one of the contenders can turn the economic upheavals into an advantage,” concludes Schatz.
Obama’s speech dominates TV coverage this week
With the uproar over the divisive remarks of Obama’s long-term spiritual mentor, TV coverage focused on the Senator from Illinois. In the first four days of this week, his opponents Hillary Clinton and John McCain reached a low point in terms of volume.
ABC, NBC, CBS and Fox candidate coverage, 1/1 – 3/19/2008: volume of coverage by weeks
Basis: all statements by or on Clinton, Obama and McCain on ABC, CBS, NBC and Fox evening news programs 1/1 – 3/19/2008
Media support for Obama caves in
Although critical comments on Obama were not excessive, the drop in positive coverage was more significant – indicating a growing ambivalence in the media, as well as the impact of Obama’s Philadelphia speech.
ABC, NBC, CBS and Fox News candidate coverage, 1/1 – 3/19/2008*: tone of coverage by weeks
Basis: all statements by or on Clinton and Obama on ABC, CBS, NBC and Fox evening news programs 1/1 – 3/19/2008 (*individual newscasts missing)
Cracks in Obama’s story benefit Clinton
The revelation of Obama’s long-standing association with a controversial black congregation has tilted the trend again, as Hillary Clinton won plaudits for her resilience in the face of Obama’s early lead in the primaries.
ABC, NBC and CBS candidate coverage, 2/18 – 3/19/2008: tone of coverage by days
Basis: all statements by or on Obama and Clinton on ABC, CBS and NBC evening news programs 2/18 – 3/19/2008
Recession in reporting – if not in words
In March, coverage of the economy reached a new peak in terms of volume. At the same time, ¾ of all stories painted a negative picture. In the week of the breakdown of Bear Sterns, 74% of Americans accordingly believed the economy to be in a recession.
ABC, NBC and CBS coverage of selected topics: Economy, 7/1/2007 – 3/19/2008
Basis: a total of 15,274 stories on ABC, CBS and NBC evening news programs 7/1/2007 – 3/19/2008
Iraq anniversary stops optimistic trend
Declining coverage of violence in Iraq has given credit to the Administration’s claims that the situation is improving in Mesopotamia. But a more in-depth analysis on the occasion of the fifth anniversary of the invasion stops the upward trend in the polls.
ABC, NBC and CBS Iraq coverage, 7/1/2007 – 3/19/2008
Basis: a total of 15,274 stories on ABC, CBS and NBC evening news programs 7/1/2007 – 3/19/2008
To read the full Media Tenor election report in PDF format click here.
For the third time, International Media analysis company Media Tenor is offering a detailed analysis of the U.S. presidential campaign. TV news coverage of the leading Presidential contenders is scrutinized at a detailed level. “The methodology was developed 15 years ago and has been successfully used not only to analyze the 2000 and 2004 U.S. Presidential campaigns, but also for International politics as well,” Schatz explains. Media Tenor’s Presidential Campaign Watch focuses not only on Candidate standings, but also on topics and sources, while adding on an international perspective. Results of Media Tenor studies will be regularly published on MediaChannel.org.
For further information visit: MediaTenor.com
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14 Responses to “Media Tenor’s Presidential Campaign Watch”
Posted on 20 Mar 2008 at 7:12 pm by Eliana
Jeez, Fox needs to take it easy: http://www.236.com/news/2008/03/18/when_fox_news_sees_a_black_man_1_5235.php
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Posted on 21 Mar 2008 at 12:35 am by Ben
I been waiting for the political establishment to crush Obama. It just all seems too good to be true! Clinton and McCain on Military Indutrial Complex whores. therefore, sadly, one of them will be the next president.
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Posted on 21 Mar 2008 at 3:58 pm by john polifronio
Fascinating. Now that Hillary appears to have overtaken Obama, because of “his own weaknesses and failures,” she’s described as MilitaryIndustrialComplex “whore.”
jp
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Posted on 21 Mar 2008 at 4:51 pm by Debra in Boston
I’d take this all more seriously if
Media Tenor knew how to spell the candidate’s name. It’s Barak with one R.
But this assertion should have been the giveaway:
“…discussion has undermined his claim to transform race relations in the US.”
Seems to me that Mr. Schatz believes that the only way to transform race relations is to ignore both their roots and their manifestations, to “transcend” race by not mentioning it.
Sen. Obama asked us as Americans to look at how the current set of grievances between the races came to be. He warned us the media –and media statisticians, I assume — would respond to his speech, and his challenge, this way.
Well, not this time. Not this voter.
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Posted on 21 Mar 2008 at 4:56 pm by Cord;ey Coit
Well we know the Clinton’s do anything or body to get elected that does not make her a whore just a despicable person. Obama has got to stay focused and not come across as a wimp as he has over the discovery his long long time buddy and adviser is percived as an extremest at best and a hater at worst. Remember he has to stand up to an impossible standard while Hillery can enable Billy the Goat in his satyriasis.
Since when does a preacher trump a spouse?
Meanwhile the economy is tanked and Bushes banker butt buddies are getting bailed while the people who are paying for this fun are being evicted. Candidates aside there seem to be more whores in the press bus.
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Posted on 21 Mar 2008 at 5:58 pm by bigabe5553
Obama went to that church for twenty years so how come now he is claiming that he never heard anything he is so full of crap. Hi wife heard it that is why she said that noe I am liking the USA and before she must of hated it so what kept her here is it bacause Opra tols hom to run for President and he got very close so she changed her mind. I do not trust Obama and Oprah
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Posted on 21 Mar 2008 at 8:36 pm by mimi
First off, I am a member of a church that I dont agree with all of my pastors political opinions. When we disagree, I tell him so, we agree to disagree, thats how this world works. Second off, how does that compare to the fact that Clinton outright lied about supporting NAFTA, a plan that has completely demolished our working class. No way, let Obama sit in whatever church he chooses to sit in, at least he isn’t lying to us about his past decisions.
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Posted on 22 Mar 2008 at 1:08 pm by Mark Tele
The race card gets played - big surprise.
Now let’s see just how racist the country is. The war in Iraq, the faltering economy and the lack of a healthcare system were supposedly the big issues but now it’s back to letting ourselves be manipulated by the media with divisive issues. Karl Rove has moved behind the curtain, but he’s still there. What about global warming? What about all the lies Bush Co has told. What about $4/gallon gas and the oil companies massive profits.
WAKE UP AMERICA - we are being led over the cliff!
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Posted on 22 Mar 2008 at 2:44 pm by Phil Linehan
I never understood why the media were so smitten with Obama.
He Can Talk the Talk
But Has Anyone Ever Seen Him Walk the Walk?
Phil Linehan - 13 March 2008
On throwing his hat into the ring Obama felt he must give voters a good reason
why they should think of him as the man for every season.
His Swahili name, he boasts, signifies one blessed by a God Almighty.
To make us love him can he be hinting it’s the one called Aphrodite?
To elderly Jewish ladies, when he wanted it’s origin to describe.
he said it was a Hebrew name, could it be from a Lost Tribe?
No need to explain the background of his second name Hussein,
which was very seldom heard as he embarked on his campaign.
He feels that, to be fair, he must give every ethnic group its place,
and he leaves no stone unturned as he covers every base.
So, as to reach out to those of every background he desperately seeks,
why have we not heard as yet any mention of the Greeks?
He says his U.S. family is connected to a Native American forebear
although exactly to which one he did not. I believe, declare.
To present himself as an African-American he has also managed to contrive.
but is one allowed to ask in which slave ship did his ancestors arrive?
One talent he does have and that no-one can refute
is his ability to talk the talk in a way that’s most astute.
His gift of the gab with which he would us all beguile
can only be inherited from the O’Bamas in what is called the Emerald Isle.
So there he stands before us, he who claims to be Everyman
as we wonder when we’ll hear he has relations in Japan.
Why is it that whenever on TV he stood up and spoke
all I could see on the screen were his mirrors and his smoke?
The captivated press guys punched their laptops and set their emails humming
as they wrote of Barack Obama as they would the Second Coming.
And they lauded him as a potential saviour of the nation
oblivious, it would seem, he was a Messiah of their very own creation.
With his smooth talk he mesmerized many a TV talking head
and few, if any, complained about the pap they were being fed.
As he claimed he’d ban donations from special interests and lobbyists as well,
on the cash they gave to his campaign the reporters did not dwell.
One thing he supports wholeheartedly, is what he calls free trade
yet he swears that, if elected, he will tear up every agreement ever made.
What he believes is trade that’s free, we should not be at all surprised
is flooding foreign markets with U.S. goods that are heavily subsidized.
He furiously rants against two-way trade with Mexico and Canada
and swears he will stop their exports if he becomes the Big Enchilada.
With a wink an aide told the Canadian Ambassador it was one of his boss’s jokes
meant to appease complaining Ohio workers whom Obama calls “the folks”.
If to look at his government’s trade figures he had only taken the trouble
he would see that since NAFTA U.S. exports to Mexico are double.
So if he is ever in a position to give the trade agreement opt out order
the loudest cheers will be heard from south of the U.S.-Mexico border.
His friendship with Tony Resko, charged with money laundering and extortion
has been, he claims, by critics blown out of all proportion.
On talk about his land deal with fraudster Nadhmi Auchi he hopes to put a brake
by saying buying his Chicago mansion from him was a “boneheaded mistake”.
How many more boneheaders may we expect will be revealed,
when diggers begin to search for any that so far may have been concealed?
If media talking heads and scribblers tried to analyze what Obama has to say
they would realize it has the same substance as a sad collapsed soufflé.
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Posted on 22 Mar 2008 at 5:32 pm by Elias Green
This is no different then the rest of the popular media sources. Who cares about the above three canadites who are just mirror images of each other. Shouldn’t your website do its job and report on those things the media refuses to report on, like Ralph Nader for instance.
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Posted on 28 Mar 2008 at 5:45 am by hgjhg
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We farm the WOW gold by manual, no bots, no cheats, no hacks. We have the 24*7*365 Online Support.
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Posted on 01 Apr 2008 at 11:34 pm by Mark
The following paragraphs are an excerpt from one of my freelance articles entitled, A Voice Crying within the Modern Day Wilderness To Make the Winding Forks Straight, published on my blog, Reaching for the Stars:
New York Senator Hillary Rodman Clinton’s call for Barrack Obama to severe ties with Reverend Jeremiah Wright’s ministry(http://cosmos.bcst.yahoo.com/up/player/popup/?rn=3906861&cl=7128851&ch=4226716&src=news ) is akin to placing Senator Obama in a political position similar to social dynamics encountered by the Apostle Peter as Peter sit with a band of stragglers around a camp fire crackling and burning in the dark, in the middle of the night, shortly after Roman soldiers arrested Jesus. The Apostle Peter publicly denied he knew Jesus three times after questioning by several stragglers just as Jesus prophesied Peter would do.
White Caucasian American Christians should participate in a thought experiment by asking themselves a searing soul searching question. The question is phrased as such, if after I die and stand before the gates of heaven and Jesus proves to be a black man will I accept an invitation to dine at His table in the House of the Lord forever? Likewise, black African American Christians should ponder the question: If after I die and stand before the gates of heaven and Jesus proves to be a white man will I accept an invitation to dine at His table in the House of the Lord forever?
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Posted on 02 Apr 2008 at 12:25 pm by aburritt
The synopsis for this piece, which I admit is useful and interesting for media wonks, claims that “Leadership proves to be Obama’s Achilles’ heel.”
And now, Ladies and Gentlemen, here is the “proof” of this “fact” which Media tenor, via Media Channel, serves up to you:
“TV coverage of the Democratic nomination continues to focus on campaigning and leadership issues – which more and more evolve into Obama’s Achilles’ heel.”
Get it? Because Hillary has been pounding away in her campaign with this absurd claim, and because the corporate media has become more favorable in its coverage towards her, what you are served up on your television is now a “fact” which now “more and more evolve(s) into Obama’s Achilles’ heel.”
The only thing which gets left out of this equation, of course, is any sense of actual reality, a reality which is increasingly clear to anyone who has carefully listened to and observed Clinton, McCain and Obama. This is the fact that during the campaign, not to mention in his prior life as far back as we know it, Obama is the ONLY one of the three candidates who stays focused, keeps his cool and never gets rattled under pressure. Last I knew, that was the very definition of a strong leader. Compare this with McCain, whose reputation for blowing up under pressure is legend, and Clinton, whose idea of leadership is recalling how she went scurrying across the tarmac under sniper fire, or perhaps how her endless rounds of tea as the wife of Bill translated into changing world events.
I think that someone at Media Channel, which promises to run more of this drivel from Media tenor, or Media tenor, which views corporate driven propaganda as reality, should explain how this sleazy piece of propaganda, buttressed by useful data in its own right, made it onto Media Channel in the form that it did. I thought the entire premise of Media Channel was looking behind the propaganda of our corporate media, not simply reinforcing its message.
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Posted on 02 May 2008 at 8:40 pm by jimelyyes
there is the professional world of warcraft power leveling here. welcome.
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