Media Tenor: Obama Under Scrutiny

New York, May 23, 2008: This week’s Media Tenor data shows Clinton ahead of Obama in TV coverage. This conveys a better image of her, but no turnaround in the race for nomination.

“Analyzing coverage day by day, we can see Clinton rated better than Obama,” says Markus Rettich, Head of Political Analysis at Media Tenor International, “but this has not had a major impact on nationwide opinion poll results.” For Rettich, this is not surprising: “Media coverage has more of an impact on undecided voters,” he says. And the number of undecided Democrats has obviously decreased, as Gallup poll results suggest. Obama has lost some support, but is clearly ahead of Clinton.

Voters who have already made up their minds tend to select information and rely on those statements which confirm their decision. “Previous research has shown that only a heavy push in the opposite direction can break this selective perception,” explains Rettich, “and we cannot recognize this in our data so far.” The tone of Obama coverage was slightly positive as well, although he was criticized for his foreign policy approach on Iran. “The media already treat him as the likely nominee,” Rettich adds.

This means Obama gets the same scrutiny as John McCain. Analyzing McCain coverage since March, it is quite obvious that the Republican nominee is yet to present a convincing platform. Key policy issues such as foreign policy and economic issues are among his weak points in media coverage. On the other hand, the media raised concerns when referring to Obama’s experience and his general political goals: not only his “platform of change” was questioned, but also his ability to make it happen. Up to now, neither McCain nor Obama could really score winning points on the media agenda,” Rettich concluded. “The road to the White House still has a long way to go.”

Obama under scrutiny – treated as the likely nominee

This week the tone coverage was again better for Clinton than for Obama. The Illinois Senator, who won the majority of delegates, was criticised for his foreign policy approach towards Iran. He has been scrutinized and treated as the likely nominee.

ABC, NBC, CBS candidate coverage, 3/3 - 5/22/2008: tone of coverage by weeks

Basis: all statements by or on Clinton and Obama on ABC, CBS, NBC evening news programs 3/3 – 5/22/2008

McCain unconvincing on policy issues thus far

Analyzing McCain coverage since March, it is quite obvious that the Republican nominee has not presented a convincing platform yet. Key policy issues such as foreign policy and economic issues are among his weak points in media coverage.

Newsweek, Time, ABC, NBC, CBS and Fox News coverage, 3/1 - 5/22/2008: McCain coverage

Basis: a total of 16,759 statements by or on McCain in Newsweek, Time, ABC, CBS, NBC and Fox evening news programs 3/1 - 5/22/2008

Obama – more concerns, McCain – less confidence

An analysis of all leadership issues shows that the tone of Obama’s coverage has deteriorated. However, McCain’s advantage is shrinking. The share of positive statements is down from 30.7% in March to 13.9% in May.

Newsweek, Time, ABC, NBC, CBS and Fox News candidate coverage, 3/1 – 5/22/2008: leadership issues

Basis: all statements on leadership issues in Time, Newsweek, ABC, CBS, NBC and FOX evening news programs 3/1– 5/22/2008

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,” Roland Schatz explains. Media Tenor’s Presidential Campaign Watch focuses not only on candidate standings, but also on topics and sources, while adding an international perspective. Results of Media Tenor studies will be regularly published on MediaChannel.org.

For further information visit: MediaTenor.com

Popularity: 1% [?]

My god man, what kind of Hillary-hating sickness do you have. You need a doctor or a psychiatrist. If Obama is favored, this is a sign that the his judge is fair and balanced. if Hillary is favored, this indicates that her judge is biased and his judgement is stupid.

Hillary gets the higher marks, because she’s the better candidate.

This shows the appalling stupidity of the people that hold our national fate in their hands, and preselect and prefavor a candidate before we know anything about him. Can someone explain to me, how this can be? How can you preselect a candidate, based on ignorance of who and what he is, and force a whole nation to accept your presumption, arrogance, and cavalier disregard for their best interests.

http://beyondchron.org/news/index.php?itemid=5413#more

I’m just guessing, but it appears you may think Obama is one of those who is “beholden more to the people than to private interests.” Well, if you read the article cited and linked above, you’ll see that Obama’s voting record is surprisingly regular-people-unfriendly.

I get the feeling that many of Obama’s followers don’t know much about him beyond that he is a good speech giver. He is also worse than the “usual politicians” he disingenuously denigrates: he is as much down in the mud as any other politician, but he uses the Rovian tactic of SAYING he’s above all that. So it’s worse, cuz he’s essentially lying.