A simple illustration of broadcast network bias is evident in their approach to covering political books, particularly so-called “tell-all” publications. They show particular enthusiasm for tell-all books about Trump, whereas they tend to ignore similar works focusing on other figures.

Democrats

This prejudice initially becomes evident among book publishers. Democrats are seldom prompted to pen tell-all books as it tarnishes the party’s image.

In 2018, ABC, CBS, and NBC provided over two hours and twenty minutes of extensive coverage to Michael Wolff within a single week concerning his controversial work.

Trump

book “Fire and Fury.” On NBC’s “Today,” co-host Savannah Guthrie nudged Wolff on Trump’s mental fitness. “One of the overarching themes is that, according to your reporting, everyone around the President – senior advisers, family members, every single one of them – questions his intelligence and fitness for office.”

Wolff enthusiastically highlighted this point: “Allow me to establish a boundary here: 100 percent of the individuals surrounding him.”



BROADCAST BIAS: NETWORKS OOZE WITH SYMPATHY TO ANYONE WHO OPPOSES TRUMP

In August of 2018, they broke out the promotion machine again for former “Apprentice” star Omarosa Manigault-Newman and her tell-all book “Unhinged.” ABC, CBS, and NBC rolled out 93 minutes of network coverage, as the author claimed from her time with Trump outside and inside the White House that he was a “racist” who had used the “N-word.” NBC gave it the most time, perhaps doing penance for making Trump a national star on “The Apprentice.” ABC’s “Good Morning America” even hyped Omarosa’s claim that Trump wanted to “start a race war.”

These books were released during Trump’s second year as president.

new Biden

“tell-all” by Jake Tapper and Alex Thompson came out months after President Biden left the White House.  When the first previews of the book emerged in The New Yorker and Axios, where we learned Biden didn’t recognize actor George Clooney at a 2024 fundraiser and Biden aides pondered putting him in a wheelchair after the election, only NBC offered a short report summarizing the scoops. ABC, CBS, and PBS ignored it.



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The pattern continued. Before the book came out on Tuesday, only NBC spent more than a minute on the book’s findings on their morning and evening newscasts. ABC and CBS combined didn’t even reach a full minute of coverage. “PBS News Hour” was the worst of the bunch. They aired absolutely no discussion of anything revealed in the book (although they did briefly allude to the existence of “a book.”)

Among the major networks, only CBS broadcasted an interview with the authors. Meanwhile, NPR began airing interviews on Monday, and PBS joined later on Thursday. During the segment, “CBS Mornings” co-host Gayle King addressed the apparent issue of timing, questioning, “Why did you choose not to disclose this information immediately after obtaining it, instead of collecting data over time and releasing it in a book for which you stand to gain financially?”

Tapper claimed they would have

broken these scoops

if they had found them in real time. But it’s also true that Democrats felt freer after they lost the White House to tentatively (mostly anonymously) acknowledge to these authors they covered up or downplayed Biden’s failings – despite large numbers of Americans saying Biden was too old to serve a second term.

Sadly, NBC was among the broadcast TV networks in playing a soundbite of audio from the just-released tapes of special counsel Robert Hur’s questioning of President Biden from October 2023, a sentence of Biden not remembering when he was vice president. (NPR’s “Fresh Air” also ran a Hur snippet in their Tapper interview.)



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This aligns with how the networks steered clear of covering Hur prior to his decision against indicting Biden. Between February 1 and November 20 in 2023, the major three networks—ABC, CBS, and NBC—together managed just four minutes and 52 seconds of total coverage dedicated to Hur. Most of this limited airtime occurred on ABC. In comparison, during the period from January 20, 2017, to December 2018, we tallied up 2,092 minutes focused on Trump and allegations related to Russian collusion. This stark difference highlights a significant disparity in their reporting attention.

Although Tapper and Thompson voiced remorse in numerous interviews about their actions, they indicated that they regretted certain aspects of their conduct.

gentle on Biden

Before this book and those conservative media outlets were correct about pushing this agenda during Biden’s presidency, these networks did not resemble figures like Megyn Kelly when it came to spinning narratives. Instead of merely ignoring Biden’s downturn, they actively promoted the White House stance that challenging Biden’s competence was akin to fringe MAGA rhetoric.

Certain television reporters may openly express “well, we must improve our approach moving forward” following this fiasco. Others could seize the opportunity to amplify the double standards, similar to how they honed their skills at aggressively interrogating President Trump regarding his medical transparency. However, these same critics undoubtedly showcased such tenacity throughout Trump’s initial term in office.

Once the Tapper-Thompson parade concludes, the gambling funds ought to be reallocated towards supporting the networks reverting to their original approach, reinstating the previous pattern.

Democrat message

of each day without really doubting it.

Original article source:

MEDIA BIAS: The channels embraced Trump’s tell-all books, yet played down publications featuring Biden revelations.