MSNBC, Fox News devoted far more time to Edwards' haircuts than to Date: Fri, 06 Jul 2007 20:08:04 -0400

MSNBC, Fox News devoted far more time to Edwards' haircuts than to Domenici announcement

http://mediamatters.org/items/200707060008

On July 5, MSNBC and Fox News devoted significantly more time during their late-afternoon political and prime-time news programs to covering a July 5 Washington Post report on Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards' haircuts than they did to covering Sen. Pete Domenici's (R-NM) July 5 press conference on the Iraq war, at which he called for "a new strategy that will move our troops out of combat operations." As The Washington Post reported, "[t]he six-term lawmaker, party loyalist and former staunch war supporter represents one of the most significant GOP losses" to efforts by President Bush to "keep congressional Republicans united over the Iraq war." CNN was the only cable news network to spend more time covering Domenici's announcement than Edwards' haircuts.

Between 4 p.m. and 10 p.m. ET on July 5, MSNBC devoted approximately 15 minutes, 28 seconds to the Edwards story and only 1 minute, 20 seconds to Domenici. Further, Fox News devoted approximately 16 minutes, 25 seconds to the Edwards story during that same time period, and only 1 minute, 40 seconds to Domenici. CNN, meanwhile, devoted approximately 12 minutes to covering Domenici and approximately 45 seconds to Edwards.

Media Matters for America reviewed each hour between between 4 p.m. and 10 p.m. ET on July 5 on MSNBC, Fox News, and CNN, documenting the coverage devoted to Edwards' haircuts and Domenici's announcement. On MSNBC, Tucker, Hardball with Chris Matthews, Countdown with Keith Olbermann, and MSNBC Live with Dan Abrams were reviewed; Tucker was replayed at 6 p.m. ET following its original 4 p.m. ET broadcast, and Hardball was replayed at 7 p.m. ET following its original 5 p.m. ET broadcast. On Fox News, Your World with Neil Cavuto, The Big Story with John Gibson, Special Report with Brit Hume, The Fox Report, and Hannity & Colmes were reviewed. On CNN, The Situation Room, Lou Dobbs Tonight, Paula Zahn Now, and Larry King Live were reviewed. The July 5 edition of Paula Zahn Now was hosted by Glenn Beck and titled "We the People."

Also of note:

The results are as follows:

MSNBC

Show (time ET)

Time on Edwards

Time on Domenici

4 p.m. Tucker

5:04

---

5 p.m. Hardball

2:40

---

6 p.m. Tucker (R)

5:04

---

7 p.m. Hardball (R)

2:40

---

8 p.m. Countdown

---

1:10

9 p.m. MSNBC Live with Dan Abrams

---

0:10

Total

15:28

1:20

Fox News

Show (time ET)

Time on Edwards

Time on Domenici

4 p.m. Your World

---

---

5 p.m. The Big Story

0:40

---

6 p.m. Special Report

8:26

0:52

7 p.m. Fox Report

1:45

0:48

9 p.m. Hannity & Colmes

5:24

---

Total

16:25

1:40

CNN

Show (time ET)

Time on Edwards

Time on Domenici

4 p.m. The Situation Room

0:45

2:31

6 p.m. Lou Dobbs Tonight

---

2:40

7 p.m. The Situation Room

---

2:26

8 p.m. "We the People"

---

---

9 p.m. Larry King Live

---

4:11

Total

0:45

11:08

Contact:
Fox News Channel		 FOX News Channel
1-888-369-4762
Comments@foxnews.com
1211 Avenue of the Americas
New York, NY 10036

This mail was sent by Media Matters for America to 'news@energy-net.org'. Please visit us at http://mediamatters.org

You can help support our work; become a volunteer media monitor, or donate to Media Matters for America.

To change your email subscription preferences, visit http://mediamatters.org/users/prefs.html

If you'd like to unsubscribe from all Media Matters for America emails, you can just click on http://mediamatters.org/users/unsub/_TFiSm6WIkiaci7iLu6ZtH8gu6JaPh8t_vLvpt4dfhY.

To contact us directly, reply to this mail or visit http://mediamatters.org/contact_us