Partisan Balance and Bias in TV Network Coverage of the 2000, 2004, and 2008 Presidential Elections

Abstract

This study examines partisan bias in the broadcast news coverage of the 2008 presidential election by replicating measures used in the previous 2 elections. The study data, overall, indicate a Republican tilt in the 2008 election, contrary to more balanced coverage in the 2000 and 2004 elections. The findings are, however, consistent with other studies, which indicated that McCain caught up with his opponent in the final stages of the campaign. The data also indicated that the segments were more balanced than the individual stories, and structural bias was overall a better explanation for observed imbalance than was partisan bias. Copyright Taylor & Francis.