A Cable Host Explains Why They Covered Donald Trump’s Publicity Stunt Last Night
Mother Jones
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Last night I griped about the endless news coverage that Donald Trump got for a political stunt that obviously had no purpose except to get news coverage. A few minutes ago, MSNBC host Chris Hayes and Jim Tankersley of the Washington Post had a Twitter conversation about this:
this is not very complicated.
there are 3 cable networks competing for viewers. 1 had a debate that will draw millions and millions of viewers. Other 2 have to figure out how to best compete with that. Usually there’s nothing to do but be crushed. And then: boom! A competing event to cover
obviously this hits home to me, but people outside of this industry *vastly* underestimate a) the competitive pressure and b) the appetite for spectacle, theatrics, etc…
This wud be more convincing if CNN/MSNBC didn’t show so much Trump at all other times.
On Wed, CNN gave Trump 70 percent of all its candidate coverage. That includes both Ds & Rs.
I report, you decide.
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A Cable Host Explains Why They Covered Donald Trump’s Publicity Stunt Last Night
