With just a week remaining before Election Day, a new analysis by the Media Research Center reveals an unprecedented bias in 2024 presidential campaign coverage. Since July, major networks ABC, CBS, and NBC have provided 78 percent positive coverage for Kamala Harris while delivering 85 percent negative coverage of President Trump. The disparity is the largest recorded in modern election history.
In 2016, coverage was also negative for both Trump and his opponent Hillary Clinton, with Trump receiving 91 percent negative coverage compared to Clinton’s 79 percent. The gap is wider than in 2020, when Joe Biden enjoyed 66 percent positive media attention while Trump faced 92 percent negativity.
Since July, the three networks dedicated over 230 minutes of airtime to Trump, focusing heavily on his personal controversies. In contrast, coverage of Harris was relatively light, often featuring supportive quotes from pro-Harris voters. Analysts found that this contributed to a generally favorable portrayal of the Vice President while the networks themselves frequently criticized Trump.
Analysis of Media Coverage
From July 21 — the day Biden announced he would not seek re-election — to October 25, MRC analysts reviewed 660 stories from the ABC, CBS, and NBC evening newscasts. These broadcasts amounted to 24 hours and 15 minutes of coverage, split almost evenly between the networks. Early coverage of Harris, following her nomination, portrayed her positively, but after the September 10 presidential debate, the focus shifted significantly towards Trump.
Between July 21 and September 10, Trump and Harris each received approximately 350 minutes of coverage. However, in the weeks that followed, Trump’s media presence grew to 398 minutes, almost double Harris’s 230 minutes. This increase did not signal favorable treatment; rather, the coverage concentrated on controversies linked to Trump.
Scrutiny on Trump, Positive Vibes for Harris
Of the 753 minutes devoted to Trump since July 21, over 230 minutes centered on personal controversies, including January 6, 2021 and allegations that Trump spread misinformation about Hurricane response efforts. Other topics included remarks about immigrants and concerns over his age and health, with coverage overwhelmingly negative—ranging from 97 to 100 percent.
Conversely, Harris received limited scrutiny, with only five percent of her airtime addressing controversies. Issues like alleged plagiarism in a 2009 book and advocacy for taxpayer-funded gender reassignment surgeries in prisons were not covered by the major networks during the study period. Positive evaluations of Harris dominated her coverage, with over 90 percent favorable sentiment.
As the campaign progressed, the networks devoted time to celebrating the historic nature of Harris’s candidacy and expressing concerns that gender bias could hinder her chances. These discussions painted a largely positive picture of the Vice President, while criticisms remained muted or absent.
Trust in Media Hits New Lows
The Media Research Center’s findings come amid growing public skepticism about mainstream media. A recent Gallup poll reported that only 31 percent of Americans — and just 12 percent of Republicans — have “a great deal” or “a fair amount” of confidence in the media’s ability to report news fully and fairly.
