Television stations happily gobble up money from congressional races and various causes, with most 30-second spots constituting hit pieces against the opposition. Yet those seeking more expansive coverage had better not blink or they’re apt to miss whatever actual news content is devoted to the candidates.
Additional evidence of this trend comes from a study by the U. of Wisconsin’s NewsLab, which examined election coverage in nine major Midwest markets during September. The average allotment to campaigns within each half-hour newscast: 36 seconds. By way of comparison, crime received four times as much time.