Study finds media coverage of the 2024 presidential race favored political spectacle over substantive policy debates
During the chaotic 2024 presidential election, major U.S. newspapers focused heavily on political strategy and legal battles rather than substantive policy. A recent study indicates that media coverage remained largely negative, except for a brief bump for Kamala Harris.
A recent study published in the Journal of Political Marketing reveals that the 2024 United States presidential election saw mainstream newspaper coverage disproportionately focusing on political strategy and legal controversies rather than substantive policy debates. While coverage of Donald Trump remained consistently negative, Kamala Harris experienced a temporary positive boost after her nomination.
The research, conducted by Boston University's Ayse D. Lokmanoglu, analyzed thousands of articles from five major newspapers, including USA Today, The Washington Post, The New York Times, the Los Angeles Times, and The Boston Globe. The findings suggest that the highly polarized political climate in the United States shapes both media reporting and public perception.
As election year news draws readers, journalists face a choice in how to present information, often opting for campaign tactics and horse-race polling over substantive policy discussions. This shift towards strategy-focused framing has resulted in news emphasizing political spectacle over practical governance. The study also found that negative language use among politicians has been on the rise since 2015, particularly during Donald Trump's campaigns.
The 2024 election cycle was marked by unusual events, such as an assassination attempt, Joe Biden's withdrawal from the race, and the sudden nomination of Kamala Harris. The researchers observed a surge in articles focusing on elections and campaign frames, especially during major political events. In contrast, articles discussing Trump's legal issues peaked around court case developments, while coverage of domestic policy and regulation steadily declined.
The overall emotional tone of the coverage leaned slightly negative, with Harris receiving a temporary positive boost following her nomination and subsequent events. However, it's important to note that the study's findings may not fully represent the entire range of American media coverage, as it exclusively analyzed five major newspapers leaning liberal or centrist.
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