[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 6 (Wednesday, January 16, 2008)]
[House]
[Page H29]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
MEDIA COVERAGE OF DEMOCRATIC PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES MORE FAVORABLE
THAN COVERAGE OF REPUBLICAN PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES
(Mr. SMITH of Texas asked and was given permission to address the
House for 1 minute.)
Mr. SMITH of Texas. Madam Speaker, a study by Harvard University and
the Project for Excellence in Journalism has reaffirmed what many of us
have long observed: Media coverage of Democratic Presidential
candidates has been far more abundant and favorable than coverage of
Republican Presidential candidates.
The study found that 49 percent of all stories involved Democratic
candidates, while just 31 percent involved Republican candidates. In
addition, Democratic Presidential candidates received twice as much
favorable coverage as Republicans, and Hillary Clinton drew nearly
twice as much media coverage as any Republican nominee.
Until we hold journalists to the highest standards of their
profession, unfair reporting will continue to influence elections and
undermine our democracy.
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