Nightly network news ratings for the first half of 2008 are down from the year prior and broadcasters saw no ratings “bounces” from sending their Big Anchors overseas with Obama, according to today’s New York Times. But some news providers do seem to be benefiting from election coverage –like some cable news programs and web sites as well as Politico.com (which “averaged 2.5 million unique visitors a month in the first half of 2008, more than all but 13 American newspapers.”)
Phil Griffin, president of MSNBC, said that the election is emblematic of a larger shift away from broadcast news and toward cable, a trend that he expects will keep viewers tuning in after Election Day. “More and more, the news game is being played out on cable,” he said.
Also of interest:
With so many outlets covering the campaign, standing out is hard, but some are still trying. The British Broadcasting Corporation is renting a bus and intends to drive across the country between the conventions and the election.
CNN has its “Election Express.” The BBC has its “The BBC US08 Election bus tour,” with, according to the press release, “an objective of finding out what everyday Americans want and need from their new President.”
Liz Cox Barrett is a writer at CJR.