Media Bias in the 2016 Presidential Election: A Review of the Democratic Primary Debates

The Democratic Primary debate, hosted by CNN, highlighted the stark contrast between media coverage and public opinion. Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton dominated the press coverage, while Senator Bernie Sanders' campaign was seemingly ignored. Despite winning viewer polls with stunning margins, Sanders' performance was overshadowed by Clinton's presence. The lack of press coverage for Sanders' campaign raises concerns about media bias and its potential impact on the election.

Key Takeaways:

• Hillary Clinton received extensive media coverage during the Democratic Primary debates, while Senator Bernie Sanders' campaign was largely ignored.
• Sanders won viewer polls conducted by CNN, Slate.com, and Time Magazine with significant margins, including 76% in Slate.com's poll.
• Despite the polls, CNN's coverage focused on Clinton's performance, barely mentioning Sanders' input on key issues like the Clinton email scandal.
• Sanders' campaign has received criticism for its lack of press coverage, with some suggesting a Clinton bias in the media machine.
• The Democratic Primary debates highlighted the importance of scrutinizing media coverage and developing one's own opinions about presidential candidates.

Statistics:

• 76% of viewers in Slate.com's poll believed Sanders won the debates, with only 17% supporting Clinton.
• 34% of Time Magazine's viewers believed Sanders won, while 17% supported Clinton.
• CNN's focus groups also reported that Sanders' message on income inequality and democratic socialism resonated with them as voters.

Sources:

• CNN
• Slate.com
• Time Magazine
• The author's first-hand experience attending the Democratic Primary debates