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Media Research Center...
Networks Hype
Rising Gas Prices 4 Times More for Bush, Than Obama
Gas prices mentioned in 97 stories in one month of 2008 coverage,
compared to just 21 in 2012.
By Julia A. Seymour
2/22/201
Rising gas prices used to be big news, but not so these days. Although
the national average climbed to $3.56 on Feb. 20, setting a February
record after going up nearly a month straight, there was far less
coverage than in 2008. Broadcast networks repeatedly covered the rise
under the Bush presidency. Gas prices bounced around eventually
reaching $3.56-a-gallon on April 24, 2008.
The Business and Media Institute analyzed broadcast network news
references to gas or fuel prices between Jan. 20 and Feb. 20, 2012 and
from March 24 and April 24, 2008. BMI found that in the 2008 period
there were more than 4 times as many gas prices stories, news briefs or
news headlines on ABC, CBS and NBC as there were in 2012 (97 to 21).
Coverage during the time periods differed not only in quantity, but in
tone as well. During Bush’s tenure, gas prices were a huge economic
threat and cause of suffering. The networks also used the high gas
prices to attack the administration. In 2012, the networks aired mostly
matter-of-fact stories on the rising gas prices, and worried primarily
that they would hinder the economic recovery, not that they are making
people suffer.
Dismal broadcast network reports about “skyrocketing” gas prices filled
the newscasts in 2008. There were reports about businesses closing,
airlines struggling and truckers protesting -- all because of the high
prices. One ABC report said families were facing the “tough choice”
between food or fuel. Others said that “wallets were running on empty”
and consumers were told over and over that there was no relief in
sight. But by the end of November 2008, prices had collapsed to $1.82.
The networks weren’t simply reporting the painfully high gas prices in
early 2008 though, in many cases they were exaggerating them. NBC’s
“Today” focused on Redwood City, Calif. on March 6 where regular
gasoline cost $3.99, according to the photograph NBC aired. The
national average for gas that day was $3.19 a gallon. Ann Curry also
failed to tell viewers that California has the highest state gasoline
tax in the nation, a whopping 45.5 cents a gallon at that time.
On gasoline specifically, reporters have routinely showed photos of
extreme pump prices despite lower national averages. The Business and
Media Institute documented this trend in 2007, 2006 and 2005.
But now, in 2012, gas prices stories are very different. “[W]e’re
seeing gas prices creep up every single week,” said one ABC reporter
after delivering a positive economic report about the Dow Jones
Industrial Average closing in on 13,000 for the first time since 2008.
One CBS story just pointed out that if certain steps are taking against
Iran, gas prices everywhere could move sharply higher.
Although the time periods BMI analyzed were the same length and ended
with the same national average price for gasoline, due to price
fluctuations they were not identical. In 2008, prices rose from $3.26
to $3.56 in the month we examined. In 2012, prices were already higher
($3.38 on Jan. 20).
Read this and other articles at the Media Research Center
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