Title: The Differences in How CNN, MSNBC, and FOX Cover the News
Headings: CNN
MSNBC
& FOX

Choosing the News
The Russia Investigation
The Clintons
Hurricanes
NFL Protests
North Korea
Burn Out or Fade Away
Michael Flynn
President Trump
National Anthem Protests
Explore
Use of word over time
Context is Key
Gun
Dossier
Trump
Tweet
Explore
Find a word
Words most associated with _____

Content: That’s useful for getting a broad sense of the issues networks are focusing on, but it leaves out a big part of the picture. You’ve probably heard about the 24-hour news cycle—the phenomenon where reporters scramble to cover a breaking news event before it fades from the public eye and another item takes its place. Michael Flynn
Here’s an example of a news event that follows that pattern. This chart shows how frequently the word “Flynn” was used by the three networks over time. There’s a big spike on December 1, when Michael Flynn pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI, but coverage quickly tapers off. But that’s not always the case. Some news items are so big and persistent that they’re almost always in the spotlight. President Trump
Coverage of President Trump, for example, is near-constant. It ebbs and flows and there are slight differences between networks, but for the most part, it’s always there. Finally, there’s the “long tail” pattern.