Pew Research: MSNBC’s Campaign Coverage More Negative Than Fox

MSNBC’s coverage of Mitt Romney was far more negative than Fox News’ coverage of President Barack Obama during the period of Aug. 27 through Oct. 21, according to a study from Pew Research Center.

During that time, 71 percent of MSNBC's coverage of Romney was negative, compared to 46 percent negative coverage of Obama by Fox. The News Corp. network also beat MSNBC on the positive side. Fox gave Obama 6 percent positive coverage, while MSNBC gave Romney only 3 percent positive coverage.

Overall, the mainstream media evidenced a bias toward Obama, the study shows. Coverage of Obama was 19 percent positive, 30 percent negative, and 51 percent mixed. For Romney, the totals were 15 percent positive, 38 percent negative, and 47 percent mixed.

To be sure, Obama’s advantage came in September. After Romney’s resounding debate victory Oct. 3, a total of 20 percent of the stories about him were favorable, 30 percent were unfavorable, and 50 percent were mixed. For Obama, the numbers were 13 percent favorable, 36 percent unfavorable, and 50 percent mixed.

Social media – Twitter, Facebook, and blogs – offered harsher treatment of both Romney and Obama than old-school media.

On Facebook, Romney received 23 percent positive coverage, 62 percent negative, and 15 percent mixed. For Obama, the totals were 24 percent, 53 percent, and 22 percent.

On Twitter, 16 percent of postings about Romney were positive, 58 percent negative, and 25 percent mixed. Obama’s numbers were 25 percent, 45 percent, and 31 percent.