By Associated Press
Madison, WI – A study shows that on average, Midwestern television stations in top markets have devoted just 36 seconds per typical newscast to election coverage. The five-state analysis by the news lab at the University of Wisconsin-Madison analyzed 30-minute morning and evening broadcasts on 36 stations. Sixty-three percent of the stories aired were focused on strategy and who's ahead in a particular race, while only 23% were about current political issues.
The study looked at more than 1,800 broadcasts on stations in Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Illinois and Ohio from September 7th through October 6th. All five states have competitive campaigns for top state offices.