New York: Primaries, politics and the press

Trump and Clinton won in NYC, but what part did the media play in their victories? Plus, the battle against ad blockers.



Throughout the US primary season we have seen plenty of examples of the American news media not only reporting political developments in the race for the White House but playing a central role in them - especially when it comes to the number of hours given over to Republican candidate, Donald Trump, or the tone of inevitability when it comes to the coverage of Democratic candidate, Hillary Clinton.

The media's preoccupation with Trump is not necessarily ideologically driven - rather it's economic - because in the cable news industry, he guarantees ratings.

On the Democratic side, much time - at least at the outset - was dedicated to Clinton, as opposed to her adversary, Bernie Sanders. Some say that unlike Trump, that's not because of ratings, but rather what she represents in terms of the US political establishment, as well as bringing the tacit approval of Wall Street and corporate backers - some of whom own news channels that produce that coverage.