News of Converging Crises: Cable Coverage of Race and COVID Stories

Abstract

Drawing on theories covering media differentiation, delegitimating, and journalistic professionalism, we show FOX is substantially more likely than CNN or MSNBC to increase its coverage frequency of race stories in response to topical coverage by its competitors. CNN reduces its coverage frequency of these race stories in response to FOX (and MSNBC follows this same general pattern). By contrast, all three networks reinforce each other’s COVID coverage. The implication from these findings is that even media outlets with known ideological brands do not agenda set independently of the wider media ecosystem in which they operate.