Networks look to the issues

In an about-face from four years ago, network evening news programs are concentrating more on substantive presidential campaign issues than the horse race, a think tank reported.

Less than a quarter of the campaign-related stories on the ABC, CBS and NBC evening newscasts in September dealt exclusively with political strategies and the polls. In 2000, 62% of the stories were about tactics and the contest, said the Center for Media and Public Affairs.

“It’s a very serious election,” said Robert Lichter, the group’s president. “The seriousness of the international situation is reflected in the news coverage.”

Lichter’s group said there were 199 campaign stories on the three evening news programs in September. That’s a marked increase from the 141 during the same period in 2000.