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    The Ron Paul Media Blackout Is Back On

    After a brief spike in interest, the mainstream media coverage of GOP candidate Ron Paul is back to nearly nothing, according to the Pew Research Center's Project for Excellence in Journalism. This week, less than 5 percent of all campaign stories focused on Paul, the lowest point since Dec. 11. when strong performances in Iowa and New Hampshire helped stoke some interest. Over the same period, Paul's performance in the polls has only improved, going from the single digits to 12.7 percent, putting him nearly even with Rick Santorum, in the current RealClearPolitics average.

    RELATED: Ron Paul Is Now Getting Too Much Attention


    But in Pew's weekly study, Paul has been heading in the opposite direction. Pew tracks a list of 52 mainstream news outlets across broadcast television, cable news, newspapers, radio and the 12 most popular news sites to measure exposure. As you can see from the graph below, the downward trajectory of coverage volume has been steep for Paul, as the star of New Gingrich rose following his decisive victory in South Carolina and strong polling in Florida.   

    RELATED: First GOP Debate with Recognizable Candidates Will Be on June 13


    RELATED: How the GOP Primary Was Occupied


    The Project for Excellence in Journalism also tracks the tone of coverage, which in the last week, saw a sharp drop in "positive" stories and a slight increase in "negative" stories:

    RELATED: This Crazy Republican Primary Is Going to End One Day


    RELATED: Newt Crushes Romney in South Carolina


    The change of coverage represents a sort of whipsaw effect for the candidate, who toiled in obscurity in October and November (rather unjustifiably), exploded in December and sunk like a rock beginning in early January amid bruising coverage of racist newsletters penned under his name and a last place showing in South Carolina. On the bright side, Paul is still a mighty presence on Twitter, according to the Pew study:

    Another plus for Paul, about 55 percent of those mentions are positive while only 25 percent are negative, according to Pew. The Washington Post also tracks Twitter mentions by candidate and this week, ranks Paul as receiving the second most mentions of the GOP candidates with 259,00 behind Gingrich's 294,000. If MSM coverage hewed more closely to Twitter coverage, the libertarian firebrand would be golden! Don't expect much more pickup on Paul this week. While Florida's primary becomes the nation's focus, Paul is campaigning in Maine. (Though that won't prevent him from raising a wad of cash in a money bomb protest the TSA). 

     
    • Norman  •  Los Angeles, California  •  26 days ago
      We can't always get what we want.To get Ron Paul as pres is to get WHAT WE NEED!
    • Dar  •  26 days ago
      Paul support is called sticky. Once people become Paul supporters, they tend to stay. That is good for the campaign. There is a steady growth for Paul.
    • barbaram  •  San Antonio, Texas  •  27 days ago
      he and romney are the only ones on the ballot in virginia. wonder if they'll ignore him there. any debates for that one? only 2 people, so he might get to talk more than 3 minutes.
    • Jaellyn  •  Jacksonville, Florida  •  27 days ago
      Mainstream media is scared of Ron Paul.
    • Nathan  •  27 days ago
      Ron Paul is the only candidate that is serious about making America healthy again. He is only beholden to the American people. If you don't believe it, look at where is money comes from. Almost exclusively from individuals. Now look at where Romney, Gingrich and even Obama get their money. All bankers, international corporations, and military industry. Knowing this, who do you think is most likely to represent you and do your bidding as president? 1 of the 3 guys that are getting money from the same people, or the only guy who is getting money from individual Americans.
      Ron Paul 2012!!
    • Keith  •  West Fork, Arkansas  •  27 days ago
      Ron Paul is the best choice to put America back on it's path for the greatness the founding fathers had intended.If you vote for any of the other canidates you can expect the same old crap and business as usual,no leadership,run away corruption,and the continued looting of America.Your childrens children are all ready in debt from these thieves.How much more do you think this country can take.Look around you America and wake up.After we put Ron Paul in the White house lets elect a totally new congress,all of them must go.It would be more then wise to vote independent and purge the corruption out of government.Don't let the media decide for you as well as having the freedom to vote you also have a free mind please use it.Personally I would like to see us go to a true democracy like the media says we have,when we really have a republic which is to corruptable and the people elected don't represent us but their personal interests or who ever is buying their influence.In a true democracy we wouldn't have elected representatives the people would vote on every issue because every issue affects everybody.and couldn't be corrupted and your fate wouldn't be decided by people who have their own interests above yours.This system worked well in ancient Greece and I have no doubt it would work today but there are those who wouldn't like this because they wouldn't be able manipulate things to their favor and don't want you to have true freedom.
    • Emanon  •  Los Angeles, California  •  27 days ago
      Who controls the media and why do they ALWAYS promote the pro-war, pro-bailout, pro-flip flopper, pro-NDAA, pro-banker candidates? And why do they blackout the only pro-peace, anti-bailout candidate. Curious isn't it?
    • Lewis H  •  27 days ago
      It's not working Mr.Media......He still has my vote even if he does not win the nomination...I'll write his name in!
    • Lord Vader  •  Eugene, Oregon  •  27 days ago
      I can't believe anyone would vote for someone other than Ron Paul. This man is brilliant, kind, strong and a visionary. Vote freedom and vote prosperity in 2012. RON PAUL.
    • David  •  Los Angeles, California  •  27 days ago
      After the NH primary , the media went back to ignoring Ron Paul. When they tried to slander him, it gave him MORE support as evidenced in the outcome of that election. This is because the entire country know the media are filthy liars.
    • Eric  •  27 days ago
      I have decided that America wants to fail. Or they really do not realize how close to total collapse we really are. For so many years now we have been invincible and nothing really bad has touched our shores. Guess what it is happening, it has been happening. QE3 announced by Bernake and the Fed yesterday. We are at total collapse and the world knows it. We allow the head of the wall street banks to control our money at the fed, The fed has given out 6 trillion in illegal bailouts *( paul found this) but we sit here and go oh its ok. Lets vote another one into office. Fine America, lets play the game. I took my money and put it into gold many years ago, I have purchased a vacation home in south America. I guess this country has to completely fail before people get the message. I will vote Paul even if i have to write him in. see ya in the soup lines suckers....actually I wont. I will be sunning on the beach
    • tobe  •  27 days ago
      It is disgraceful how news media are dictating to us who we should vote for. Even with thunderous outcrys of foul play, these anti-American media establishments are still deliberately shooting down the principle of this free country. The core make up to any free country is founded in its voting institution. Voting is the power of free people, take that away, you've taken our freedom. These types of 3d world media (3dW-media) give us the Madoff kinds of lies and deceits. Paul had better standing than Newt and Santorum in the polls up to Florida, to ignore him is the same as ignoring the hundred of thousands that supports him. Media, we do need you for our bread and butter, you need us! #$%$ you 3dW- media we will write to your commercial sponsors and inform them of your anti-American stands. Intelligent people will not be denied nor bullied into submission. FOX and CNN are the worst. Come on PaulSmarts let's get writing!
    • Lord Rothschild  •  Richardson, Texas  •  27 days ago
      WHY IS THE MEDIA AND ESTABLISHMENT ELITE SO SCARED OF RON PAUL????
      Honestly, everyone, of all political persuasions. Don't you think this is really weird/obvious that they are going so far out of their way to suppress Ron Paul. You'd have to be blind or just lying to yourself not to admit this.
    • brad  •  27 days ago
      "RON PAUL 2012...untill Paul repeals the patriot act and the rest of the bills that obama passed you no longer have a constitution and Ndaa, bill s1867, these are all in direct violation of the constitution. If any of you cant see this then you get what you have coming....and as stated in the costitution it is your duty as an american to speak out against tyrants and this includes, Newt and Romney.the things going on we may never see 2016 to realize you all made a mistake. many here voted for obama and now wish thay had knowen better...well you have a chance to fix it now and you need to base your vote on moral character and not winablity,intigrity and not lies...I do not agree on all of what paul says but he has wanted to restore this country for the better of us all for his whole life...and knowing he will restore our constitution intack is where we need to start, and all of the rest will not repeal these bills.. when the banks fail, and they will who will you trust to have your back and hold us togeather? Obama?newt?, romney?santorum? or maybe paul who has fought for over 25 years against the very ones who brought us to the point of distruction..The problems we face need to be fixed now because we do not have four more years so when you pick a person to vote for, look for honesty, dignity,Intigrity and morals and a true love of this country. and vote for the future of your kids...if you look at all that are running there is only one clear choice to me and that is ........................RON PAUL......2012"
    • Locomotive Breath  •  27 days ago
      NOTE: Only the Wealthy have the resources to propagate their views. Is it any wonder that, after watching television all of your life, you fight passionately to defend the Status Quo? The same Status Quo that allows the Wealthy to increase their monetary worth by 26% while Your own worth falls by 10%?

      The same Status Quo that tells you there is a difference between the two Political Parties?

      STOP listening to the Media. Their job is to protect the 1% from any changes in the Power Structure. Yes, the same Power Structure that tells you one thing and then does the opposite.

      Youtube:
      "Judge Napolitano: What if they're lying to you about Ron Paul? --FOX Business"

      The Power Structure has but one interest: Maintaining Power. They do this by giving you a FALSE CHOICE --Two Parties claiming to be different, but continuing the same catastrophic policies regardless of who "wins" ofice.

      It's a SCAM. Stop falling for it.
    • Michael  •  27 days ago
      Atlantic Wire - you are as guilty as any media outlet involving the Ron Paul "blackout". And when you do publish articles about Dr Paul, they are almost always either deeply negative or have numerous subtle hints as to your subversive agenda - with sentences just like this one - " sunk like a rock beginning in early January amid bruising coverage of racist newsletters penned under his name and a last place showing in South Carolina" - Did you forget to mention that Paul got 21% of the vote in Iowa and 23% in NH and that his popularity continues to grow nationwide despite the media blackout??
    • JoyDee  •  Myrtle Creek, Oregon  •  26 days ago
      Ron Paul.....honest, never waffles on issues, not the richest candidate & brilliant! RON PAUL FOR PRESIDENT!!!
    • Rob A  •  New York, New York  •  27 days ago
      The Lobby controlled media won't allow Dr. Paul to become president. He has stated his stand on the Middle East and the folks that control the media don't like it one bit. I stand with him Ron Paul 2012!!!!
    • Aquaman  •  Tulsa, Oklahoma  •  26 days ago
      The media ought to be worried about the fact that people people are clued in to the fact they are bought and paid for. Congress is a tool of the military industrial complex. I don't even believe the polls really. People are going to be shocked by the turnout for Ron Paul when he runs as an independent. Did you hear the audience last night. That is just a taste of the support he has.
    • NobleOne  •  27 days ago
      The slander and neglect of Ron Paul in the Media shows they are scared of a man who they say can't win.... strange all that worry for a man that can't win !
      That is why I will vote for Ron Paul
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