How NewsNation Secured a Republican Debate: A Declaration of Independence : Analysis

The fourth Republican debate is set to take place on the lesser-known platform, NewsNation, signaling a departure from mainstream news networks. This move is seen as strategic since it serves as a gesture to frontrunner Donald Trump, who has been a critic of platforms like Fox News and has skipped previous debates. The choice of a smaller platform and Trump’s absence could be perceived as relegating the other four candidates to a lower status. However, it also helps appease Trump and protects his position as the leading candidate. Trump has consistently led the Republican field by a wide margin, with the next closest rival being Ron DeSantis. The shift to a smaller platform aligns with Trump’s opposition to mainstream media, which he accuses of suppressing his poll results. Trump’s criticism of the media has been absorbed by the broader Republican field, contributing to a mistrust of news media among Republican adults. The Republican Party has responded to these concerns by selecting debate hosts that include smaller, conservative-leaning platforms to reach wider audiences. While this move may be seen as a declaration of independence from mainstream media, it comes with the cost of smaller viewership. However, the switch to a platform like NewsNation can also benefit both the party and the network, allowing them to reach specific segments of voters and promote their brand respectively. NewsNation is owned by the Nexstar Media Group and positions itself as an unbiased alternative. The debate on NewsNation could potentially launch the network into the political big leagues, attracting higher viewership and potentially retaining new viewers.

Source: Aljazeera news: ‘A declaration of independence’: How NewsNation landed a Republican debate