Hyper-Partisan Politicians Get 4x More Coverage Than Bipartisan Problem Solvers

According to our new study,* hyper-partisan politicians received more than 4x the news coverage bipartisan problem solvers did around the 2022 midterm elections.

We get it — media is a business, conflict drives views, and partisanship is a necessary part of politics. But when Americans don’t see stories about what’s working, including politicians cooperating across the aisle to solve problems, it deepens our divisions and undermines our democracy.

“The sheer scale of the coverage imbalance is shocking,” says Tom Fishman, CEO of Starts With Us. “We’re rallying our community to let the media know there’s a hunger for the full picture, and we’re committed to amplifying those stories.”

“When I worked at MSNBC, our job was to do whatever was necessary to keep the audience watching, and that usually meant choosing stories that stoked anger and portrayed a divided America — which pushes people further into their political tribes,” says Ariana Pekary, a media entrepreneur and Starts With Us Movement Partner. “Reimagining what the news looks like will take a commitment from both the media and the American public.”

This information is part of a campaign to raise awareness of the cooperative problem solving happening across America. Starts With Us is not affiliated with any political campaign or party, and this is not an endorsement or statement of opposition to any politician or party.