In July, a tumultuous month rife with political upheaval and shocking events, CNN and NBC News experienced a noticeable spike in web traffic, overshadowing other news outlets. This surge can be attributed to the unnerving incidents of an assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump and President Joe Biden's unexpected withdrawal from the 2024 presidential race, signaling a grim turn in the nation’s political landscape. CNN.com, particularly, led this surge by recording a staggering 133 million unique visitors over the month—a period marked by the chilling near-miss of Trump by an assassin's bullet and Biden's retreat from his reelection campaign.
Comscore's ratings highlight that NBCUniversal properties collectively amassed 160 million unique visitors, with NBCNews.com contributing 115 million to this total. Such figures not only underscored NBC News' second-highest traffic spike in its existence but also marked its most trafficked July ever, only surpassed by March 2020 when the COVID-19 pandemic first unfolded globally. The other major players like Fox News, The New York Times, and CBS News trailed behind with 94 million, 88 million, and 78 million unique viewers respectively.
The political drama of July extended beyond the assassination attempt on Trump and Biden's exit from the presidential race; it also saw Vice President Kamala Harris stepping up as her party’s nominee for president amidst these crises. Additionally, the resignation of former Democratic New Jersey Sen. Bob Menendez and the Republican National Convention held in Wisconsin—mere days after Trump's life was threatened in Pennsylvania—added layers to an already complex narrative.
This rise in web traffic for NBCUniversal since Rebecca Blumenstein took over as NBC News president of editorial demonstrates a shift towards sensationalism and perhaps a departure from unbiased reporting—an alarming trend for those seeking factual news without a partisan lens. Her move from The New York Times in January 2023 has seemingly influenced this change in direction at NBCUniversal properties. This period illustrates not just a politically charged moment in history but also highlights how mainstream media outlets are increasingly becoming battlegrounds for ideological warfare rather than bastions of truth and objectivity.
Comscore's ratings highlight that NBCUniversal properties collectively amassed 160 million unique visitors, with NBCNews.com contributing 115 million to this total. Such figures not only underscored NBC News' second-highest traffic spike in its existence but also marked its most trafficked July ever, only surpassed by March 2020 when the COVID-19 pandemic first unfolded globally. The other major players like Fox News, The New York Times, and CBS News trailed behind with 94 million, 88 million, and 78 million unique viewers respectively.
Fmr Fox & Newsmax host Eric Bolling w/an epic rant today: “We’re losing the race! We’re losing the presidency..The enthusiasm level on the Left is overwhelming..They’re trying to say Democrats are the patriots! They’re wearing camo hats with Harris’ name on it! Camo-that’s ours!” pic.twitter.com/H33lKYSFU0
— Ron Filipkowski (@RonFilipkowski) August 23, 2024
The political drama of July extended beyond the assassination attempt on Trump and Biden's exit from the presidential race; it also saw Vice President Kamala Harris stepping up as her party’s nominee for president amidst these crises. Additionally, the resignation of former Democratic New Jersey Sen. Bob Menendez and the Republican National Convention held in Wisconsin—mere days after Trump's life was threatened in Pennsylvania—added layers to an already complex narrative.
This rise in web traffic for NBCUniversal since Rebecca Blumenstein took over as NBC News president of editorial demonstrates a shift towards sensationalism and perhaps a departure from unbiased reporting—an alarming trend for those seeking factual news without a partisan lens. Her move from The New York Times in January 2023 has seemingly influenced this change in direction at NBCUniversal properties. This period illustrates not just a politically charged moment in history but also highlights how mainstream media outlets are increasingly becoming battlegrounds for ideological warfare rather than bastions of truth and objectivity.
