Inauguration coverage shows deep divisions remain
NEW YORK — The media brought a reverence for history and ceremony to its coverage of President Donald Trump’s inaugural on Friday, yet deep divisions exposed in the campaign that brought him there weren’t far from the surface.
With the armchair psychologists reading the expressions on Hillary Clinton’s face, several sour reviews of Trump’s inaugural address and images of rock-throwing protesters, the air of celebration was muted. Non-news networks ESPN, BET and MTV aired the moment when Barack Obama was sworn in eight years ago. Not this time.
An anti-Trump demonstration in Washington, D.C., was essentially ignored by television networks until the stands set up for dignitaries witnessing the oath of office cleared. Then pictures of demonstrators clashing with police emerged.
No doubt an incoming administration and supporters who frequently view the media as the enemy were taking notes.