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Front Page Coverage of the First Presidential Debate
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Front Page Coverage of the First Presidential Debate
Below
is
a
summary
of
how the first presidential debate was covered on the
front pages of some top U.S.
newspapers (according to Burrelles Luce). The newspapers were
viewed the Newseum Today's Front Pages website (+). Of 19
front pages examined the debate was the lead story in all but one of
the papers (Houston Chronicle
led with a local shooting). The headlines emphasized the
combative
tone using words such as "fierce," "testy," and "acerbic."
Several papers picked up New York
Times, Washington Post or
AP
reporting.
Front
pages
had
analysis pieces and reporting on locals watching the
debates. The debate was the dominant, lead image on all
but two of the front pages (Cleveland
Plain Dealer featured Cleveland Indians celebrating and Denver Post had no front page
debate photo). Photos
showed
the
candidates before, during and
after the debate. Seven of the
nineteen papers led with images of the candidates before or after the
debate (a
medium shot by AP's Evan Vucci showing Clinton in foreground, waving,
Trump behind, smiling had the most occurences in this small sample,
three). Six of the nineteen papers ran separate shots of the two candidates side by side. Four of the nineteen papers led with wide or medium wide shots of the two candidates at their podiums. |
Newspaper |
Headlines/Reporters |
Photos/Photographers |
The Wall Street Journal |
"Trump, Clinton Trade
Fierce Blows: In animated first debate, candidates get
personal on wealth, tax return and emails; battle over trade, energy
and economy" - Janet Hook, Peter Nicholas, and Reid J. Epstein [Analysis] "Debate Exposes Voters' Stark Choice" - Gerald F. Seib |
Dominant,
lead
photo:
Medium
wide shot
of Trump and Clinton at their podiums, both gesturing. Clinton is
in the foreground, shown partially from the side, while all of Trump
shown - Rick Wilking/Agence France-Presse/Getty Images |
USA Today |
"FIGHT NIGHT:
Clinton, Trump tangle over jobs, race in first of 3 debates" - David
Jackson [Analysis] "Restrained or red hot? Fiery Trump is back in action" - Susan Page |
Dominant,
lead
photo: Medium wide shot of Trump and Clinton shaking hands after
the
debate - Robert Deutsch, USA TODAY |
New York Times [Late Edition] |
"CANDIDATES PRESS POINTED
ATTACKS IN ACERBIC DEBATE: Trump Raps Clinton on Trade
and Emails--She Counters on His Fitness" - Patrick Healy and Jonathan
Martin "Interruptions and Little Guidance on Where the Truth Lay" - Jeremy W. Peters ...analysis |
Dominant,
lead
photos (2): Side-by-side medium
shots of
Trump, Clinton - Doug
Mills/The New York Times |
Los Angeles Times |
"A TESTY OPENING
ROUND: Clinton and Trump engage fiercely over their pasts
and their plans" - Mark Z. Barabak, Evan Halper and Michael Finnegan [Analysis] "One came with an attack plan and executed" - Cathleen Decker |
Dominant,
lead
photo: Medium
shot
of Trump and Clinton shaking hands before the debate - Justin
Lane European Pressphoto Agency Secondary photo: People at a debate watch party in Westwood - Gina Perazzi/Los Angeles Times |
Daily News (New York) |
"FACE OF THE NATION Hillary's
look
says
it
all
as
Trump
buries himself in bumbling blather" [tabloid;
refers readers to
pages 2,3,4,5,6,7 & editorial] |
Tabloid: Full page
MCU of Clinton looking; small inset MCU of Trump |
San Jose Mercury News |
"Attacks, sparks fly in
first debate: Combative Cinton Puts Trump on the Defensive" "Bay Area Viewers see billionaire fade as barbs exchanged" - Matthew Artz and Ramona Giwargis "Temperaments, racial sensitivity receive scrutiny" - Philip Rucker and Anne Gearan, Washington Post |
Dominant lead
photos (2): Side-by-side medium/MCU
shots of
Trump, Clinton - DJT: Paul L Richards/Agence France Press via Getty
Images. HRC: Julio Cortez/Associated Press Secondary photos (2): Bill and Chelsea Clinton; Melania and Ivanka Trump and Mike Pence - Joe Raedle/Agence France Press via Getty Images |
New York Post |
Washington Post | "Attacks fly in testy
showdown" "Clinton's Jabs Put Trump on Defensive" - Philip Rucker and Anne Gearan "Trump started off subdued, then his cool quickly melted" - Jenna Johnson "Memorable exchanges and substantive differences" - Dan Balz, The Take "Clinton's plan: Poke at tender points in opponent's thin skin" - Karen Tumulty |
Dominant,
lead
photo: Wide shot of the two at their podiums speaking and
gesturing, Trump head on, Clinton
from the side, - Lucas Jackson/Reuters |
Chicago Sun-Times |
"THE SOUND AND THE FURY:
Trump,
Clinton
mix
it
up in raucous, no-holds-barred debate" [tabloid refers to Tina
Sfondeles reports, 8-9; analysis by Lynn Sweet, 9, editorial, 19;
violenc in Chicago takes center state, 10] |
Tabloid: cover
image - Wide shot of the two at their
podiums speaking and gesturing, Trump head on, Clinton
from the side, - Getty
Images [very similar to the photo used by the WP] |
Chicago Tribune |
"Clashing visions over
nation's future: Clinton and Trump square off in first
presidential debate; Candidates press their competing cases, exchange
verbal blows" - Mark Z. Barabak, Evan
Halper and Michael Finnegan |
Dominant,
lead
photo: Medium
shot
of Trump and Clinton shaking hands before the debate - Jewel
Samad/Getty-AFP |
The Dallas Morning News |
"Clash of styles" "Trump tries to project grit and policy competence" "Clinton, on attack, touts, preparation and experience "Analysis: Attempts to unsettle each other eclipse jabs on trade, taxes, race, crime" - Todd J. Gillman |
Dominant,
lead
photos (2): Side-by-side CU sshots of
Trump, Clinton. DJT: Patrick Semansky/The Associated Press.
HRC Julio Cortez/The
Associated Press |
The Denver Post |
"Criticism gets
personal Trump and Clinton accuse each other of not
having the right temperament." - Julie Pace and Jill Colvin, The
Associated Press |
No front page photo of the debate. |
Newsday (Long Island, NY) |
"HARD KNOCKS AT HOFSTRA: Harsh
exchanges
on
taxes,
economy,
race, crime, ISIS" [tabloid
debate section
wraps main news] |
Tabloid;
dominant,
lead
photos fill the page (2): CUs of Trump, Clinton - AP/David Goldman |
Houston Chronicle |
Lead story is report on a
shooting in Houston "Debate fierce from start: Trump, Clinton jockey for breakout moment in tight race" "On the Attack: Candidates assail each other over trade, Iraq, taxes" - Patrick Healy and Jonathan Martin, New York Times "Analysis: Temperament at heart of first high-stakes showdown" - Kevin Diaz |
Photos above the fold (2). Side-by-side medium/MCU shots of Trump, Clinton. DJT: Win McNamee/Getty Images. HRC: Paul J Richards /AFP/Getty Images |
The Philadelphia Inquirer |
"SHOWDOWN" "The contest brings partisans to pub" - Julia Terrruso "Rivals clash over issues, experience" - Jonathan Tamari |
Dominant,
lead
photo: Medium wide shot of the two candidates at their podiums,
Trump
partial from side/behind and Clinton full - Rick T. Wilking/Pool via AP |
The Arizona Republic |
"ON THE OFFENSIVE" "Clinton, Trump battle over records, economics, race" - teaser paragraphs to page 1B "1st debate left some voters with unanswered questions" - Daniel Gonzalez and Dan Nowicki |
Dominant,
lead
photo: Medium shot from before the debate of Clinton, Trump
facing the
camera, Lester Holt from behind; Clinton is reach out her hand-
AFP/Getty Images |
StarTribune |
"Candidates battle over
taxes, race and trade" - Patrick Healy and Jonathan Martin - New York Times [Analysis] "Clinton scored more points, but race not over" - Dan Balz - Washington Post [Analysis] |
Dominant,
lead
photo: Medium shot from before or after the debate, Clinton in
foreground, waving, Trump behind, smiling - Evan Vucci-Associated Press |
Tampa Bay Times |
"90 minutes; no holds
barred: Clinton and Trump make cases with sharp
attacks." - Alex
Leary, Times Washington Bureau Chief |
Dominant,
lead
photos (2): Side by side MCUs of Clinton speaking and gesturing
and Trump lips
pursed - Associated Press photos |
The Plain Dealer |
"Political brawl in first
debate: Candidates speak over one another; Clinton
provokes angry responses from Trump" - Mark Z. Barabak, Evan Halper and Michael Finnegan, Tribune Washington
Bureau |
Dominant photo is Cleveland Indians players celebrating in
locker room after winning ALC title. Secondary photo: Medium shot from before or after the debate, Clinton in foreground, waving, Trump behind, smiling - Evan Vucci-Associated Press |
The Star-Ledger (NJ) |
"Fierce first test: Candidates
tangle
over
divergent
visions
for America's Future" -
Julie Pace and Jill Colvin/Associated Press |
Dominant, lead photo: Medium shot from before or after the debate, Clinton in foreground, waving, Trump behind, smiling - Evan Vucci-Associated Press |