This study’s main finding is that C-SPAN coverage of think tanks overwhelmingly
favors conservative think tanks while left-of-center think tanks are underrepresented.
In 2006, conservative think tanks received 43.76 percent of total think
tank coverage. Conservative/ libertarian and centrist think tanks received 6.94
percent and 31.76 percent respectively. Center-left and progressive think tanks, on
the other hand, only received 12.73 percent and 4.86 percent respectively. Thus, the
combined conservative and conservative/libertarian think tanks got an absolute
majority of 50.7 percent representation on C-SPAN. Everything left of center got
only 17.59 percent, just one third of the coverage received by the Right. C-SPAN’s
coverage of think tanks suggests it has failed to fulfill its mission to provide “a
balanced presentation of points of view.” A review of recent polls also suggests
that C-SPAN’s coverage of think tanks is not only off-balance in absolute
numerical terms but also relative to public opinion in a wide range of political
issues.