KTMD had the second-highest percentage of neutral coverage among Spanish-language stations, at 67 percent. No articles from this station were coded as positive, though 8 percent were balanced and 25 percent were negative. Articles run by KTMD on this subject were found from August 7, 2019, to June 16, 2021, and totaled 12. Of these articles, 4 were primarily about bond reform while 8 were primarily about defendants.
Half of the articles primarily about bond reform did not specify the type of bond being discussed, risking conflation of reforms among its viewers.
Also, half of articles about defendants were about Black defendants, which is an over-representation relative to the 20 percent Black population in Harris County; this disparity is compounded by the fact that 63 percent of all “defendant” articles include a mugshot. Similarly, 50 percent of defendants were allegedly involved in homicide cases in some way—indicating that these types of cases are likely over-covered.
Law enforcement was referenced in 7 total articles, making it the most common reference for KTMD, with 3 articles coded as negative. Crime Stoppers as an organization, and not Andy Kahan, was referenced in 1 article, which was coded as negative. Police unions and the Harris County District Attorney’s Office were not referenced.
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This station report is part of a larger analysis of bias in media coverage of bond reform in Harris County. Read the full report, and see evaluations of other stations: KPRC (NBC affiliate), KTRK (ABC affiliate), KHOU (CBS affiliate), KRIV (FOX affiliate), and KXLN (Univision affiliate). You can contact KTMD to request unbiased coverage through their website.