If you want to see the power of the media in the states, take a look at Gary Johnson, a third party candidate in the last presidential election.
Every interview he went to was off the cuff, where as the other candidates for major parties only go to ones where they have approved questions. He was answering candidly and they used all the footage the could to make that seem like he was very poorly spoken because he is known to endorse marijuana.

The media is so powerful.