MRC Alert: Rosenberg a Victim; Lashing Limbaugh 1. Julius Rosenberg's Soviet handler concedes Rosenberg was a spy, but ABC and CBS still portray him as a victim. 2. A newspaper story ties misuse of CIA files to a Clinton fundraising effort, but ABC ignores the discovery. 3. U.S. News makes a big deal about a station dropping Rush Limbaugh. But given the station is it really newsworthy? 4. MediaWatch Revolving Door column. U.S. News shores up its liberal staff; two ABC veterans find homes on Clinton's team. (Some people have sent e-mails requesting examples of bias from Bryant Gumbel. To... continue reading
MRC Alert: Hume Hits Pierre; 60 Minutes Avoids Full Story 1. An ABC News veteran says that a colleague's reporting was considered "almost completely unreliable." No wonder Peter Jennings is too embarrassed to admit he worked by ABC. 2. 60 Minutes refuses to tell viewers what Paula Jones claims President Clinton asked of her. 3. Actor Alec Baldwin goes McCarthyite, acuses conservatives of conducting "witch hunt" against the National Endowment for the Arts. 4. The President of CBS News says he is in "awe of Bryant Gumbel's talent." 5. The Washington Post runs an opinion piece charging the MRC with... continue reading
MRC Alert: TV Bored with Scandal; Gumbel Gets Big Bucks 1. Clinton scandals have largely fallen off network news. NBC hasn't aired any stories the last two nights. And big developments go unreported. 2. Bryant Gumbel to get $7 million and a prime time hour, but an ABC reporter insists blacks have no power at the networks. 3. Michael Dukakis appointed conservative judges? Yes, according to a scene in a new ABC drama. 1) The last CyberAlert detailed how Monday night's evening shows all ran pieces on the White House and FBI disagreement over how and who was warned about... continue reading
MRC Alert: Reporting Matches Polling; Basketball Baby; Latest NQ 1. Brit Hume observes that media wouldn't have been distracted by stories about Sam Ervin, and interest in Dan Burton reflects media bias. 2. ABC and CBS run pieces on how Republicans no cleaner than Democrats. That's how polls find the public sees it too. 3. Today can't squeeze in a mention of the fundraising scandals, but NBC finds time for a bumped wedding and a basketball bouncing baby. 4. The March 10 edition of Notable Quotables. 1) Sunday's New York Times carried a front page story headlined "Critic of White... continue reading
Copy of: MRC Alert: ABC Catches Up; Zahn Zaps Welfare; New Poll 1. Friday night ABC finally reported the Maggie Williams story, and Eric Engberg offered another opinionated Reality Check. 2. CBS's Paula Zahn wondered if welfare reform will derail Detroit's supposed revitalization. 3. David "We Stand by Our Story" Westin takes over ABC News; a former CBS executive says ABC was unfair to Food Lion. 4. A new poll found that most think journalists tilt left, but the finding was buried. 5. An actress gushes over Clinton: "He's an incredibly brilliant person but he also has a huge compassionate... continue reading
Copy of: MRC Alert: NBC's Liberal Reform Spin; Cronkite Bashes Christian Coalition 1. MRC Chairman online today at 3pm ET. 2. ABC's skips Clinton-related charges of illegal fundraising but finds time to tag Gingrich. NBC promotes liberal campaign reform spin. 3. Among well-know White House overnight guests, a top CBS executive donated $6,000. An ABC News chief didn't see a problem "because it was never made public until now." 4. Walter Cronkite signs a harsh and mean-spirited direct mail letter bashing the Christian Coalition's "harsh right wing views." > 1) You can "chat" with Media Research Center Chairman Brent Bozell... continue reading
MRC Alert: ABC Ignores Scandals; Not Nixonian; Brokaw Hits Rather 1. CBS ignores Hubbell-related White House subpoenas; ABC and the Today show ignore everything Clinton scandal related. 2. "No one can argue" that every aspect of Whitewater isn't being covered, Dan Rather insists. John Cochran calls fundraising coverage "thorough." 3. A top reporter argues: "It's not Nixonian, because Nixon was clearly a criminal President. What Clinton wanted to do was be re-elected." 4. When there's a hurricane, a network anchor said of Dan Rather, " Mr. Hard News' is down there wrapped around a lamp post." 1) A casual viewer... continue reading
1. Monday night NBC covers two big fundraising developments, but the other networks fail to follow up. 2. Tuesday night ABC was more interested in fat people in New Orleans than in Hillary's newly discovered database role. 3. Tom Brokaw asserts that welfare reform will "exacerbate the feeling...that there is a growing schism between the haves and the have nots." 4. A "McCarthyite witch-hunt" is how Al Hunt described Senator Richard Shelby's request to view Anthony Lake's FBI files. 1) After being the laggard network on the Clinton fundraising scandal front, in the past couple of days NBC has broken... continue reading
Copy of: MRC Alert: Quayle Did It Too; Good that BBA Lost 1. CompuServe problems strike again. 2. Clinton's fundraising generate multiple days of coverage, but major revelations, such as a quid pro quo, are ignored by most. 3. The networks discover Republicans and Quayle did it too. But stories equate illegal and legal activities. 4. Clinton calls Senators to ask them to block an independent counsel, but the networks don't see any obstructionism. 5. A liberal Democrat abandons his BBA promise, but ABC blames the GOP and USA Today praises him for "courageously" resisting popular will. 6. Tom Brokaw... continue reading
ABC Downplays Overnights While Staffer Contributes 1. ABC downplays the "possible" connection between the Lincoln bedroom and fundraising. 2. Hollywood stars, networks executives and news chiefs among overnight guests . And a photo reveals who at ABC attended a Democratic fundraiser. 3. What's the big deal? CNN's Bernard Shaw says "the same thing was done by Republican Presidents." 4. Two major developments -- on Hubbell and the drive to make immigrants citizens -- are being ignored. 5. The Senate holds hearings on the TV ratings . Get the facts in the MRC/PTC study cited Wednesday by USA Today. 6. You... continue reading