Conservative Dr. K; CBS on Guns; ABC's Liberal Director 1. On CBS Henry Kissinger is labeled a "conservative." 2. A Newsweek reporter says Clinton scandal underplayed ; ABC catches up with NBC; but revelations still ignored. 3. CBS charges that the Empire State Building shooting has "prompted angry calls for a national handgun licensing system." 4. Being elected Tuesday to the Board of Directors of the company which owns ABC: liberal Democrat George Mitchell. 5. Two TV reporters are fighting the opening of a pharmacy in their neighborhood. 6. A couple of weeks ago CBS and CNN reported an affair... continue reading
"Republican" Ken Starr; Welfare Trouble; New NQ 1. Dan Rather insists upon calling Kenneth Starr the "Republican special prosecutor." 2. Figures in the fundraising scandal refuse to cooperate and go into hiding . And, the scandal may have begun in 1992, but the networks didn't let you know. 3. CBS warns of "trouble ahead" as the first phase of welfare reform is implemented. 4. Some quotes that didn't make it into NQ : Exposed pipes by urinals reminds a reporter of Reagan; U.S. Senate too conservative for the New York Times. 5. February 24 edition of Notable Quotables . Gumbel's... continue reading
"Posh" GOP Fundraising; Communist OK -- He Sings Elvis 1. Several new revelations of illegality in Clinton fundraising , so what do ABC and NBC focus on? A legal Republican fundraising event. 2. So, you're the communist dictator of China. What interests CBS? Your ability to karaoke an Elvis tune. 3. The February MediaWatch Study : From mid-December through the end of January Gingrich scandal coverage tripled that given to Clinton. Clarification: The February 19 CyberAlert quoted Ron Silver's character on Chicago Hope demanding a government health care solution. I referred to the character as "Dr. Tommy Wilmette." In this... continue reading
CBS's Prime Time Sermon; Brokaw's Butt 1) All the networks speculate on the meaning of Starr's decision to leave, but NBC's Today has yet to discuss the China connection. 2) CBS gives a platform to a left-wing diatribe on Chicago Hope: "Health care is a right, just as education is, just as equal justice under law. The market place may be efficient but it is amoral." 3) People in Tom Brokaw's home town want to drive over his ass. 4) Larry King plays a liberal journalist in an ABC sit-com. What a stretch. 1 Independent Counsel Kenneth's Starr's announcement that... continue reading
Russert vs. Donaldson; Media Companies Love Democrats 1. Three more revelations on the Clinton scandal front but you'd have a hard time learning about them on TV's morning and evening shows. 2. Tim Russert treats news of a secret White House meeting as a very big deal , but ABC's George Stephanopoulos dismisses its importance. 3. The owners of CNN and ABC contributed much more in soft money to Democrats than Republicans in the 1995-96 cycle. 4. The Clinton Administration has paid Billy Dale's legal bills , but the media have almost universally ignored the move. 1) Here's an update... continue reading
ABC Too Arrogant to Debate Food Lion; Sawyer's Battle? 1. ABC too arrogant to debate accuracy of its Food Lion story , instead focusing its special on the use of hidden cameras while claiming they don't always stand by stories. 2. Brit Hume reveals why ABC is so adamant in defending their Food Lion story and planning to appeal the verdict. 1) "Most people support ABC News over Food Lion," USA Today's Peter Johnson reported February 13 in relaying the result of a Roper Center poll for the Media Studies Center. Of 1,001 people polled, "52 percent sided with ABC,... continue reading
China Tie Quickly Dropped; Horrible Hollywood Attack 1. The Chinese connection got the usual network reception : ignored at first, then one story, then dropped. 2. Peter Jennings analogizes a North Korean defector to Thomas Jefferson. 3. The Republican Party is controlled by "nasty" and "horrible men" who are "the forces of darkness." So says a Hollywood star. 1) After failing to report anything either Monday or Tuesday night about how Clinton Press Secretary Mike McCurry admitted that the White House coffees were designed to raise money, thus contradicting President Clinton's assurances, on Wednesday night (February 12) ABC's World News... continue reading
MRC Alert: Clinton Contradiction Not News; Swearing & Sex OK for Kids 1. Mike McCurry confirms that coffees were meant to raise money, thus contradicting Clinton's assurances. But only CNN reports it. 2. The first in-depth study is released comparing the new ratings on prime time entertainment shows to their reality. "Ass," "bastard," "suck" and "son of a bitch" fine for children. 3. ABC's Peter Jennings calls others "self-appointed guardians." And a Food Lion reminder. 1) Clinton fundraising update. The February 11 CyberAlert noted that none of the broadcast network evening shows Monday night picked up a Boston Globe story... continue reading
MRC Alert: Scandal Discoveries Ignored; Food Lion in Prime Time 1. Friday brought more news of Harold Ickes directing donations and news that big donors got a federal contract. The networks: No stories. 2. Sunday provided news of Jim McDougal implicating Clinton, more on overnight White House guests and money for Hubbell: Only ABC takes a look. 3. Monday a paper revealed questionable DNC ties to a tax-exempt group, and an admission that the coffees were a fundraising tool: The networks: Not a syllable about any of it. 4. Court TV and ABC to air specials on the Food Lion... continue reading
MRC Alert: Ickes Ignored; Too Little OJ; Not Reading National Review 1. Harold Ickes asked that evidence be destroyed and Kenneth Starr considers indicting top Clinton aides , but neither ABC or NBC find either newsworthy. 2. "That's sick," Gannett's Deborah Mathis says of the suggestion that some see Ralph Reed as a leader in the black community. 3. A top editor at a major daily worries that the media underplayed Tuesday's OJ verdict. 4. CBS offers Bryant Gumbel "big money" and a news magazine. Meanwhile, he's about to get the NAACP's top award. 5. Brit Hume reveals that "nobody..... continue reading