Networks Sidestep Sotomayor’s Repudiation of Obama’s ‘Empathy

July 15th, 2009 2:11 PM
Two months ago, as President Obama was contemplating a replacement for retiring Supreme Court Justice David Souter, many in the media elite — particularly NBC News reporters and anchors — sycophantically touted Obama’s credentials as a constitutional law professor as evidence of his deep experience when it came to the judiciary.Yesterday, however, Obama’s pick for the Court, Judge Sonia Sotomayor…

CBS Ignores Sotomayor’s Multiple ‘Wise Latina’ Comments

July 15th, 2009 1:13 PM
Reporting on Sonia Sotomayor responding to questions about her "wise Latina" comments during Tuesday’s confirmation hearing, CBS’s Wyatt Andrews glossed over the multiple times she made the remark: "What did she mean in her 2001 speech to Hispanic law students at the University of California that "a wise Latina woman...would reach a better conclusion than a white male?" In addition to the Evening…

Nets, But Not CNN, Bury Sotomayor's Admission of 'Wise Latina' v 'Wise

July 15th, 2009 10:51 AM
CNN's Wolf Blitzer late Tuesday afternoon characterized it as “an incredibly important exchange” and a “very, very dramatic moment” when Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor “concurred” with Senator Lindsey Graham that he would have paid a heavy price if he had ever maintained “a wise white man would make better decisions than a Latina,” yet neither ABC nor NBC mentioned in their evening…

All Three Nets To Interview Obama About Healthcare Wednesday

July 14th, 2009 8:06 PM
President Obama's healthcare initiative is currently in a lot of trouble on Capitol Hill as legislators grapple with finding money -- amidst staggering budget deficits and a declining economy -- to fund the new program.As a result, on Wednesday, the news divisions of all three broadcast networks have decided to come to Obama's rescue, and on the very same evening, air interviews with the…

Networks Barely Cover 'Jane Roe's' Arrest

July 14th, 2009 1:32 PM

CBS Again Insists Sotomayor No Ideologue; Scant Attention to Plunge in

July 13th, 2009 9:02 PM
On the first day of Senate hearings, CBS's Wyatt Andrews on Monday night again insisted Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor cannot be categorized ideologically and highlighted how “the hearing marked the first spotlight moment for former comedian, now Senator, Al Franken who cast himself as new but ready,” all before anchor Katie Couric fretted “some Republicans didn't really treat her with kid…

CBS: World Leaders ‘Relieved’ Obama President Instead of Bush

July 10th, 2009 12:44 PM
On Thursday’s CBS Evening News, correspondent Chip Reid described the relief of world leaders at the G-8 Summit that Barack Obama was representing the United States: "...the President showed yet again he's the most popular leader here...And some leaders said they're relieved that President Obama is here instead of President Bush."Reid’s report focused on Obama’s efforts to get world leaders to…

CBS: Palin Resignation Source of ‘Frustration’ In Alaska and GOP

July 7th, 2009 2:54 PM
On Monday’s CBS Evening News, correspondent Terry McCarthy described reaction to Sarah Palin’s decision to resign as governor of Alaska: "After her bombshell announcement Friday, Sarah Palin has essentially vanished, to the frustration of some Alaskans...Even her allies in the Republican Party are perplexed."The story featured a clip of one Alaskan resident declaring: "I don't think it's right…

CBS Highlights Tea Party Protests on July

July 7th, 2009 3:30 AM
On Saturday’s broadcast network evening newscasts, the CBS Evening News uniquely gave attention to the tea parties that were inspired by the Tax Day Tea Parties from April. Anchor Jeff Glor set up the report: "In scores of communities tonight, people spent their Fourth of July not celebrating but protesting. Taking a cue from the 1773 Boston Tea Party, they rallied against federal tax and…

Seven Soldiers Killed in Afghanistan Get 1/20th Time Given to Jackson

July 7th, 2009 2:39 AM
Two days after Sunday's Washington Post carried a letter from a woman who asked “where was the coverage of my nephew or the other soldiers” who were killed in the days after Michael Jackson died, attacks in Afghanistan took the lives of seven U.S. soldiers, but their deaths earned a total of less than one minute combined on the ABC, CBS and NBC evening newscasts on Monday night -- 1/20th the time…

FNC Highlights Baseless Lawsuits Hitting Palin

July 6th, 2009 2:12 PM
As the broadcast network evening newscasts on Friday reported on Sarah Palin's decision to resign as Alaska's Governor, they gave little attention to the toll taken on the Governor by the onslaught of frivolous lawsuits from her political enemies. But, by contrast, FNC gave much of the credit for Palin's decision to these lawsuits that have tied up the Governor's time and forced her family to…

CBS Report Echoes DNC's Partisan Anti-Palin Slam

July 6th, 2009 11:12 AM
As the broadcast network evening newscasts reported Friday on Sarah Palin's decision to resign as Alaska's governor, some of the negative wording on the CBS Evening News sounded eerily similar to the partisan statement attacking Palin that was released by the Democratic National Committee, which was quoted the same evening on FNC's Fox Report, and on Special Report with Bret Baier.As she began…

Katie Couric Named 'Giant of Broadcasting

July 4th, 2009 10:32 AM
Although having the lowest rated broadcast evening news program, Katie Couric was just named a "Giant of Broadcasting."Such was announced by the Library of American Broadcasting (h/t TVNewser):Honoring a lengthening line of excellence tracing back to broadcasting’s beginnings. Under the guidance of Charles Osgood, America’s Master of Ceremonies, at noon on October 1, 2009 (11:30 Reception &…

NBC's Todd: Palin Will Attract 'Car-Wreck Watchers;' All Call Palin De

July 3rd, 2009 8:46 PM
Sarah Palin's “bombshell” holiday announcement that she will resign as Governor of Alaska managed to trump Michael Jackson as the lead on the ABC, CBS and NBC evening newscasts Friday night as NBC's Chuck Todd predicted she will now make fundraising appearances for GOP candidates where she'll draw in “car-wreck watchers.” CBS reporter Nancy Cordes reflected the tone of the stories when she…