BusinessWeek Recap: How Expert Forecasts Shaped Up in
December 28th, 2007 4:54 PM
Are you a little skeptical when an economist or a financial strategist appears in the MSM, warning for the worst? A look back at the Dec. 25, 2006, “Where to Invest” issue of BusinessWeek gave us a measuring stick to see how frequently cited “experts” shaped up in 2007 – including New York Times regular Ian Shepherdson, Moody’s Economy.com economist Mark Zandi and Standard & Poor’s Chief…
Outlets Twist Good News on Iraq Into Bad, Except ABC & LA Times
December 19th, 2007 5:52 AM
Viewers of ABC's World News on Tuesday night learned of good news in the Pentagon's latest quarterly report on conditions in Iraq, but the positive developments went unnoted on CBS while NBC, the New York Times, Washington Post, USA Today, AP and McClatchy all stressed the negatives in the status report. ABC anchor Charles Gibson pointed out that “in the past, these reports have offered a…
Low Clothing Sales Foreshadow End of the World
December 18th, 2007 1:21 PM
If you watched the news in the last 24 hours, you'd think women's clothing sales were the barometer for the economy. All three major networks reported a 6-percent decrease in women's apparel sales this holiday season, calling the figure "ominous," "worrisome" and "a big deal." The only problem is that the corporation reporting the figures, Mastercard, didn't say it was that big of a deal. In fact…
Hillary on Stilts
December 16th, 2007 8:11 PM
It's been a rough day for Hillary. First, as noted here, she was drummed from pillar to post on ABC's "This Week." NewsBuster Noel Sheppard then detailed here how Chris Matthews' crew raked her over the coals. Now, completing Hillary's troika of tribulation, the CBS Evening News has gotten into the act.The development being reported was ostensibly positive for Hillary: the Des Moines Register…
Cafferty Calls Gore 'Pompous Jerk,' But Nets Value Bashing of U.S
December 14th, 2007 5:22 AM
At a UN conference in Bali, Al Gore blamed the U.S. for “obstructing progress” on global warming, an attack on his own nation which led CNN's Jack Cafferty, who usually slams Republicans and Democrats from the left, to castigate Gore as “a pompous jerk.” But Thursday's ABC and CBS evening newscasts favorably passed along Gore's agreement with European criticism of the U.S. With Gore's words on…
Couric Channeled Hillary But Challenges Romney to Denounce Giuliani's
December 11th, 2007 7:02 AM
Two weeks after she tossed softballs to Hillary Clinton and proclaimed “Clinton exudes confidence,” Katie Couric on Monday night didn't hail Romney's attitude, raised rifts amongst Republicans and pushed Mitt Romney to denounce other GOP presidential candidates. Back on Monday, November 26 she asked Clinton “how do you feel” about Oprah Winfrey campaigning for Back Obama? But exactly two weeks…
ABC, CBS & NBC Hype Kennedy's 'Cover-Up' Charge Over CIA Video
December 8th, 2007 2:57 AM
Taking their lead from liberal Democratic Senator Ted Kennedy, the three broadcast networks all screamed “cover-up” Friday night as ABC and NBC led with Democratic complaints about the CIA destroying video of some interrogations of terrorists while CBS made it the second story -- though Katie Couric teased it with “Cover-Up?” on screen under video of Kennedy. “Tonight, charges of a cover-up by…
MRC Study: As Surge Succeeds, Iraq News Gets Rarer
December 5th, 2007 11:43 AM
Back in September, when General David Petraeus reported that the surge in U.S. troops had improved the security situation in Iraq, the big three broadcast networks were openly skeptical."Insurgent attacks are down from 170 in January to 120 in August," ABC's Terry McCarthy noted on the September 9 World News Sunday, the day before Petraeus testified before Congress. "But that is still four…
CBS vs CBS, and ABC and NBC Too, on NIE Impact on Iran Sanctions
December 4th, 2007 9:28 PM
Reports on Tuesday's broadcast network evening newscasts all highlighted concerns the new National Intelligence Estimate (NIE), which concluded Iran stopped working on its nuclear weapons program in 2003, will reduce international pressure on Iran. But just a couple of minutes after CBS's Jim Axelrod asserted that “maintaining an international coalition to confront Iran will no doubt be trickier…
Media Warns of $100/Barrel Oil – Still Hasn’t Happened
December 3rd, 2007 1:44 PM
Remember when everyone was warning of impending economic collapse from oil reaching that mystical mark of $100 a barrel? Over the past two months, it has been on the way according to the media. But as of December 3, the price of crude has decreased - not increased as predicted."Crude briefly cracked $90 a barrel for the first time and analysts say that will soon trickle down to the pump," Alexis…
CBS ‘Early Show’ Discusses New Guiliani Scandal, Gave Hillary Pass
November 29th, 2007 6:43 PM
On Thursday’s CBS "Early Show," co-host Harry Smith teased the lead story of the day on a scandal involving Rudy Giuliani and the possible misuse of taxpayer money during Giuliani’s affair with now wife, Judith Nathan, "Republican front-runner Rudy Giuliani goes on the attack against Romney as the former New York Mayor's extramarital scandals of the past return to haunt his campaign." This story…