As U.S. Troops Succeed, Network News Retreats from Iraq War Story
February 1st, 2008 12:24 PM
After months of improving security in Iraq, the big network morning shows on Friday cited one horrific suicide bombing as proof that “mayhem and misery are back in Baghdad,” as CBS correspondent Mark Strassmann put it. But over the last five months, the broadcast networks have consistently reduced their coverage of Iraq, as if the story of American success in Iraq is less worthy of attention than…
'Mystique' Means 'Audacity of Hope' Has 'Rendezvous with Destiny
January 28th, 2008 9:49 PM
The broadcast network anchors and reporters were almost as giddy as Barack Obama over liberal Democrat Ted Kennedy's endorsement of the presidential candidate. ABC, CBS and NBC all led Monday night with it and ABC's David Wright adopted campaign slogans as he enthused about how “today the audacity of hope had its rendezvous with destiny. The Kennedy clan anointed Barack Obama a son of Camelot.”…
Networks Report Economic Stimulus Proposal as if it is Free Money
January 25th, 2008 8:39 PM
Nothing like going on the air and reporting the government is going to give you a check for x dollars - depending on your income - to please your viewers. But reporting about it as if there were no strings attached isn't straightforward. However, the glowing reception the $150-billion taxpayer-funded stimulus plan got from each of the network newscasts gave that impression last night. "Cash…
Newsweek's Meacham: Media Bias Is Toward Conflict, Not Ideology
January 22nd, 2008 4:02 PM
Although a recent Sacred Heart University poll indicated 45.4 percent of respondents thought journalists and broadcasters are mostly or somewhat liberal - the bias isn't ideologically driven according to Newsweek editor Jon Meacham. Meacham appeared on Comedy Central's January 21 "The Daily Show with Jon Stewart" and told viewers the media gear reporting toward conflict. "I absolutely…
‘Nightly News’ Takes Protectionist Tone for Foreign Investment Sto
January 17th, 2008 5:43 PM
American capitalism - it's so great even the Chinese Communist government loves it! That's sounds like it ought to be a bumper sticker, but the January 16 "NBC Nightly News" advised it is something we should be cautious of. Foreign investors have been on a buying spree in the U.S. stock markets - as stock prices have fallen with all the skittishness in the wake of the credit crunch. "…
Williams Delivers Friendly, Empathetic Segment With Hillary Clinton
January 16th, 2008 11:23 PM
Nine days after a glowing segment with Barack Obama, NBC's Brian Williams on Wednesday night again delivered a very friendly session with a Democratic presidential candidate, this time Hillary Clinton. Since the Iowa caucuses, Williams has not interviewed any of the Republican candidates for the NBC Nightly News, but last fall he did and displayed quite a contrast in approaches -- quizzing…
'Nightly News': Antarctic Ice Changes Man’s Fault; No Other Possibil
January 15th, 2008 3:02 PM
The penguins soon won’t have a home and it’s all our fault. You might get that impression after watching the January 14 “Our Planet” segment on “NBC Nightly News” about the ice shift in Antarctica. “In 2006, the Antarctic peninsula near South America lost 60 billion metric tons of ice; 132 billion tons disappeared in West Antarctica,” said Anne Thompson, NBC News chief environmental affairs…
‘Nightly News’ Spreads Fear Over Reverse Mortgages
January 11th, 2008 3:57 PM
Never underestimate the power of the media when it comes to taking something completely legitimate and distorting its image as if it is some shady racket. The January 10 "NBC Nightly News" gave that impression about reverse mortgages - a special type of home loan that allows a homeowner to convert some of the equity in his or her home into cash. These loans are geared toward senior citizens,…
MRC/NB's Bozell on Media's Softness on Obama, Hillary Clinton
January 11th, 2008 11:41 AM
The morning after appearing with NewsBusters senior editor Tim Graham at the National Press Club (pictures and audio from that event posted below) to discuss the media's lack of interest in Hillary Clinton's role in Clinton administration scandals, MRC president and NewsBusters publisher Brent Bozell appeared on the January 11 "Fox & Friends" to discuss NBC's gauzy treatment of Barack Obama.…
Brian Williams Lauds Obama's 'Beautiful, Soaring Concession Speech
January 10th, 2008 7:04 AM
On a Wednesday blog entry on The Daily Nightly, NBC anchor Brian Williams candidly admitted the media screwed up in expecting a massive Obama wave, but then said "virtually everyone got it wrong." He also said "Give us a few weeks – we will promptly forget the lessons of this debacle in polling, predictions and primary politics" and "live to screw up another day." But then, Williams went back to…
Williams Denies Pro-Barack Bias at NBC: 'That's Just Ridiculous
January 9th, 2008 7:15 AM
On his blog The Daily Nightly, NBC Nightly News anchor Brian Williams took offense at "spinning" about his Obama-swooning patter on MSNBC about how reporter Lee Cowan admitted they've found it hard to remain objective about the Obama phenomenon. NBC, biased? Williams said "rival political efforts" (the Clintons?) charged him with bias and that's "just ridiculous." The anchor demanded viewers look…
