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The 1,726th CyberAlert. Tracking Liberal Media Bias Since 1996
Tuesday May 25, 2004 (Vol. Nine; No. 89)
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2. GMA's Mantra: Wedding Video a "Public Relations Disaster"
3. Jennings Cites Bush's Low Approval, Not How He's Even with Kerry
4. CBS Skips How By 10-1 Public Thinks Prisoner Abuse Over-Covered
5. CNN &
USA Today Spike Poll Showing Journalists Lean Way to Left
Following the distribution of a video, given to the AP, which supposedly showed a wedding celebration hours before the U.S. bombed the site killing 40 Iraqis, including children, U.S. Army Brigadier General Mark Kimmitt on Monday showed picture of weapons, explosives and drugs they found at the scene and so, he observed, "the activities that we saw happening on the ground were somewhat inconsistent with a wedding party." But while CBS, CNN and NBC accurately conveyed what the Army found on scene and what Kimmitt meant by "inconsistent," ABC's Peter Jennings didn't mention the weapons found and implied that Kimmitt admitted that the video undermined the Army's claims: "A U.S. spokesman does acknowledge there are inconsistencies between its own reporting and what we see on the video." In contrast, CBS's David Hawkins played Kimmitt's "inconsistent" soundbite and then relayed how "Kimmitt produced more evidence, pictures of weapons, explosives and drugs that he says suggests there was a lot more going on there than singing and dancing." Later, on CNN's NewsNight, Pentagon reporter Barbara Starr played scenes from the video, then noted how Kimmitt said what they found was "inconsistent with a wedding party." She pointed out how the tent and musical instruments seen on the video were not found at the scene but, nonetheless, Army officials are looking at "whether it is possible there was a wedding at a fighter's safe house. As one official said, bad guys get married too." A fuller rundown of the May 24 evening newscast coverage on ABC, CBS and NBC: -- Jennings announced, on the May 24 World News Tonight, with video of men and kids dancing inside a tent beginning mid-way through his brief report: "The U.S. command in Iraq still says it believes a raid by U.S. forces last week in the desert near the Syrian border was on a base used by foreign fighters and not a wedding a celebration, despite amateur video obtained by the Associated Press which allegedly shows the wedding party just before the U.S. attack. A U.S. spokesman does acknowledge there are inconsistencies between its own reporting and what we see on the video."
-- Over on the CBS Evening News, David Hawkins in Iraq began by asserting that the video "challenges the U.S. military's claim that it did not attack a wedding party last week." He showed video of a bride arriving, guests dancing and a man singing and then noted how all but one are now dead. Viewers saw a clip of the organ player alive and then other video showing him dead along with a quick shot of a dead child. "But," Hawkins cautioned, "the new video raises new questions: When and where was it taken? Was this the same place the U.S. military insists was a safe house for terrorists?" -- NBC Nightly News anchor Tom Brokaw reported, over video of people singing and dancing followed by Kimmitt during the daily briefing: "New video, of Iraqis celebrating at a wedding party in West Iraq, has raised still more questions about a controversial U.S. air strike last week that killed 40 Iraqis. U.S. Army General Mark Kimmitt today questioned the video and denied that a U.S. gunship fired on a wedding party. He showed materials the United States says it gathered at the site, including weapons and drugs, saying they were quote 'inconsistent with a wedding celebration.' The Army continues to investigate that incident."
For a transcript of the May 24 briefing by Kimmitt, Deputy Director for Coalition Operations, go to: www.defenselink.mil
Question: "Steven Grey from the Sunday Times of London. Can you tell us, General Kimmitt, what the latest is on the investigation into the attack on the alleged wedding party last week?" 
Reporter Dave Marash soon narrated a full story recounting all of what the video showed, before he concluded: "A debate about the authenticity of this tape will continue, but many people in this part of the world are already accepting it at face value, creating yet another public relations disaster for the United States." And interviewing White House Communications Director Dan Bartlett, Gibson proposed: "You may have another public relations disaster on your hand [sic]. Last week, there was an air raid on the Iraqi-Syrian border, and the military has denied throughout that what was hit was a wedding party, but there is now video to indicate that that may be exactly what was hit." Gibson pressed Bartlett to agree that the President's approval ratings "are at the lowest they have ever been...because of Iraq and that the country is now disgusted?" Gibson announced up top, over scenes from the video of people dancing and singing: "President Bush will make a prime time speech tonight during an avalanche of bad news coming out of Iraq. What can he do to turn it around? Among the items of bad news: A public relations disaster now for the White House -- new video which reportedly shows an Iraqi wedding that the U.S. [is] accused of attacking last week."
News reader Robin Roberts set up a full story on the video: "Meanwhile, U.S. officials continue to insist last week's air strike in northern Iraq hit a safe house for foreign fighters. But a home video obtained by the Associated Press shows the wedding party witnesses say was targeted by U.S. forces. Here's ABC's Dave Marash." In his very first question to Bartlett, the MRC's Jessica Anderson noticed, Gibson raised the "public relations disaster" of the video: "We're going to turn again now to President Bush's speech on Iraq tonight, the first of a series of speeches he will give about turning control of Iraq over to Iraqis, and as the speeches begin, the bad news from Iraq continues. But this speech will be about turning control of Iraq over to Iraqis in just 37 days, but with so much violence the question is how does he do it? We turn to White House Communications Director Dan Bartlett. Dan, I'll get to the President's speech in a moment, but you may have another public relations disaster on your hand [sic]. Last week, there was an air raid on the Iraqi-Syrian border, and the military has denied throughout that what was hit was a wedding party, but there is now video to indicate that that may be exactly what was hit." Gibson's other questions, all aggressive, for Bartlett who appeared via satellite from the White House lawn: -- "Let me turn to the speech that the President will give today. His approval ratings, Dan, are at the lowest they have ever been. Is it the feeling at the White House this is because of Iraq and that the country is now disgusted?" -- "But elections are for the future. On June 30th, we have said we will turn over sovereignty to Iraqis. Is he going to tell us in the next few days to whom, specifically to whom we will give sovereignty?"
-- "Dan, in the last few days, a number of former commanders of U.S. forces in the Middle East have said we're in deep trouble in Iraq -- talking about General Zinni, General Hoar. I just want to play for you what they've said." It didn't take the word of some retired commanders to turn the media against the war.
On Monday night ABC's Peter Jennings highlighted how a new ABC News/Washington Post found that most of the public thinks America is bogged down in Iraq, that the administration lacks a clear plan for Iraq and how, "for the first time, fewer than half of the Americans we talked to, 47 percent, approve of Mr. Bush's overall job as President." But Jennings didn't mention how John Kerry is still unable to capitalize of Bush's troubles as Bush is still trusted more on honesty, strong leadership and consistency and to handle Iraq and terrorism. Plus, with Ralph Nader in the race Bush and Kerry are tied at 46 percent each. Without Kerry, it's still a statistical tie, at 49 percent for Kerry and 47 percent for Bush. In fewer words than Jennings used, Tuesday's Washington Post headlines managed to convey both falling approval for Bush's handling of Iraq as well as how he remains tied with Kerry. "Bush Poll Numbers on Iraq at New Low," declared the front page headline. The headline, however, on the jump page: "Despite Slippage on Iraq, Bush Runs Even With Kerry in Poll." Jennings opened the May 24 World News Tonight by citing the latest poll: "A new ABC News/Washington Post poll finds that nearly two-thirds [65 percent] of Americans think the U.S. is bogged down in Iraq. Nearly six in ten [58 percent] say the administration lacks a clear plan. And for the first time, fewer than half of the Americans we talked to, 47 percent, approve of Mr. Bush's overall job as President; 50 percent disapprove." Jennings cited no more poll numbers, and neither did any other reporters in subsequent stories, but the poll rundown, by ABC News polling analyst Gary Langer, posted on ABCNews.com, provides a look at how Bush is still ahead of Kerry in many areas as the race remains a dead-heat. An excerpt: Kerry draws just modest benefit from Bush's difficulties. He's got a scant five-point lead over Bush in trust to handle the economy, and it's Bush +6 in trust to handle Iraq and Bush +13 in trust to handle terrorism. But Bush did somewhat better against the Democratic candidate on all these a month ago. Bush continues to be better rated than Kerry in honesty, strong leadership and consistency; he's also much better rated in trust to handle a crisis and making the country more secure. However, 57 percent think Bush doesn't understand the problems of average Americans -- an important measure of empathy that, when present, can shield a president when the chips are down. And just 49 percent think Bush is "willing to listen to different points of view." Kerry does better on both of these, particularly the latter; 69 percent say he will listen to differing viewpoints. Like views of his handling of the war on terrorism, Bush's rating on making the country "safer and more secure" may be crucial to his re-election prospects; these are the wellsprings of his support. And there's trouble here for the president: Last fall 63 percent said he's made the country safer and more secure; today 52 percent say so. At the same time, this is another area where Kerry has not capitalized. Fewer, 39 percent, think he would make the country safer. Dead Heat In a three-way matchup among registered voters, Bush has 46 percent support, Kerry 46 percent and Ralph Nader 4 percent; it was a similar 48 percent-43 percent-6 percent last month. Two-way it's also tied, 47 percent for Bush to 49 percent for Kerry, also about the same as last month. There is something of a shift in the nature of Bush's support: Fewer Bush voters -- 77 percent, down from 86 percent -- are mainly "for" him rather than "against" Kerry. Most Kerry voters, though, remain mainly "against" Bush. One possible reason Kerry's having trouble with traction is that his positions are much less well-known than Bush's. Two-thirds of Americans feel they have a good handle on Bush's positions on specific issues; for Kerry, this falls to 42 percent. As in any incumbent election, the basic question is whether Kerry, as he becomes better known, can stand as an acceptable alternative for those who're disenchanted with Bush.... END of Excerpt
For ABCNews.com's rundown of the poll: abcnews.go.com
The CBS Evening News on Monday night relayed seven findings in a new CBS News poll, including how John Kerry has an eight-point lead over President Bush and how most think a President can change the price of gas. But though four different stories cited numbers from the poll, CBS ignored how ten times more of those surveyed feel the prisoner abuse story has been over-covered as under-covered. Asked if the media have spent "too much" or "too little" time on the abuse scandal, 61 percent said "too much" compared to a mere 6 percent who answered "too little." That's an even greater disparity than CBS found two weeks ago when the split was 49 percent to 8 percent. Dan Rather and the CBS Evening News spiked that finding too, as documented in the May 13 CyberAlert: Rather trumpeted how a new CBS News poll found "public support for the war in Iraq has fallen to its lowest level yet" and "the President's overall job approval rating in the latest poll is at a new low, 44 percent." But Rather skipped how the survey discovered that a majority don't want any more prisoner abuse pictures to be released and 49 percent believe the media have spent too much time on the prisoner abuse story, compared to a mere 6 percent who think it's been under-covered. See: www.mediaresearch.org Those who felt the media were giving the "right amount" to the prisoner abuse matter fell from 41 to 32 percent.
For the CBSNews.com rundown of the poll: www.cbsnews.com On screen, CBS displayed side-by-side photos of Kerry, with 49 percent, and Bush, at 41 percent. John Roberts previewed Bush's speech and cited two more poll findings: That 61 percent disapprove of Bush's handling of Iraq and that 65 percent believe the U.S. is headed on the "wrong track." Next, Byron Pitts looked at how John Kerry is addressing Iraq. Pitts noted how 32 percent believe the situation in Iraq will get better if Kerry wins, 27 percent if Bush does. Pitts also pointed out how 29 percent of those who support Kerry "strongly favor" him while 35 percent do so "with reservations" and 34 percent back Kerry because they "dislike Bush." Finally, in a story on rising gas prices, Anthony Mason noted how when asked in the poll, "Are gas prices something a President can do a lot about?", 58 percent answered yes, 33 percent no.
Rather's decision to publicize the Kerry beating Bush number at least makes him fairly consistent in almost always noting when Kerry is in the lead. As recounted in the April 29 CyberAlert:
CNN and USA Today spiked how a new poll documented how the biggest and most influential national media outlets are packed with liberals. The Pew Research Center for the People and the Press survey, released on Sunday, of reporters, editors, producers and executives for national media outlets, found five times more identify themselves as liberal, 34 percent, than conservative, a mere 7 percent, with another 54 percent claiming to be moderate. But in citing the poll on Monday's Inside Politics, Judy Woodruff ignored the finding about the ideologies of journalists and in a 400-word USA Today article, which was accompanied by a table with some results, Peter Johnson didn't find it worth mentioning either, though he found space to summarize a left-wing group's study which claimed that NPR is conservative because it interviews more Republicans than Democrats and a lot of white men -- as if white men can't be liberal. Monday's Washington Post story by Howard Kurtz recited the liberal v conservative percent of journalists, as did Mark Jurkowitz's Boston Globe story. On his FNC show Monday night, Brit Hume devoted a "Grapevine" item to the ideology of the journalists and he focused a panel segment on the subject. But that wasn't Judy Woodruff's interest, the MRC's Ken Shepherd noticed. On the May 24 Inside Politics, she asserted: "Television journalists working for local and national media outlets appear somewhat divided about how reporters are treating the Bush administration. In a new Pew Research Center poll, more than half of the national journalists say White House coverage has not been critical enough, while only one-fourth of local reporters agree. Only eight percent of national journalists say the press has been too critical of the President, while 25 percent of local reporters say the media have been too critical." "Survey: Profit pressures worry most journalists," read the headline over Peter Johnson's "Media Mix" article in Monday's USA Today in which he skipped over the documented ideological skew. An excerpt: Journalists are increasingly concerned that bottom-line pressure is hurting the quality of news coverage, says a new Pew study of 547 national and local reporters, editors and executives. Though journalists at national print and electronic news organizations have a gloomier view of the business than their local brethren, both groups indicate rising concern about the effect of profit pressures. Concern rose from 41% of national journalists in 1995 to 49% in 1999 and 66% polled in March. Local: 33% in 1995, 46% in 1999 and 57% now. One dissent came from executives at national news organizations: 57% feel increased profit pressures are ''mostly just changing the way news organizations do things'' rather than undermining quality.... The poll found that journalists believe the media pay too little attention to complex issues and show increasingly timid coverage: 55% of national journalists and 37% of local ones say coverage of President Bush, for example, has not been critical enough. Although journalists are concerned over factual errors in news reports, there is no indication that recent reporter scandals at The New York Times and USA TODAY are dimming journalists' views of their profession.... Cynicism -- a constant knock against the press -- is waning, journalists say. Just 37% of national reporters and 40% of local ones view the press as too cynical, down from 53% and 51%, respectively, in 1999. Among Internet journalists, just 24% view the press as too cynical, down from 48% five years ago.... END of Excerpt The second of Johnson's two "Media Mix" items: "NPR: Going 'Right'?" That article began: "National Public Radio, which conservatives have long labeled 'liberal,' relies on largely the same range of sources that dominate mainstream commercial news, airing more Republican than Democratic voices, and with male sources outnumbering female sources by nearly four to one." For both of Johnson's May 24 stories: www.usatoday.com For the May 24 CyberAlert item with more findings from the Pew poll, along with links to the full rundown of the survey: www.mediaresearch.org -- Brent Baker
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ABC's Good Morning America on Monday morning delivered a mantra about how the video, of the wedding party in Iraq, which ABC presumed was an accurate depiction of an innocent celebration hours before the U.S. mistakenly bombed the site and killed 40 Iraqis, was "a public relations disaster" for Bush and the U.S. Co-host Charles Gibson touted at the top of the May 24 broadcast: "A public relations disaster now for the White House -- new video which reportedly shows an Iraqi wedding that the U.S. [is] accused of attacking last week." 
