MRC War Coverage Study Praises Fox News, CBS And Embedded Reporters - Press Release - April 23, 2003

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 23, 2003

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:
Katie Wright at (703) 683-5004 ext. 132

The Networks’ War Coverage Report Card:

MRC War Coverage Study Praises
Fox News, CBS And Embedded Reporters

Wolf Blitzer, Dan Rather, Tom Brokaw and the Late David Bloom
Far Outdistance Peter Jennings and Peter Arnett

ALEXANDRIA, Va. --- The Media Research Center today released its report card for network war coverage, issuing grades for overall network reporting, anchors, embedded reporters and Baghdad reporters. Fox News Channel led the networks while Fox’s Brit Hume, CNN’s Wolf Blitzer and CBS’s Dan Rather had the best grades among the anchors. Among the worst grades were those given to ABC News anchor Peter Jennings and NBC/MSNBC reporter Peter Arnett, who was actually fired for his propaganda-like comments in an interview with Iraqi television.

“Fox News did the best job of all the networks, and Fox anchors Brit Hume and Shepard Smith were especially strong. Dan Rather and Tom Brokaw actually did fairly steady jobs, far outdistancing Peter Jennings who couldn’t seem to find any merit to American military or foreign policy, wrongly predicted the war would last long, and stressed the Americans’ inability to win support among the Iraqi people,” said Brent Bozell, president of the Media Research Center.

The War Coverage Network Report Card

*Networks*
Fox News Channel	B
CBS	B-
NBC/MSNBC	C+
CNN	C+
ABC	D-

*Anchors*
Brit Hume, FNC	A
Wolf Blitzer, CNN	B+
Dan Rather, CBS	B+
Shepard Smith	B+
Tom Brokaw	B
Aaron Brown	B-
Brian Williams	B-
Peter Jennings	F

Embedded Reporters

Best:

1. David Bloom, NBC/MSNBC

2. Walter Rodgers, CNN

3. Greg Kelly, FNC

Worst:

1. Ted Koppel, ABC

Baghdad Reporters

Best:

1. John Burns, CBS

Worst:

1. Peter Arnett, NBC/MSNBC

2. Richard Engel, ABC

“Embedded reporters excelled when they acted as the viewers’ eyes and ears in Iraq. The late David Bloom of NBC, in his innovative Bloommobile, was the star of the group, offering hours of riveting live coverage of the Third Infantry’s historic drive toward Baghdad, including a powerful sandstorm that turned day into night. On the other hand, Fox’s Geraldo Rivera embarrassed himself and his network by stupidly revealing information that jeopardized American lives. He apologized and accepted his rebuke but his gaffe was the low-point for FNC’s otherwise exemplary coverage,” said Richard Noyes, director of research for the Media Research Center.

To schedule an interview with Mr. Noyes, or another Media Research Center spokesperson, contact Katie Wright at (703)-683-5004, ext. 132.