STUDY: TV TRUMPETS MILITARY SCANDALS, BUT CONTINUES TO HIDE HEROISM

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Monday, June 12, 2006

CONTACT: TIM SCHEIDERER OR COLLEEN O’BOYLE AT 703.683.5004

As News Of A U.S. Military Success Spreads …

STUDY: TV TRUMPETS MILITARY SCANDALS, BUT CONTINUES TO HIDE HEROISM

Bozell: “The Networks Bury Stories of America’s Heroes And Instead Devote Hours of Airtime To Unproven Charges”

Alexandria, VA—As the U.S. military eliminated terrorist menace Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, the Media Research Center released a new study documenting the media’s practice of highlighting unconfirmed allegations of military misconduct while ignoring proven military heroism. The new study found the networks in the past three weeks produced more than four times more coverage of alleged misconduct than they’ve produced about America’s top heroes in the War on Terror in the past five years.

“Today, the American people want to take a victory lap with our military,” said Media Research Center President Brent Bozell. “They want to thank the troops for their skill, courage, and heroism. But the media don’t want to commend our troops. Our study found the networks bury stories of America’s heroes, and instead devote hours of airtime to unproven charges.

Key Findings of new study “Touting Military Misdeeds, Hiding Heroes”

In only three weeks, the networks devoted 3 hours and 30 minutes to misconduct allegations connected to Haditha, compared to a mere 52 minutes of reporting on the top 20 military heroes since September 2001.
14 of the country’s top 20 military medal recipients have gone unmentioned by ABC, CBS and NBC – stories that are proven, public information, not held in secret.
CBS presented more than twice as much coverage (28½ minutes) of these 20 heroes as either ABC or NBC (each about 11 minutes, 45 seconds).

To schedule an interview with MRC President Bozell or an MRC spokesperson, please contact Tim Scheiderer (x. 126) or Colleen O’Boyle (x. 122) at 703.683.9733.