ABC, CBS, NBC PROMOTING ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION AS HEROIC, PAINTING TOUGH CURBS ON ILLEGALS AS ‘FAR RIGHT’ HARSHNESS

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Monday Aug 28, 2006

CONTACT: TIM SCHEIDERER OR COLLEEN O’BOYLE AT 703.683.5004

Alexandria, VA—A new Media Research Center study released today shows that for this past spring’s extensive coverage of illegal immigration, the broadcast networks – ABC, CBS, and NBC – largely portrayed illegals and their lobbyists as heroic and deserving of support while proponents of secure borders were portrayed as “harsh” and “hard line.” This spin defies polls showing upwards of 90 percent of Americans view illegal immigration as a serious problem.

This blatant disconnect between the views of the American people and the elite media, as well as the administration, on the issue of illegal immigration is startling and fully detailed in the MRC Special Report, Election in the Streets.

“This new MRC study proves that the liberal media at ABC, CBS, and NBC have a left-wing political agenda when it comes to illegal immigration, and they will ignore the views of most Americans and misinform the public and our policy leaders to advance that agenda,” said MRC President L. Brent Bozell III. “Journalists must provide a complete, balanced picture of the immigration crisis and stop peddling propaganda.”

Major points in the study include the following:

309 broadcast network news stories were analyzed between March 24 and May 31, showing that in contrast to hundreds of words emphasizing a huge “wave” of “pro-immigrant” activism, the networks aired only 16 mentions of nationwide polls on immigration. ABC, CBS, and NBC largely ignored poll numbers – including from their own polls – proving that overwhelming majorities of Americans see illegal immigration as “out of control.”
Networks gave advocates for amnesty and guest-worker plans twice as many sound bites as those wanting tighter border control.
Networks used the “conservative” label 89 times while “liberal” was used only 3 times – all by ABC. CBS and NBC never tagged those pushing for more lenient policies as “liberal.”
Only 6 stories discussed how illegals cost more to government than they provide in taxes.
Networks never questioned the propriety of illegals protesting and lobbying on immigration while in violation of federal laws.

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 703.683.5004.