Washington Post Coverage of March for Life Criticized as Biased

Life News ^ | 1/23/07 | Steven Ertelt

[wagglebee]

Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- The national media appears to be providing less and less coverage of the national March for Life even though it continues to attract a couple hundred thousand pro-life advocates from across the country every year. One media watchdog singled out the Washington Post for its biased coverage of the pro-life event.

Tim Graham of the Media Research Center says the Post buried its coverage of the pro-life march on A-10 of the newspaper, putting it in the national section but well after other, lesser important news stories.

Graham said reporters Michael Alison Chandler and Michelle Boorstein gave a "respectful" account of the march and provided a balanced story, but added that the pictures accompanying the article didn't give the proper sense of how many pro-life people attended.

"The story was illustrated by color photos, but in a far too common tactic, the Post balanced a picture of four pro-life demonstrators ... against a photo of four or five feminists," he explained. "One side turns out tens of thousands, and the other turned out tens."

He said the Post didn't balance the photos when it came to rallies and counter-protests on other political issues. Graham also said the length of the news stories on other marches and rallies is typically longer than what the March for Life received.

"It would be nice for the Post to use a broader photo showing the size of the crowd. But I have no doubt that considering the Democratic majorities in the new Congress, Post staffers felt the pro-life protest couldn't be less relevant or newsworthy," Graham concluded.

Before the March for Life, Graham highlighted how the Post provided no preview story.

Instead, the Post merely put in a graphic on page B-4 noting which street would be closed by the march and listed that right above a box mentioning events from Planned Parenthood and NARAL.

Other media outlets weren't much better, according to media watchdog Tom Blumer:

Sam Hananel of the Associated Press only referred to "thousands of cheering abortion foes" in his report, the AP's primary story about the march referred to "thousands of abortion foes," and the New York Times Sarah Abruzzese's main report referred to "thousands of abortion opponents."

The Times' story "President Bush for not addressing the crowd in person ("phoning it in"), even though previous pro-life presidents (Bush 41 and Reagan) began what has come to be a tradition, and despite the fact that the logistics of presidential security in such a throng would be daunting."

"Every year for the past 34 years, hundreds of thousands of prolife advocates have marched in Washington. In almost every year, the March for Life has been the single largest demonstration taking place in the nation's capital," Blumer said.

"And every year for the past 34 years, incontrovertible evidence that what has become the formerly Mainstream Media is incorrigibly biased," he concluded.

[wagglebee]

Typical of the Washington Compost.

[wagglebee]

Pro-Life Ping

[newconhere]

I did not see it mentioned on any forum, MSM and/or cable networks. None! I would not have known it was going on if I hadnt have read it on FR.... and my church parish!

[Spok]

Do they still pretend not to be partisan? Eventually, they'll have to admit that which is obvious to everyone else.

[wagglebee]

Eventually, they'll have to admit that which is obvious to everyone else.

It's entirely conceivable that they will be defunct before that occurs.

[ReleaseTheHounds]

No one should be surprised by this report. For the ~1,000 Freepers who spontaneously showed up outside the Naval Observatory in November 2000 shouting to VP Gore and Family: "Get Out of Cheney's House!", they will remember that there were perhaps 10 counter-protestors on Algore's behalf... in the Washington Post report the next day, there on page 1 above the fold was a picture of the VP's few supporters when the crowd shot would have been of 1,000 FREEPERS proudly shouting out the VP. Never have I seen a more graphic demonstration of the bias of the Wash Compost.... But what a fun time we had!

[donna]

They need to do something shocking to get on the network news.

I suggest that at a precise time, they lay down unmoving on the road in perfect silence gazing at the sky. (Just as long as they can stand it because of the cold.)

They could sound trumpets as a signal to start and stop the demonstration.

A bunch of Christians acting in unison will scare the heck out of the media.

[sgtbono2002]

Never---Never---Never----Ever,expect anything fair or balanced from the Com Post.

[Always Right]

Washington Post Coverage of March for Life Criticized as Biased

Breaking, bears crap in the woods.

[Clintonfatigued]

The pro-life movement is one of the greatest success stories in American politics today. They don't believe it because Roe vs. Wade is still law, but they have changed the minds of millions of people over the years. There is truly the possibility that it will be overturned in our lifetimes.

[incredulous joe]

I was there. What a great day!

Coverage of the March by "mainstream media" is a running joke among attendees. I'm afraid that they would need to do something drastic to really bring attention to themselves and most of the folks at these Marches simply are not that type of citizenry,...yet.

I attended the Youth Rally at the Verizon Center with the middle school students that I taught last year. The place was packed with 20,000 cheerful, happy and youthful faces - right up to the rafters. There were unusually large contingents of individuals from Florida, Maine and Kansas. All seemed very well organized with colorful caps, scarves and tees to help chaperons keep watchful tabs on their respective herds. An unusually large (and boisterous) group from Saginaw, Michigan took up an entire section in the lower level. They were totally decked out in red and easily created the most noise among the groups. I could tell they were having a lot of fun, too.

The mood was raucous from the time that I entered the building at a little after 7:30 am. Our group of 30 arrived via bus from Buckeystown, Maryland. We scored some lower level seating and the kids had a great time dancing and singing to the music of Steve Agrisiano, The Who Do You Say that I am Band and Canandian songstress, Janelle.

When the Mass began at 10:00 am you could've heard a pin drop.

After the Mass, we dismissed pretty quickly and marched a few blocks from the Verizon Center down 7th Street to the Mall, where we met up with a larger contingent whose numbers I could not estimate. Actually, I couldn't see the whole group from my vantage point. However the Mall was already pretty well populated with marchers and this was before our 20,000 came into the mix.

The groups that were already on the Mall seemed to be made up of various Christian denominations. I saw signs for Presbyterians, Baptists, Orthodox Episcopalians and Lutherans. I saw what I believe were Greek Orthodox or Byzantine Rite Priests, with long dark beards and the tall black headpieces (which I do not know what they are called). I also spied a Jews for Life and a huge Liberals for Life banner (I don't know what that entails, but I was grateful, none the less). Our kids had fanned out and we pulled back together at this point. We were trailed by a pretty large group of seminarians from Philadelphia. It was pretty cool with all these groups of Christians coming together as one and assembling on the Mall. There was some confusion here, and apparently some delays due to the snow that occurred the night before. It gave us some extra time to talk amongst ourselves and chat with our neighboring groups of Marchers. Some of our students sidled up to an EWTN reporter and managed to mug for pics from behind the scene. One of our students received a cell call from family at home that they had been spotted on camera. Of course, they were beside themselves. "Tape it!"

The temperature was just a little above freezing. It was damp and brisk, but not bitter and not a complaint from any to be heard. A half-dozen deserted signs provided the only sour note to this part of the journey; three young nuns came running along the pathway with the last one taking a flyer on one of the plastic signs which was covered with ice and snow. I caught her before she hit the ground and we all had a chuckle before the founder of our school and I gathered up and found a place to dispose of the unattended signs.

As always, the young people at the March are awesome! As the March itself is not very well covered by media I believe this aspect is lost on many who are unable to make it. It's a big deal for young folks; teen-agers, college students and twenty-somethings. They could be seen in droves snapping off digital pics to be sent over cellphones, exchanging contact info and text messaging friends and family not attending. Many of the pro-life youth wore tees and sweats with little cleverly humorous quotes like "Abortion is Mean", "I survived Roe v. Wade" or "Abortion SUCKS - the life right out of you." I saw one college-aged girl sporting a hot pink top which stated "Virginity Rocks!"

Excuse me,...but where can I get one of those for my daughter?

Of course there were also lots of mature Marchers, too. Many of whom have probably been on the job since before some of the youngsters were even born. Many of them also endured lengthy travels to arrive at the event. All smiles and blessings despite the delays and the chilly temperatures. I met one Father Dowling - who I am quite certain was into his retirement - from the Diocese of Savannah a the McDonald's in the Air and Space Museum later in the afternoon and he seemed as happy as could be despite the obvious difficulty that he had walking. He had left on a bus from Georgia at 7:00 am the previous day, Sunday.

This was my second year at the March and something that I could not have prepared myself for last year was the mood and temperament of this event; while I had expected that the mood be somewhat dower or somber it is joyous and hope filled. Last year I was somewhat nervous about chaperoning other people's children through stadium sized crowds in our nation's capital. I was concerned about potential conflicts with pro-abort activists, and while I never actually encounter one their photos always seem to make the papers the following day.

What an excellent and blessed day. I went once and now I don't see a day when I won't be attending this event in the future, unless of course - and hopefully - Roe v. Wade is overturned. Regardless, of this reality there is much "groundwork" to be done by pro-lifers; lot's of teaching of young people, many heart to hearts, letters to the editor and prayers to be prayed. It's so much more than just one law, which I realize most pro-lifers understand. It's about creating a culture in which murdering one's own children is no longer accepted, or for that matter flaunted and celebrated.

If you haven't been, please plan to come next year. You won't be sorry. If you have been, bring a friend. If you've brought a friend before organize a church group or charter a bus. Look for me, I'll be wearing a gold scarf and a green orioles cap and I promise you that I'll have a big smile on my face!

God bless!

[wagglebee]

I haven't been in several years, I had planned to come this year but I had some family obligations that I couldn't get out of.

Thank you for your wonderful account and for making your voice heard.

God Bless.

[8mmMauser]

It is an old trick of the leftist media. Back in the days of the Reagan campaign, the media would focus on empty fields, gaps in crowds, and always downplay attendance. Meanwhile Jimmuh Carter's rallies were almost empty, but that was hardly mentioned.

Pinged from Terri Dailies

8mm

[Leftism is Mentally Deranged]

There is no doubt that the WP is completely and totally biased. There are no redeeming factors with that paper. They no longer try to hide it.

[sauropod]

.

[YourAdHere]

There was a free copy of the Post on my doorstep the other day. I called them up and told them to remove it before I call the police.

[incredulous joe]

I understand how it is with obligations. I've been very fortunate these last two years.

If you mak it out next year bring some friends - and by all means young friends, too. While this stuff is a bit of an adventure for this 43 year old. It is apparent to me as I see the looks on my students' collective faces that this is a life changing and life affirming experience for them!

What an awesome and unexpected blessing the Lord has sent me! Nothing that I could have possibly dreamed up, as I cursed my alarm clock at 3:45 am on that snowy morning, could match such an opportunity as to be there with these young people!

[T'wit]

Thanks, joe, that was a delightful and informative report.

[incredulous joe]

No sweat. Glad you enjoyed the post.

I think the Post reporters were attending a different rally. I nearly find it embarressing to see how they manage to work the stories from such contrived angles.

It's funny and embarressing all at the same time.

[T'wit]

>> I think the Post reporters were attending a different rally

On a different planet.

Nothing new there :-)