Posted on 12/19/2003 7:14:11 AM PST by bert
December 17th, 2003 Contact: Matthew T. Felling (202) 223-2942
TV News Turned Sour on Bush After Iraq War Ended
Study: President's Coverage Dipped Sharply After “Mission Accomplished” Event
WASHINGTON, DC- Evaluations of President Bush on the network evening news shows dropped from 56 percent positive during the Iraq war to only 32 percent positive during the six months that followed the end of formal military activity, according to a new study by the Center for Media and Public Affairs (CMPA). Coverage of Bush administration policies nose-dived from 49 percent positive to only 26 percent positive, a 3-to-1 negative ratio, during the same period.
These findings come from CMPA’s study of 1,876 stories (54 hours, 36 minutes) on the Bush administration on ABC, CBS and NBC nightly news broadcasts from May 1st through October 31st. A previously released CMPA study examined network evening news coverage during the war. According to CMPA President Dr. Robert Lichter, "The media may back a president while their country is at war, but they soon get back to their usual war against the president."
Other major findings: No News Is Good News: The reconstruction of Iraq was by far the most hotly debated topic, attracting seven times as many evaluations as any other policy area. The president's efforts were widely panned, attracting 77 percent negative comments. He fared even worse on his handling of the U.S. economy - 84 percent negative (a 5-to-1 ratio). Among other frequent topics of debate, four out of five sources were critical of the president's handling of national defense and international terrorism, and three out of four criticized his tax policies. Homeland security issues fared best with 36 percent positive ratings.
All Quiet on the Home Front: The heavy emphasis on Iraq (969 stories) and defense (511) left little airtime for other news. The U.S. economy was the focus of only 80 stories in six months, one-twelfth as many as Iraq. Among the topics that attracted one story per week or less were the environment (25 stories), unemployment (24 stories), crime (21), and education (14).
Network Comparisons: Despite having given the most favorable coverage to the war, CBS was toughest on President Bush in its aftermath with 77 percent negative evaluations, followed by ABC with 67 percent negative and NBC with 62 percent negative comments.
Reversal of Fortune: The media's postwar turnaround in coverage reversed the upswing that occurred after the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, when President Bush’s coverage surged from only 36 percent positive during his first eight months in office to 63 percent positive through the end of the year.
Sample positive: "This [tax plan] is at the very least important insurance to facilitate stronger growth." - economist, ABC, 5/22
Sample negative: "...the Iraqis were not in possession of chemical and biological weapons, and therefore pre-emptive use of force was not justified." - military analyst, NBC, 9/26
CCRM ping
Cogito, ergo FReepum
CCRM is a Free Republic Network affiliate working to reduce media bias.
For a comprehensive overview of Freeper thoughts on Liberal Media bias, check out our website by clicking on graphic, or HERE: We call it Fairpress.org.
This thread is evidence that liberal bias is still with us. Come join our team and engage in the battle against the Liberal Media.
Gonna be interesting to see precisely how this new management manifests in the final product, eh?
First thing that struck me upon hearing this developement was how reminiscent of a scene right outa Network this is.
...Happy Holidays to you & yours, bert.
Well agreed, you're absolutely correct as usual.
Still, what does it mean & where will it lead?
...something to look forward to seeing play out in '04, eh?
The center of the universe!
Just another reason to get working.
Help me!
FoxNews should grab up Joe Scarborough, though! He's the greatest!!!!!!!!!!!
There's a guy named Jeff Zucker, who, started out at NBC running the "Today Show".
He soon rose to head up NBC's entire "Entertainment Division" & if I understand what [recently] happened correctly?
The powers that be [read: General Electric] at NBC have now consolidated NBC, CNBC, & MSNBC's News Divisions & put all 3 under this Jeff Zucker guy s control.
Now do a Google on Jeff Zucker & read about "who" the man is & what he represents.
There's been much written on the guy & his meteoric rise up the corporate ladder at NBC, OK?
After you've done so, you tell me what this [huge] move really means for NBC's (now single) "News Division" & the fact its been handed to NBC's "Golden Boy" who's heading up their entire "Entertainment Division."
Of specific interest to me personally, is how the impact of Zucker's "presence" in the "News Division" will have on the *look* of "NBC News".
Will NBC News start looking more like "entertainment" visa vi "tabloid news"?
Feel free to speculate on what the corporate big whig motive(s) behind this rather large move might've been, beyond the more obvious reasons as stated above, in my previous post.
I ask you to speculate for a reason; because, NBC will never tell the truth why they did what they have.
...anymore than NBC ever tells the truth in the newscasts.
I'm serious, I'm curious to know what you think are the implications since American media, & the driving engines behind it, are what drive you & your CCRM.
Hardly meant to be a "wise guy" & if I came off *sounding* like it, please, accept my apologies for I meant no disrespect -- to you of all people -- whatsoever.
OK?
"The Recitation: A large and clumsy corporation is General Electric. It thinks not with its sexual organs as do many leftist organizations but with its Accounts Receivable. If the AR increase then the new policy will prevail and there will be a centerward or posibbly even a rightward tilt in RCAland. By summer, Katie Couric aka "Perky Katie" will be wearing a choke collar attached to a strong leash."
*That's* precisely the kind of speculation I was looking for; IF, the motive(s) behind the power shift turn out to to be what we'd like to see.
If not, if we're wrong Zucker might hire *5* more "Perky Katies" to unleash on TVLand.
We'll just have to wait and see, carefully tracking even the subtlest of changes at the Peacock & especially with the way NBC's "News Division" conducts *business*.
"PS: I regret that I was not aware that such a program was underway."
And I regret not posting that article when I'd first read it; so, you & any other interested parties c/would've been informed.
Just took for granted y'all had heard about the change(s); &, my assumptions got me burned for my trouble.
"You have been hiding your knowledge from us. Jack Welch retired. The new broom may be sweeping way back under the rug where the dirt is hidden."
Been *hiding* period; but, you're absolutely right...a new broom certainly does sweep clean, doesn't it.
~& bert?
About your tagline, "Have you offended a Liberal today?"
Why yes, as a matter of fact I have offended a Liberal today.
...funny you should ask. {g}
Ho! Ho! Hey! Hey! How many media lies today?
Just a little something for the next postcard Media Freep or outdoor rally.
Best regards,
Study: President's Coverage Dipped Sharply After “Mission Accomplished” Event
From the previous press release on 9/8:
Overall, Networks Strike Perfect Balance: Despite widespread criticism that network news was overly supportive of Operation Iraqi Freedom, coverage on the broadcast networks was evenly balanced. ABC, CBS and NBC collectively aired 50 percent positive and 50 percent negative opinions about US policies or conduct. Coverage on FOX was more favorable toward the war, with 60 percent positive opinions.
Wide Disparities in News Agendas: ABC’s coverage was the most critical of the war, with two out of three (66 percent) on-air comments negative. CBS’s coverage was the most supportive, with nearly three out of every four (74 percent) opinions favorable. NBC’s coverage was most balanced towards the American mission-53 percent positive vs. 47 percent negative evaluations.
What a difference 90 days makes? Now, it appears the very best the propogandists can do during the conflict is 50/50 coverage. Thank God for small favors, eh? Petah of course being the worst of the lot. The newsies will not admit the U.S. is fighting terrorism and terrorists in the middle east just as surely as if they were fighting 'em here on our soil. IMO anyway. They are too chicken$hit to bring the battle to us so we take it to them.
Can you just envision a bona fide "attack" by bin Laden and company on U.S. soil? Har! It wouldn't last 30 minutes. Of course Petah and the rest of the Ministry of Information would carp about the violence with which U.S. citizens reacted. ABCNNBCBS are worse than worthless; they're dangerous. Well, I could go on, but...
Another graphic forya:
FGS
What I wouldn't give to see that! I won't even venture a guess, except to say the networks holding companies generally must be smoking the fertilizer spread by the spewing heads at the networks. Disney and Viacom, at least, should know better, but their network news is the worst of the worst. Will GE buck the system? I'll await further evidence also.
FGS
I'd offer something just short of my right arm. {g}
"I won't even venture a guess, except to say the networks holding companies generally must be smoking the fertilizer spread by the spewing heads at the networks."
That or inhaling their own flatulance.
"Disney and Viacom, at least, should know better, but their network news is the worst of the worst."
How can you say those two are worse than the 3rd??
Personally I cannot tell their stenchs apart.
"Will GE buck the system? I'll await further evidence also."
Me too.
Hard to believe, but NBC could accelerate into the banality abyss just as well as change course for the better.
After all, the *concept* of racing to the bottom is not an unknown tack to the pathetic network suckers.
"What a difference 90 days makes? Now, it appears the very best the propogandists can do during the conflict is 50/50 coverage. Thank God for small favors, eh?"
Yes, they're being extremely charitable, aren't they...for Liberal-Socialists with their obnoxious -- come hell or high water -- approach to promoting their Godless agenda.
"Petah of course being the worst of the lot."
See?
There ya go, you're doing it again!
Petah may be the *dumbest* of the triad, but that's all I'd concede in the art immitating life network news drama wars called, "Dumb, dumber, & Dumberest."
"The newsies will not admit the U.S. is fighting terrorism and terrorists in the middle east just as surely as if they were fighting 'em here on our soil. IMO anyway. They are too chicken$hit to bring the battle to us so we take it to them."
HA!!
Nicely put, especially the *fertilizer* part.
Gotta real bee in yer bonnet, eh Mr.C? :o)
"Can you just envision a bona fide "attack" by bin Laden and company on U.S. soil? Har! It wouldn't last 30 minutes."
No it certainly wouldn't.
There'd most surely be an awful lot of dead Osama Mommas strew about hither & fro'.
That's why when they came out with the most recent "Terror Alert" warning?
I thought to myself instantly, "Bring it on cretins & make our day."
Any more crap outa these morons & I'm absolutely confident this nation WILL track 'em to whatever nation-rock they're hiding under & then daisycutter 'em but-good.
How many *nations* ya think are willing to give these clowns safe harbor, eh??
"Of course Petah and the rest of the Ministry of Information would carp about the violence with which U.S. citizens reacted."
Let 'em, unbeknownst to them & blinded by the Liberal-Socialist catseye they look through they're hanging themselves.
More people than not are well past being sick to death of the Liberal-Socialist quislings; so, opening their mouths [like that] might just be what's needed to ratchet the entire purging process of these treasonous SOBs to the next level.
Whereby they -- & their careers -- will once & for finally be finished & by "they" I mean "producers," "directors," & talking heads...the whole shittinkaboodle.
"ABCNNBCBS are worse than worthless; they're dangerous. Well, I could go on, but..."
HA!!!
You just go on to your heart's content, my friend.
*Music* to me ears, it is. ;^)
...& a very Merry Xmas & the Happiest of New Years to you & yours.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.