Free Republic

Israel is in election fever, and it is commonly recognized that the media’s representation of candidates and political parties has an impact on public perception—but how does the public perceive the media? A new survey conducted by the Smith Institute which is to be published by Channel 20 on Tuesday night probes just that question, and finds that the public overwhelming thinks the newscasters presenting them vital information have a pronounced bent to the far left. …

You will be shocked at what some Americans actually believe. For example, close to 90 percent of us believe that we are eating a healthy diet, and yet more than third of the population is officially obese. 65 percent of all Americans say that they are dissatisfied with the government, and yet nearly a third of us would be willing to submit to a "TSA body cavity search" in order to get on an airplane. As you will see below, Americans are angrier and more frustrated with government and with their lives than ever before, but we also exhibit almost...

Early media coverage of Hizbullah's aggression against Israel presented a generally sound picture of cause and effect, of the terrorist group's agenda and of Israel's right to remove the menace to its people. The BBC, however, is a frequent exception. Correspondent Nick Thorpe, for instance, in a report broadcast on July 15 and posted as well on the network's Web site - "Becoming Israel's greatest enemy" - opted for jarringly flippant characterizations of the present crisis in Lebanon, followed by anti-Israel distortions and platitudes. An introductory account of the assault of Katyusha rockets raining down on northern Israel, and the...

KLAS-TV, Channel 8's new anchor, Denise Valdez, was included in a 1996 Los Angeles Times story about a trend among newscasters who changed from Anglo to ethnic names to take advantage of federal affirmative-action rules designed to benefit minorities. The practice was questioned, the Times said, by news professionals and minority activists, "who argue that it cheapens the concept of affirmative action and raises troubling issues of journalistic ethics." Valdez, who worked in San Antonio and Dallas before going to KNBC in Los Angeles, acknowledged to the Times that she had changed her last name for professional reasons, saying it...

NEW YORK, Sept. 13 /PRNewswire/ -- The results are in and it's time to set the record straight. Of the 50,000 votes cast in the Playgirl's "Sexiest Newscaster" election, where readers were asked to vote online for their favorite national newsman -- the official winner is MSNBC's Keith Olbermann. Several news sources had inaccurately reported that a candidate from a rival cable network had actually won when in fact, he came in second. We still love you, Sean Hannity. (Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20030102/PLAYGIRLLOGO ) Olbermann ran a tough campaign -- linking his website to PLAYGIRL's and urging his viewers to get out...