ABC on Monday night, unlike the CBS and NBC evening newscasts, noted two political developments which conservatives cheer: Anchor Charles Gibson highlighted the inauguration in Baton Rouge of Republican Bobby Jindal as Governor of Louisiana, the first non-white Governor since Reconstruction in the state dominated by Democrats -- though Gibson didn't emphasize Jindal's party affiliation -- and “a significant political breakthrough in Iraq.” On Jindal, Gibson relayed on World News, over video of the inauguration:
History was made in Louisiana today. Bobby Jindal took office as the state's new Governor. Jindal is 36, the son of Indian immigrants. He's Louisiana's first non-white Governor since Reconstruction, and the nation's first elected Indian-American Governor. Jindal, a former Republican Congressman, vowed to clean up Louisiana politics and speed hurricane recovery.
Just as ABC's World News was ahead of CBS and NBC in October and November with news of improving conditions and decreased violence in Iraq, on Monday night ABC alerted weekday viewers to a positive development on the political front over the weekend. Gibson introduced a January 14 World News story from Hilary Brown in Baghdad:
Overseas next, a significant political breakthrough in Iraq. Security has been improved there, but critics have wondered when political progress would come. Well, now Iraqi lawmakers have put their differences aside and agreed to allow some members of Saddam Hussein's Baath Party to take government jobs. It's a key benchmark sought by the United States. ABC's Hillary Brown reports...
The MRC's early December Media Reality Check by Rich Noyes, “Good News = Less News on Iraq War; MRC Study: As Surge Succeeds and Casualty Rates Fall, ABC, CBS and NBC Lose Interest In Iraq War,” discovered:
Of the three evening newscasts, ABC’s World News was the first to take serious note of the improving situation (back on October 1), and has offered the most stories (9 field reports, 7 from Iraq) detailing the progress. “Not only is there a huge increase in Iraqi citizens groups who are coming forward to help the Americans, but overall levels of violence have gone way down,” Terry McCarthy enthused on November 22. In a Thanksgiving week interview with President Bush, anchor Charles Gibson was congratulatory: “You took a lot of doubting and rather skeptical questions about the surge. I'll give you a chance to crow. Do you want to say I told you so?”
—Brent Baker is Vice President for Research and Publications at the Media Research Center
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Comments Policy
Nothing like a little success
January 15, 2008 - 03:13 ET by Parker1227Much of the slowness to report good news from Iraq is obviously media bias. They don't want to empower the Republicans in 2008 by handing them a campaign issue which until recently favored the Democrats. But there are also issues of pride and self-preservation.
Who likes to admit that they were wrong (especially twice wrong)?
Much of the media went along with the 7 out of 10 politicians and Americans who initially supported the war. Then 4 straight years of suicide bombings and a seemingly endless river of blood caused those numbers to flip. The media is still reeling from the pummeling they got from the Left over their support of the war. And then things start getting better? What a pain! (How many times are we going to have to change our minds here?)
A little like, "before the cock crows you will deny me thrice," a good portion of initial supporters lost faith and chose self-preservation, politically and socially, rather than riding it out with with Bush and our soldiers.
Changing back now is to highlight the original decision to jump ship. And of course things could still go south again.
Best to play it safe and wait for the current to shift back more strongly. Besides, if it goes bad again they can add it back to arsenal to blast the the republicans with in 2008.
But where does it say that
January 15, 2008 - 08:37 ET by JohnMBut where does it say that the media is supposed to predict the future accurately? Where does it say that they are supposed to paint a picture that is supposed to be permanent?
I want the media to report what's happening, as it's happening. I do NOT want their opinion, assessment, or pronouncements about events.
I fully expect that situations will change and that subsequent reports will reflect those changes.
The problem with NOT reporting the facts pertinent to a given time, and instead publishing interpretations, is that when the situation changes, the media has to expend all their energy in explaining why their initial interpretation is still correct.
If they would stick to the facts, they wouldn't have to be concerned about what "position" they took...
If I remember correctly, that's the difference between journalism and commentary.
Speaking as a former reporter/news writer ...
January 15, 2008 - 15:57 ET by drillanwrprecisely right in your summation(s)!
Hope he can do good
January 15, 2008 - 07:41 ET by richb313I live in Louisiana and actually have actually voted for Bobby Jindal twice. The first time was when he ran agaist Ms Blanko. I hope he can do some good. Reform style governors do not have much luck in this state. Can not get co-operation of legislature and usually only last one term. This time might be different because there is a general feeling that local government needs to work better. I just wish him luck in his term.
This guy's the real deal.
January 15, 2008 - 09:02 ET by pbanks7Anybody that read the recent interview with Bobby in a recent Limbaugh Letter should realize this guy is the real deal. He sounded like the candidate we're looking for this year for Prez. Maybe next time.
Ignorance is bliss. It's easier to repeat a mindless slogan than to do some actual research.
Media Survives on Scoops, being the First
January 15, 2008 - 10:32 ET by JayTeeIf ABC continues to Scoop the other alphabet networks by reporting Significant Right Wing Events (Republican Gov./Iraq War) they may pressure the other networks to join in.
Last place reporting usually results in Last Place Ratings.
"Barack Obama is a Powerful Speaker—And so is My Bose Bass Amp" Doug Giles
NPR Coverage never provided Jindal's party affiliation.
January 15, 2008 - 12:51 ET by ZayneI was scanning NPR yesterday afternoon (1/14/2008 @ 17:00 Central) and they had coverage of the Jindal win. I never actually heard them give his party affiliation. Maybe they slipped it in real quiet like, but I was waiting for it and it wasn't provided in the coverage.
As usual the media leaves off party affiliation when it benefits their agenda...