Washington Post media reporter Howard Kurtz filed one of those hurray-I-got-access puff pieces on the networks today, in this case ABC morning news anchor Chris Cuomo, son of ultraliberal former New York Gov. Mario Cuomo (and brother of current New York attorney general Andrew Cuomo). Kurtz mentioned that Cuomo drew controversy for suggesting Britain’s Prince Harry was allowed to serve in the military in Afghanistan because he was "expendable" (a gaffe first highlighted by Scott Whitlock at NewsBusters), but at the article’s end, ABC tells Kurtz how much they like young Cuomo as an advocacy journalist:
Cuomo describes himself as an advocacy journalist, and his bosses like that. "He's had a real yearning to seek out the untold stories, particularly of the disadvantaged," Westin says. "He's almost a crusader. It's a form of old-fashioned, muckraking journalism."
Sounding like a courtroom lawyer, Cuomo talks about pursuing corporate malefactors and "putting people in the chair" for cross-examination. His "GMA Gets Answers" segment resembles a staple of local television, and Cuomo admits that such stories often help only one person. Last fall, however, an insurance company changed its overall policy after Cuomo did a story on a 3-year-old boy who needed a motorized wheelchair not covered by the family's insurance.
"It's the most important thing I can do," Cuomo says, pounding the desk. "What frustrates people about these stories is you tell them what the problem is all the time, but you don't hold anyone accountable."
The headline for the article was "A Son’s Own Orbit: Chris Cuomo’s Path to Public Service Is on the Airwaves." For an example of one of Cuomo’s crusades of liberal bias in "GMA Gets Answers," see here.
—Tim Graham is Director of Media Analysis at the Media Research Center.
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Protest
April 29, 2008 - 06:13 ET by allanfI remember the howls that were raised when former Republican Congresswoman Susan Molinari went to work (briefly) for CBS. Now ABC News employes George Stephanopolis and Chris Cumo.
I guess journalistic standards only matters if a Republican is involved.
Journalistic Standards
April 29, 2008 - 07:19 ET by jpatch"I guess journalistic standards only matters if a Republican is involved."
Ya, the Republicans are the only ones with any.
Speaking of Liberal Anchors
April 29, 2008 - 08:40 ET by V the KAaron Brown, whom NB previously labeled "CNN's most liberal anchor" has a new home at PBS:
Link: http://www.comcast.n...
He should be right at home
April 29, 2008 - 09:34 ET by Chris NormanHe should be right at home with Bill Moyers - kind of the same look, too...
Investigative journalism
April 29, 2008 - 08:56 ET by KC MulvilleI have no quarrel with investigative journalism. I love to see the reporter uncover corruption or idiocy within a system, and expose the bastards who profit from it. Frankly, for me, that's one of the very few features of modern journalism that I like.
The problem with a crusading advocate is that the reporter doesn't always know all the facts. It's easy to stage a spectacular hit piece, usually as "the little guy" against the big, bad corporation. All us "little guys" love to see the big shots get what's coming to them. But you have to do your homework. Maybe the person who has a grievance was really the one at fault.
Hey, let's face facts -- the little guy is sometimes the one who's wrong. Liberals love to attack big corporations, and exploit the feeling of powerlessness in the general public, but that isn't always the whole story. I love to see reporters catch corruption in the act, but not at the expense of the truth. Liberal crusaders tend to substitute emotion for honest perspective.
"It's a form of
April 29, 2008 - 09:35 ET by Chris Norman"It's a form of old-fashioned, muckraking journalism..."
No. No, it's not. It's someone pushing his political agenda in a supoposedly neutral venue.
The "liberal" Cuomos
April 29, 2008 - 09:42 ET by iveseenitallI lived in New York under daddy Mario. He was corrupt in office. He's an unctuous hypocrite. And ,guess what, he's a "liberal"--DUH!
NEVER,NEVER trust a "liberal"
LIBERAL MEDIA BIAS...
April 29, 2008 - 10:30 ET by danybhoyThis is just another example of what the American people have been forced to put with in terms of how the news is presented to them. This is also another example of why so many people tune out the MSM, & they are going elsewhere for their news & information. Drudge, FoxNews, Talk Radio, & the internet are way more important then idiots like Chris Cuomo & those like him.
"Some of us are wise, some of us are otherwise" Mark Levin