On June 5, I reported that National Public Radio was piling on the story of murdered abortionist George Tiller, but had yet to report the shooting of Army private William Long, a gap of at least seven stories to zero. In her Ombudsman column on June 9, NPR’s Alicia Shepard asked the NPR staff why Tiller was more newsworthy than Private Long. They said because Tiller was a long-time figure of controversy. Liberals seem much quicker to conclude a soldier is a cold-blooded killer and more predisposed to think an abortionist is just a humanitarian doctor:
NPR Managing Editor David Sweeney defended last week's coverage decisions.
"The fact we gave more coverage to the killing of Tiller doesn't diminish the value of Long's life," said Sweeney. "But Tiller was a national figure given his practice and the attention he drew from abortion opponents. His killing has wider implications for the emotive debate on abortion on this country and we have covered those angles in reporting his death."
In one example, Morning Edition on June 5 carried a story exploring whether a 1994 law is sufficient to protect abortion providers.
But complaints from listeners and bloggers and questions from the listener’s advocate may have moved the ball:
In Private Long's case, NPR National Editor Steve Drummond added: "This story has grown into more of a national story as the news has come out this week and it became clear that federal authorities have been investigating this guy and that he may have had much broader plans for violence. We are pursuing some reporting out of the FBI that may result in a piece on Monday [June 8] with help from the member stations covering Long's funeral."
On Tuesday, June 9, NPR’s All Things Considered newscast offered two Long stories, one on the funeral and another on the government’s surveillance of Long’s killer. But the Tiller story kept churning alongside it. Shepard noted:
On Tuesday, however, Morning Edition and All Things Considered each carried one story centering on Tiller's death. And [the afternoon talk show] Talk of the Nation explored the topic of doctors deciding whether to perform abortions.
—Tim Graham is Director of Media Analysis at the Media Research Center.
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The abortionists killing
June 14, 2009 - 13:41 ET by BDThe abortionists killing was more newsworthy than the Islamic Extremist killing a US soldier on our own soil?
THEN THEY CAN SHUT THE F*** UP ABOUT CASUALTIES CAUSED BY THE WAR IN IRAQ!
BD... Hear,
June 14, 2009 - 13:46 ET by bigtimerBD...
Hear, Hear.
...and they can also shut their yappers about torture too.
Doubling down on stupid is not a particularly good idea. ~Andrew Breitbart
...and how important was
June 14, 2009 - 14:22 ET by TruthMonger...and how important was sheehan before the msm jumped on her tiny little bandwagon - i mean were'nt there other mothers who had lost sons...?
we know by now why the coverage is so skewed against America every single time...
this latest is excuse is just more of the same old media bullshit - and why do they have to try and cloak there secular communist fascist agenda now anyway? nobody seems to care about it even when they go on the air and blatantly admit it...
Palin/Prejean 2012
Remember
June 14, 2009 - 13:54 ET by BlondeDomestic terrorism (excuse me, man made disasters) doesn't further the Obama agenda, whereas a martyr for the pro-abortion advocates certainly is something for the left to celebrate.
The proponents of Obama's made-made disasters must be so-called wing nut cases, not home-grown jihadists.
Who's racist now?
I hope he fails, too.
Does NPR Ombudsman surprise anyone?
June 14, 2009 - 13:44 ET by jefflebowskiLiberals loathe the US military and love abortionists, terrorists, communists, dictators, etc. So it is no surprise the NPR Ombudsman would feel the death of a third term abortionist is more newsworthy than the assasination of a US soldier by a black criminal prislamist. NPR is not worth watching except for Austin City Limits.
Angry White Dude
www.angrywhitedude.c...
A key objective of a terorist act
June 14, 2009 - 13:50 ET by Paragrouper...is to create and spread terror beyond the act through media attention. I imagine that the media and government response to this act of terror will provide important feedback to Islamic terrorists. I am sure our enemy, who has proven themselves to be quite resourceful, can find targets that the media and government will care about.
It also sends a very stark message to the men and women in the military about how much their efforts to protect and defend us are appreciated.
"If everyone is thinking alike, someone isn't thinking." - General George Patton Jr
Cynical news choices
June 14, 2009 - 13:52 ET by nkviking75The death of Pvt. Long should have gotten far more attention. In the first place, it's an act of domestic terrorism, IMHO. Secondly, there is the emotional appeal of a young man just out of basic gunned down for no other reason than that he was wearing the uniform of his country. And let's not forget the other young man who was wounded. Third, there are signs that this Islamofascist would have carried out more terrorist acts given the opportunity.
Tiller's death certainly was news, but the extra exposure was for a very cynical reason. It gave the state-controlled media a chance to paint conservatives, especially pro-life and evangelical Christians, as extremists on a killing spree.
When you put the clowns in charge, don't be surprised when a circus breaks out.
The subjectivity of "news"
June 14, 2009 - 14:58 ET by KC MulvilleYou say, "should have gotten far more attention." They will surely disagree. But that's an important point: what counts as news is highly subjective. A bomb going off in Central Park is clearly news, as is passing a major piece of legislation. Other than that, it's editors' choice. And that, as we've seen, is dominated by liberalism.
There are a lot of events happening out there, some of them revealing important political points. What the news media chooses to report on, therefore, is inherently subjective. And, when the subjective decisions of the news editors tilts overwhelmingly toward the abortion doctor, that tells you where the bias is.
The bias is always in what they don't tell you, and what they don't report on.
The truth is that they can
June 14, 2009 - 14:04 ET by robert108The truth is that they can use the murder of the abortionist to bash Republicans/conservatives and label all of us as "extremists" and "terrorists", while the Black Muslim terrorist gets little attention. Without the race card, the Dem Party would never win another election.
Wait for the Military Turban controversy
June 14, 2009 - 14:42 ET by ThisnThatNPR will actively report on the military if this story gains attention.
The idea that he [Singh Rattan, of the Sikh religion] would have to choose between his country and his faith is hard for Rattan. "I'm offering my life, but I'm not willing to sacrifice my religious beliefs," he said. In other words, he demands the right to wear a beard and turban in the military.
Sorry, Singh -- you need to follow orders. The military is not for your convenience. What other orders are you not going to follow because it would cause you to "choose between your country and your faith"?
But the MSM will jump on this guy's side, claiming the military needs to be "more diverse"; and that it needs to "accomodate people of faith". Yeah, right -- except, of course, for Christians which the MSM never stands up for.
___________________________________
Liberals constantly demand that we accept a glaring falsehood as truth; Obama's elimination of the word "terror" will make terrorist acts less terrifying
TnT... You got that
June 14, 2009 - 14:51 ET by bigtimerTnT...
You got that right...the msm will be all over this.
Then again, I wonder who was behind this that made sure this 'cause' was put out there in the first place.
The leftist that hate the military are always finding some to do their bidding that are serving to use as their msm darling for their agenda/cause.
It is past infuriating.
Thanks for the heads up about this.
Doubling down on stupid is not a particularly good idea. ~Andrew Breitbart
Of course they will
June 14, 2009 - 14:52 ET by ParagrouperIts such a laughable story it practically demands liberal outrage. How could someone, intelligent enough to become a doctor, be incapable of realizing hat everyone else around them had to wear the same hat, clothes, hairstlye and abide by the same grooming standards?
Here's a clue Singh, go back and review the oath you gave.
"If everyone is thinking alike, someone isn't thinking." - General George Patton Jr
So, a home grown domestic
June 14, 2009 - 15:02 ET by Chris NormanSo, a home grown domestic Islamic terrorist, who was radicalized in prison - where there are probably plenty of others like him, doesn't have wide implications for the security for everybody living in the US? This tells you where these pseudo elites' priorities are.
The "Mainstream" Media: By liberals. For liberals.
Yup. If you can't "label"
June 14, 2009 - 15:19 ET by QueenMumYup. If you can't "label" him a right wing extremist, nothing to worry about.
"All people are born alike - except Republicans and Democrats." - Groucho Marx
QM,Yes, I think it would
June 14, 2009 - 16:26 ET by Chris NormanQM,
Yes, I think it would be hard for them to label him "right wing", considering his religion and especially his race - and the nature of his atrocity. Although, I wouldn't put it past some left wing nut to try to label him as part of the "Clarence Thomas wing of the conservative extremists".
BTW, if yesterday was your birthday, we share the same day. Happy (belated) Birthday! :)
The "Mainstream" Media: By liberals. For liberals.
Chris: Huh? But, Happy
June 14, 2009 - 16:31 ET by QueenMumChris: Huh? But, Happy B'Day to you anyway.
"All people are born alike - except Republicans and Democrats." - Groucho Marx
There is no excuse for
June 14, 2009 - 16:26 ET by well99There is no excuse for this. Here you have a young man serving in the Army and the attention to his murder was minimum. He was killed by a home grown terrorist still little attention. The president selecting a new dog got more press. It shows the lefts priorities. Tiller is all they could talk about because he was a partial birth abortionist’s.A young soldier didn’t rate a tenth of the time if that.Even though he was slain by a muslim extremist.
PERFECT illustration of the
June 14, 2009 - 22:32 ET by BDPERFECT illustration of the presidents dog getting more attnetion than an islamic terrorist killing a US person in front of a recruting station.
PFC Longs story does not run the way the press prefers, so it is ignored for the most part.
WHere are the exposes on the imam who inculcated the terrorist with his anti-americanism? Where is the story exposing where he got his weapon?
BD... I've been waiting
June 14, 2009 - 22:35 ET by bigtimerBD...
I've been waiting for that too.
Not holding my breath as we all know it isn't going to happen.
Pathetic.
Doubling down on stupid is not a particularly good idea. ~Andrew Breitbart
Yes, let us say that the
June 15, 2009 - 07:44 ET by BDYes, let us say that the attacker was a Neo-Nazi, or even something even less innocuous, the press would have already told us all about:
1.) The prison Chaplain who converted him. As well as his fellow converts and where they currently are located. Then they would hound both incessently.
2.) The arms dealer who dold to him.
3.) His poor education which caused him to become a terrorist.
Etcetera. But I do not see stories covered on any of that.
BD
June 15, 2009 - 03:06 ET by well99As you said if it doesnt fit their agenda the msm dont care.As BT said it is pathetic.I will never understand these people.Thank God.
You know Baby Boy doesn't
June 14, 2009 - 17:23 ET by gmaniac1You know Baby Boy doesn't object because he had the support of domestic terrorists. So he practically applauds what happened in Arkansas comparably to Dr. Killer. Palin actually had the cahonies to say he "palled" around with terrorists and the media, like NPR, were more concerned with what she said then the fact that he actually does pal around with terrorist. And of course McShame did not defend her comments on national TV.
When the people fear the government it's called tyranny, when the government fears the people it's called liberty!
Once upon a time, the
June 14, 2009 - 21:49 ET by RR GOPOnce upon a time, the assassination of an American soldier within our borders would have been shocking and the centerpiece of talking head discussions for months.
Nowadays, it's like, "So what if some Army private was shot to death...the baby killer probably deserved it anyway."
Funny that logic doesn't work for real baby killers.
One of the 34% who thinks George W. Bush was a great President. One of the 61% who wants to bring back the stock and pillory (yep...approval for Congress now at 39%...do you believe that!?).
If you actually listen to
June 15, 2009 - 05:45 ET by HockeyKidIf you actually listen to what liberals say, eventually even they can't help but reveal themselves. The National Partisan Radio spokesdroid stated that the Tiller story had impact on the "wider implications for the emotive debate". That's their bottom line: they run stories that get the emotional response they want. Period. End of debate. Stop federal funding for NPR now. It is a political organ.
"Beauty is only skin deep, but liberal's to the bone." - me
The liberal " mainstream
June 15, 2009 - 08:03 ET by pitter43The liberal " mainstream media " falls all over themselves to cover Tiller that murdered 60,000 and completely ignores a terrorist killing a solder on American soil. Is there anyone that can't see that liberals hate America and want her destroyed?