These days, observing how the news media use their reach and power to promote politically-driven agendas is often more the norm than the exception. Sometimes, it is done in such a nuanced way that it is not particularly easy to pick up, much less pick apart. However, whenever it is done in a crass and blatant manner, we certainly have an obligation to challenge those media outlets that distance themselves from factual reporting.
A recent incident in this latter category was on display in Noticiero Univision’s coverage of Jeb Bush’s speech before the National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA). Former 
Governor Bush, a potential Republican presidential candidate, offered remarks and participated in a nearly hour-long question and answer session. The former Governor discussed a wide range of issues related to the importance of getting America back on track. He spoke about energy, job creation, lowering taxes, health care, foreign policy, national security, immigration reform, education, and leadership.
When Univision highlighted Bush’s speech in its nightly news broadcast, true to form, it focused solely on immigration. On top of that, out of all the content on immigration discussed by the former Governor, Univision’s sole focus was that Bush “suggested that undocumented immigrants be invited to leave the United States.”
In his speech, Bush had pointed out that every nation must be able to control its borders. He included as part of that task being able to locate the 40% of those who legally enter the United States, but who stay past their allowed time.
Specifically, Bush stated that “we should be able to figure where they are and politely ask them to leave.” Not once did Univision mention that Bush also unequivocally stated: “There’s no way that they’re (all illegal immigrants) going to be deported” nor that he favors the authorization of legal status for many immigrants who have “languished in the shadows.”
Since it didn’t fit the anti-Bush narrative Univision evidently wanted to drive, the segment also failed to mention that Bush extolled immigrants as an “engine of economic vitality” along with the necessity of handling the issue with “compassion.”
Clearly, Univision’s news segment was purposefully designed to foment an inaccurate “anti-immigrant” narrative tied to Gov. Bush. By so doing, Univision not only missed the mark, but only discredited itself further.
If any responsible media outlet is going to cover Bush’s stance on immigration, they better get it right because highlighting one out of context phrase certainly does not do justice to a thoroughly reasonable speech by the former Governor, much less his track record on the issue.
It is a great disservice to viewers when factual information is replaced by a slanted viewpoint that cynically seeks to influence electoral decision-making. Media outlets such as Univision should know better, and it is time they be called to account.
