|
Home
|
07/23/2001 Rather approached the story by first infering that it had become an overblown spectacle with little news value. CBS Correspondent Jim Stewart reported that some FBI investigators told him that Washington, D.C. police had focused too much on Condit's possible involvement in Chandra Levy's disappearance. But what was his real motivation in finally reporting this story? It seems that Rather was trying to dodge questions on his questionable news judgment during his scheduled visit to the Imus in the Morning radio show the next day 07/19/2001. Unfortunately for him, it didn't work out that way. Ignoring a story for 11 weeks and then reporting it once left Rather with a little explaining to do: "First of all, the facts are so few. You know, we've got rumors, speculation, gossip, innuendo, and, you know, we decided, I decided to try to exercise some restraint. You know, maybe we should have done something with it. I don't think so." He went on to stress that anyone charged with a crime has the presumption of innocence until proven guilty. "I still think there is the real danger that an innocent person could be convicted in the court of public opinion on the basis of rumor, gossip and speculation." So . . . Dan Rather represents the loftiest ideals of good journalism. Yes, yes, it's all become clear to me now! Dan Rather good. Everyone else bad. Not quite! Rather wasted no time at all in reporting Republican Senator Bob Packwood's problems with sexual harassment charges in 1992. But he would like us to believe that he's grown as a person since then: "I think the Packwood thing was another feeding frenzy and unfortunately, we took part in it in a way that I wish we hadn't." Rather saw fit to return to ignoring the Condit/Levy story on Thursday, 07/19/2001 and Friday, 07/20/2001. And why not, Dan? You deserve a rest for carrying the load of self-righteous, condescending, elitist double-standards for the rest of us! Thanks, dude! "Condit has been questioned by the police three times, his apartment searched, his DNA submitted to police, and his own attorney held a televised news conference to reveal the congressman's polygraph results. Is there anyone in America who honestly believes that, if Condit were a conservative Republican, Dan Rather would have remained quiet for eleven weeks?" - Rich Noyes, Media Reality Check, 07/19/2001 Let's write to Dan Rather's boss, expressing our displeasure: Mel Karmazin, President Phone: 212-975-3247 Read more here: MRC CyberAlert, 07/16/2001 When you feel your personal media bias tolerance gauge rising into the red zone, don't throw stuff at the TV screen! Send your suggestion to outrage@fairpress.org! Each week, one hideous example of media bias will be selected for closer examination. Hmmmmmm . . .
Click to read the current |
