Media Watch 1-26-05

Back when I was in The Ernie Pyle School of Journalism at Indiana University (Go Hoosiers!), we used to start every session in my Media 101 class by looking at the headlines in the major newspapers (1991--too early for websites), and discussing what the media was reporting, how they were "framing" the story with the headlines, and why. Aaron Brown does something similar at the end of his program every night.

The reason for doing this is simple, something like 50% of those with newspaper subscriptions only read the headlines. I'm assuming the same is true of websites, especially thinking back on all the times I click on a news site, skim the headlines and go on to something else.

Obviously, none of us here is too thrilled with the MSM these days. I can't tell you all how often I'm absolutely enraged by the headlines that I read on the news sites, particularly on MSNBC. Frankly, I think that a lot of the misinformation circulating in the general public these days can be attributed to these horribly written (and placed) headlines.

So, what I'd like to do is a little research study. I've chosen what I think are the 4 biggest web news services: CNN.com., MSNBC.com, and Foxnews.com, NYT.com. Each remaining day this week, I'm going to post a little report on what each news site is reporting--only looking at the headlines. I'm hoping this will give us a better idea of which services are doing the best job of impartially reporting the stories that are the most important to the American people, and who is basically just giving us Shrub spin and Hollywood fluff. I'm always suprised by what I find when I do this kind of thing, so who know what we'll find.

If it goes over well, maybe I'll make this a regular thing. And remember, this was as of about 10:15 am--so the stories might have changed. Here goes:

First up, CNN.com

As it's main story, CNN is reporting Deadly Day for U.S. Forces in Iraq , obviously referring to the helicopter crash that killed 31 Marines.

In it's "More News" Section, just off to the right of the main story, CNN is reporting:

--- The L.A. Commuter Crash
--- "Senate Expected to Confirm Rice Today"       (little bit of framing going on there, IMHO)
---Kidnappers Demand $3M for baseball player's mom
and a bunch of other fluff -n- stuff stories, including one entitled "City May Charge for Grocery Bags."

Buried below the fold are stories headlined:

"Bush to Seek $80 Billion for Combat Zones"
and
"Bush Touts Plan with Black Leaders"

No mention of the Maggie Gallagher story--which I think is a "major omission," as my j-school dean would have called it.

On to candidate # 2, MSNBC.com

For it's main story, MSNBC has a big ol' photo of Bush, in front of the Presidential Seal, and the headline "Defy These Terrorists: Bush urges Iraqis to vote, despite violence. (easier said, I guess, when you are not the one risking getting blown up on the way to the polls).

MSNBC is currently featuring "breaking news" across the top of its screen regarding the L.A. Commuter Train Crash.

Under it's "More Top Stories" section, it has a headline regarding the Commuter Train Crash, a story headlined "Senate OK for Rice Today," (funny, I wasn't aware that they had actually voted, yet), and "More Snow Pummels New England."

In it's "Also in The News" section, MSNBC.com reports:

• Elderly to put 'phenomenal' pressure on budget
  
• San Francisco bans smoking in public places
  
• Education chief rips PBS for gay character
  
• Pirated Windows copies to get fewer fixes
  
• Astronauts remove 'goo' in a spacewalk

Stories on homeless vets and terror recruitment being on the rise in Europe were buried somewhere near the bottom of the page. Almost everything in between was hollywood, sports, or "human interest."

No mention, anywhere on the site's homepage, of Bush's call for $80 B more or the Maggie Gallagher story. Two major omissions, I think.

On to NYT.com

The NYT leads off with a huge headline about the Marine Chopper crash in Iraq, followed by another headline regarding the cause of the crash and another incident that killed 4 Marines. Just below that is a story about the military death gratuity. The two other major headlines in nyt.com's homepage are regarding the NYC Subway Disruption and the L.A. Commuter Train Crash.

Off to the side, under a photo of Bush "urging Iraqis to vote," is the headline "Israel Resumes Diplomatic Contact with Palestinians."

Under it's International Section, the NYT is reporting "Campaign: Insurgents Vowing to Kill Iraqis Who Brave the Polls on Sunday," and "France Breaks Up Group Recruiting Fighters for Iraq."

Under it's Washington Section, the headlines read:

Bush Aides Say Budget Deficit Will Rise Again

In Senate, Democrats Assail Rice and U.S. Policy in Iraq

Senators Urge Bush to Sell Overhaul of Social Security

Nothing, as far as I can tell, on the Maggie Gallagher story in the headlines.

Up next, FoxNews.com (God Help Us)

The main story is of course the Marine helicopter crash--under the headline "Up To 31 Killed in Iraq Chopper Crash." Sub-headlines under that story read:

Attacks in Iraq; Marine Helicopter Crash
Curfew Announced by Iraq Gov't
Bush, Allawi Discuss Iraq Election
Fast Facts: Fatal U.S. Helicopter Crashes

In it's "Latest Headlines" section, Fox is reporting the following:

Bush: Iraqi Elections to Be 'Great Moment'
Rice Up for Senate Vote
Panel OKs Gonzales 10-8
France Nabs 11 Would-Be Insurgents Heading to Iraq
FBI: No Boston Terror Threat
  Experts: Feds Had to Act on Tip
Cheney to Visit Auschwitz
Astronauts Take Space Walk
Report: Gov't Secrecy, Info-Hoarding Threaten Security
Indian Stampede Toll Hits 258
Sirius, XM Merger in Works?
Florida Schoolboys Arrested for Violent Drawings
'Survivor' Hatch Arraigned

Suprisingly, I find thier headlines to be much less partisan than those of MSNBC, especially since they bothered to note that the Senate hasn't actually VOTED on Rice yet, nor does it imply that she will be confirmed.

Still, no mention of Bush's $80 billion or Maggie Gallagher