Once again the blogosphere shames mainstream media (MSM). On Wednesday, Ed Morrissey of Captain’s Quarters wrote a post called ABC News: Too Lazy To Hide The Bias. Via Power Line, he found this request on ABC’s web site:
For a possible Inauguration Day story on ABC News, we are trying to find out if there any military funerals for Iraq war casualties scheduled for Thursday, Jan. 20.If you know of a funeral and whether the family might be willing to talk to ABC News, please fill out the form below[.]
On the day of the inauguration, ABC wanted to cover the funeral of an American killed in Iraq apparently to contrast it with the festivities of the president’s inauguration. Ed wrote:
So here we have a public broadcaster who explicitly intends on using the death of at least one American serviceperson — specifically in Iraq, so dead American soldiers or Marines in Kosovo or Afghanistan need not apply — as a means to make a political statement about Bush’s inauguration. If your son or daughter, sister or brother, or friend or neighbor isn’t lucky enough to be buried on January 20th, don’t bother applying, because ABC and Disney won’t give a rat’s a** about him or her.
Instapundit and several other bloggers linked to the post, and shortly after, ABC, probably embarrassed, removed the page. But like all conscientious bloggers, or at least the ones involved in Rathergate, Ed archived the page. It was good to see the story receiving coverage, although from an online conservative news site, CNSNews. Rush Limbaugh mentioned it, but I don’t know if he credited Captain’s Quarters specifically.
To my knowledge, MSM have not picked up on this story, if it indeed is a story, but I wanted you to be aware of it in case it grows. This episode won’t reach Rathergate proportions, but no doubt the power of the blogosphere to generate stories and call out MSM is growing.
Links are very important to most bloggers because they bring traffic. As of this writing, Captain’s Quarters has risen to #9 in the Ecosystem rankings, and he thanks you.
Also see ABC’s Inauguration Plans.
Update: Ed’s not done with ABC yet.
More info on media vs. bloggers: Wizbang, The National Debate, PressThink, Tim Worstall…
Update: The Heritage Foundation is holding a discussion on bloggers and Rathergate next Friday. Sounds like fun. I might check it out on my lunch hour. (Hat tip: Wizbang)
Update II: It bothers me when journalists write about bloggers and don’t link to them. I’m not the only one who feels this way. Check out this blog. And I don’t think I like the idea of a bloggers’ “code of ethics,” either. Developing…
Friday Lunch Special: Free Drinks for the Ladies
Resolving a major issue at the Evil Corporation allowed for an early lunch. So, for your mid-day dining pleasure, we offer you to choose from one of these specialties:
sarahk at mountaineer musings has learned to be careful what you ask of a waiter. I…
Trackback by basil's blog — 01.21.05 @ 11:48 am
[…] hether the family might be willing to talk to ABC News, please fill out the form below[.] (More from LaShawn’s site) For the complete story, go directly to The Captain’s Quart […]
Pingback by The Black Informant — 01.21.05 @ 1:13 pm
ABC Gets Its Pound Of Corpse For Inauguration Coverage
Two days ago I posted about ABC’s effort to find a military funeral taking place on Inauguration Day for a casualty from Iraq, presumably to “balance” the coverage of George Bush and his speech. Their web site invited anyone who…
Trackback by Captain's Quarters — 01.21.05 @ 2:13 pm
Thank you for keeping on top of this story.
Brit Hume mentioned it during his political grapevine segment. He said, “A message on the official ABC News Web site asked readers for help on a possible inauguration day story saying, “We are trying to find out if there any military funerals for Iraq war causalities scheduled for Thursday, January 20.” ABC then asked for information on any family that might be willing to speak on camera. The network has since pulled that post.”
Too bad he didn’t make it a topic of the political all-stars or go into more depth. It is scandalous what the MSM gets away with. We bloggers just need to keep hammering them.
Comment by Meg — 01.21.05 @ 3:04 pm
Meg, maybe Fox Watch will have it on Sunday.
Comment by Mike H. — 01.21.05 @ 3:37 pm
Sinister exploitation by ABC prevented by the blogosphere
ABC news intended to use the death of an American soldier, any American soldier from any family who would be a willing cohort in order to score political points against President Bush on the day of his inauguration. This is a pretty disgusting form of…
Trackback by Pajama Hadin — 01.21.05 @ 4:10 pm
“MSM”
Folks are starting to refer to that group as “old media”. MSM lends an air of credibility that doesn’t seem appropriate. Just a suggestion.
Comment by jeff1999 — 01.22.05 @ 8:03 am
Thanks for the link!
Comment by SayUncle — 01.22.05 @ 9:01 am
…soliciting footage of dead US soldiers to run during inauguration coverage. No bias there at all.
Comment by Inoperable Terran — 01.22.05 @ 2:43 pm
“We Want a Funeral!” -ABC News
This was found on ABC’s website:
For a possible Inauguration Day story on ABC News, we are trying to find out if there any military funerals for Iraq war casualties scheduled for Thursday, Jan. 20.
If you know of a funeral and whether the family…
Trackback by Myopic Zeal — 01.23.05 @ 9:31 pm
Are we supposed to hide the fact that men and women are dying? Mr. Bush spent over $40 million to kick up his heels that night. What do you think those grieving parents were doing on January 20?
Comment by CHRISTOPHER WILTZ — 01.27.05 @ 11:09 am
They were probably avoiding ABC’s attempt to capitalize on their grief.
If someone from any network came to my door, after belittling the contribution my dead child made every night, and ony cared to cover my family’s pain so that they could stick another barb into Bush (or anyone else), the police would have been called. If the reporters were lucky, it would be to carry them off the property.
Comment by SCSIwuzzy — 01.27.05 @ 2:51 pm