ABC Botches Jobs Report: Touts Incorrect, Obama-Favorable Unemployment Numbers
Good Morning America's Josh Elliott on Friday reported
incorrect jobs numbers, touting stats more favorable to Barack Obama and
less reflective of the dismal facts. In the 8am hour, news reader Elliott insisted that "new figures show" an unemployment rate "sitting" at 8.1 percent for May with 158,000 new jobs created. [MP3 audio here.] In fact, unemployment rose to 8.2 percent and only 69,000 jobs were created.
The monthly unemployment numbers are usually released about 8:30am. In
the hours before an announcement, GMA has previously reported what the
projections suggest.
In fact, in the 7am news hour, Elliott allowed that "the government is expected to report it's added some 158,000 jobs." He offered no such caution in the 8am hour.
ABC's huge graphics with incorrect data didn't help. (See examples at right and below.)
JOSH ELLIOTT: Meanwhile, millions of Americans looking for a job may have to wait even longer. New
figures show no real improvement in the labor market last month. [ABC
graphic: 158,000 jobs. (sic)] The number of jobs created fell far short
of the numbers we saw earlier this year and those new jobs last month
were not enough to put a real significant dent in the unemployment rate,
which currently sits at 8.1 percent. [Graphic 8.1% unemployment. (sic)]
It's even worse, though, in Europe, whose massive debt crisis is now
jeopardizing the entire global economy. The unemployment rate in Spain
rose to 24 percent.
