ABC, NBC All But Ignore Chinese Dissident's Crusade Against Forced Abortions
Despite devoting 33 stories to the dramatic case of Chinese dissident
Chen Guangcheng, NBC and ABC have all but ignored the major cause of the
human rights activist: Opposing the communist country's policy of
forced abortion and sterilization. From April 28 to May 7, the two
networks only mentioned this detail five times – and then only in
passing.
Although Chen's high profile plight might seem like a logical time to
take an expansive look into China's one-child policy, the two networks
passed. CBS, however, touted Chen's pro-life activities the most,
referencing them in seven of 16 stories. (The three networks totaled 44
stories over ten days.) On April 28, World News reporter David Kerley mentioned, as an aside, that Chen,"who has protested and exposed forced abortions and sterilizations, was able to scale a wall and escape" his house arrest.
Two days later, on the April 30 Good Morning America, news reader Josh Elliott explained, "[Chen] has been a strong activist in trying to halt force abortions and sterilizations, which limit the size of families in China to one child per couple."
After that, ABC dropped any mention of abortion. (The network had 11 total items on Chen's case.)
NBC allowed three abortion references over 17 stories. Similar to ABC,
the network stopped talking about the issue after the April 30th Nightly News.
On April 28, reporter Ian Williams reminded, "After exposing forced
sterilizations and abortions under China's one child policy, he was
jailed and then put under house arrest with his family."
CBS's coverage proves that downplaying Chen's opposition to abortion is
one of editorial discretion. The network's first story was on April 28
and the phrase "forced abortions" was used repeatedly all the way
through May 3. Almost 50 percent of CBS' stories mentioned the issue.
Reporter
Holly Williams deemed Chen an "extraordinary figure," and added, "Back
in 2005, he exposed how thousands of people in his province of Zhangdong
had been forced to undergo abortions and forced to undergo surgical
sterilization."
Redstate.com on May 7 explained the dire situation in China:
The little reported story is that Chen Guangcheng has protested China’s forced abortion policy where a Chinese mother who attempts to have a second baby will if caught, be dragged to the hospital by the police and forced to endure a late term abortion – even if it is mere hours before the actual birth.
Notice the silence from the very people in America who were howling to the heavens at the idea that anything might slow down the rush to abort when an expectant mother arrives at a Planned Parenthood abortion mill?