MediaWatch: April 1993

Vol. Seven No. 4

ABC Reports on Bias

Viewers Decry Slant

Breaking out of the old formula, ABC's Prime Time Live explored a rare topic: the media's own biases. After calling for viewer examples of bias in November, ABC aired the results on March 11: 8,000 people flooded the network with examples, and nine of ten letter writers thought election coverage was slanted against the Republicans.

"We found no grand conspiracy, but we did find some surprising examples of what seemed to be some less than objective journalism," declared reporter Judd Rose. He embarrassed Chicago Tribune editor George Langford, who defended a front-page photo from Associated Press showing President Bush with his back to the camera, standing next to a sign that read "Danger -- Keep Away." When Langford said it was the best they had, Rose showed him four very positive AP photos of Bush that were available the same day.

Rose pointed out that George Stephanopoulos' "random" call to George Bush on Larry King Live right before the election went to the CNN control room, and producers made sure it got on. Hardly random.

Rose even critiqued Prime Time itself. In interviews with candidates the week before the election, Sam Donaldson told viewers to watch for Bush backing off a tax pledge, then concluded a segment on Clinton: "They're talking about a whirlwind trip around the country. That's commitment." According to Rose, "Sam says he added that remark after our Executive Producer expressed concern that the tone of the Clinton interview was too hostile."

This suggests one theory about the real reason for ABC's story: It's penance for Prime Time Executive Producer Rick Kaplan, who would not deny a Spy magazine report that he attended Clinton campaign staff meetings and boasted of setting up the Clinton press office during the primaries. In a recent issue of The Washington Post Magazine, reporter David Finkel quoted Kaplan as he watched Donaldson's interview with Clinton. "I'd just like to do this one over again...I'm getting angry watching this...You're making fun of him ....You didn't treat Bush this way."