MediaWatch: January 1993
Table of Contents:
- MediaWatch: January 1993
- No Liberal Labels for Redistributionists
- NewsBites: Holiday Homeless Hype
- Revolving Door: Schram's Spin
- Networks Predictably Erupt Over Iran-Contra Pardons
- 20/20 Host Slashes at GOP
- Cummins on Crime
- Not Enough Details on Iran-Contra, But "Bastards" Kept Honest on Ads
- Janet Cooke Award: Time's Lance Morrow, Margaret Carlson Promote the Clintons
Cummins on Crime
On the December 9 NBC Nightly News, reporter Jim Cummins showcased a report on crime by the National Center for Policy Analysis, a Dallas-based conservative think tank. Cummins found: "The new study seemed to confirm what many people have suspected for a long time. The crime rate across the nation is rising, because criminals know the chances of getting caught and doing time are declining."
He reviewed the study data and took comment from the study's author, NCPA's Morgan Reynolds. Cummins explained: "Reynolds says obviously those who are caught and convicted serve more time, but most aren't caught and convicted -- and that brings the average way down...In fact, Reynolds' crime and punishment study found that from 1950 to 1974, there was a five-fold increase in the felony crime rate and a corresponding decrease in prison time for serious crimes...Reynolds believes the only realistic solution to this problem is to build more prisons and hire more cops."
Considering the usual network practice of presenting uncritical reports on studies from liberal groups, it's nice to see a conservative group get the same treatment. But don't reporters do their job best when they provide both sides?
Hunting Hypocrisy
Bill and Hillary Clinton's January 5 decision to send daughter Chelsea to a $10,000-a-year private school prompted CBS and NBC to question the political message sent by the First Couple's decision.
But only ABC's Brit Hume and CNN's Wolf Blitzer highlighted Clinton's hypocrisy, escaping public schools while opposing policies which would allow those less well off to do the same. Blitzer noted that "despite his support for public school education and his opposition to tax credits or vouchers that would help families send their children to private schools, 12-year-old Chelsea will now be attending eighth grade in one of the nation's most elite private schools." On World News Tonight, Hume asserted: "Clinton's education policy has included support for school choice, but only among public schools. He's opposed the use of public money to help those who can't afford it go to private schools."
