MediaWatch: July 1992

Media Money Funds Democrats

Media critics on the left have warned that a conservative bias dominates the news thanks to the "conservative" executives who run America's major media corporations. Even some reporters believe the heads of media corporations are conservative. On C-SPAN last December 6, CNN reporter Bob Franken concluded: "The ownership of the media are in fact conservative. They are, first of all, they're rich. They have to be rich, and that usually translates to conservative."

But how do these "conservative" corporate executives really come down on political issues? In the last few years, MediaWatch has shown that media company foundations give 90 percent of their political grants to liberal groups. Now, MediaWatch analysts have investigated the federal political contributions made by major media executives and journalists. A sample of those findings, from 1988 to present, strike another damaging blow to the myth of "conservative" media corporations. Media figures give to Democrats roughly six times as often as they donate to Republicans.

Contributions to Republicans were seldom based on executives' beliefs, but on a self-interested support-the-winner attitude. How else could you explain supporting both Clinton and Bush? ABC Chairman Thomas Murphy gave to both Republican Tom Campbell and Democrat Dianne Feinstein in the same Senate race. Media executives may also be self-interested in donating to Senators such as Daniel Inouye, or Congressmen such as Ed Markey, since they chair subcommittees governing the media. Donation records were gathered at the Federal Election Commission and do not include state races. For example, CBS reporter Ed Bradley and PBS anchor Charlayne Hunter-Gault gave $500 and $700, respectively, to Virginia Gov. Douglas Wilder in 1989; and in 1988, Dan Rather attended a fundraiser for Texas Gov. Ann Richards.

While many executives would claim they have no control over the content of news, some donors we've identified do. Howard Stringer, President of CBS News during 1990-91, is a Clinton supporter; Douglas Bennet, President of NPR, gave money to Paul Tsongas. Judith Moyers, who produces all of husband Bill Moyers' PBS programs, donated to Sen. Harris Woford and the Democratic feminist fundraisers at Emily's List. Reporters who favor Democrats in their copy aren't challenging the corporate brass -- they're pleasing them.

Partial list of media contributors with titles, 1988-92 (Republicans in italics):

Steven J. Ross, Co-Chairman, Time Warner: Democratic National Committee, $100,000; Sen. Rudy Boschwitz, $1,000; Sen. Bill Bradley, $2,000; Sen. Bill Bradley, $2,000, Rep. Jack Brooks, $2,000; Bush-Quayle '92, $1,000; Sen. William Cohen, $2,000; Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, $5,000; Sen. Chris Dodd, $1,000; Sen. Wyche Fowler, $2,000; Rep. Dan Glickman, $500; Sen. Al Gore, $2,000; Sen. Howell Heflin, $2,000; Sen. Ernest Hollings, $2,000; Sen. John Kerry, $2,000; Sen. Patrick Leahy, $1,000; New York Republican County Committee, $2,500;; Sen. Sam Nunn, $2,000; Pennsylvania Democratic State Committee, $5,000; Rep. Charles Rangel, $1,500; Sen. Jay Rockefeller, $2,000; Sen. Warren Rudman, $2,000; Sen. Terry Sanford, $1,000; Rep. James Scheuer, $2,000; Sen. Paul Simon, $1,000; Rep. Edolphus Towns, $1,000.

Gerald M. Levin, Co-Chairman, Time Warner: Clinton for President, $500; Sen. Al D'Amato, $250; Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, $1,000; Sen. John Kerry, $1,000; Rep. Thomas Manton, $1,000; Rep. Thomas Manton, $1,000; Rep. Ed Markey, $1,000; Mrazek for Senate, $1,000; Sen. Bob Packwood, $1,000; Sen. Wyche Fowler, $1,000; Sen. Tim Wirth, $1,000.

N.J. Nicholas, ex-Co-Chairman, Time Warner: Tsongas for President, $1,000.

Timothy A. Boggs, Vice President-Government Affairs, Time Warner: Sen. Bill Bradley, $1,000; Rep. Jack Brooks, $1,000; Bush-Quayle '92, $1,000; Clinton for President, $1,000; Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, $2,500; Sen. Chris Dodd, $2,000; Rep. Vic Fazio, $1,000; Rep. Barney Frank, $250; Gay and Lesbian Victory Fund, $500; Rep. Dick Gephardt, $250; Harkin for President, $1,000; Human Rights Campaign Fund PAC, $420; Rep. Robert Kastenmeier, $1,000; Sen. John Kerry, $2,000; Sen. Patrick Leahy, $250; Rep. Thomas Manton, $500; Rep. Ed Markey, $3,000; Sen. Bob Packwood, $1,000; Rep. Mike Synar, $1,500.

Mark Mitzner, Executive Vice President, Time Warner: Clinton for President, $1,000.

Mayo Stuntz, Executive Vice President, Time Warner: Clinton for President, $1,000.

Andrew Tobias, "Money Angles" columnist, Time magazine: Abrams for Senate, $500; Clinton for President, $1,000; Rep. Barney Frank, $1,000; Sen. Graham, $250; Huffington for Congress, $500; Tsongas for President, $1,000; Melvin Watt for Congress, $1,000.

Martha Smilgis, Reporter, Time magazine: Dianne Feinstein for Senate, $250.

Howard Stringer, President, CBS Broadcast Group and former President, CBS News: Clinton for President, $1,000; Sen. Daniel Inouye, $1,000.

Martin D. Franks, Vice President-Government Relations, CBS: Sen. Brock Adams, $500; Sen. Joseph Biden, $500; Rep. David Bonior, $500; Rep. Rick Boucher, $500; Rep. Barbara Boxer, $500; Sen. John Breaux, $1,000; Sen. Kent Conrad, $500; Sen. Tom Daschle, $500; Rep. Butler Derrick, $500; Rep. John Dingell, $1,000; Sen. Alan Dixon, $1,000; Sen. James Exon, $1,000; Rep. Vic Fazio, $500; Sen. William Ford, $1,000; Rep. Martin Frost, $500; Rep. Bart Gordon, $500; Rep Willis Gradison, $250; Kerrey for President, $500; Sen. John Kerry, $500; Sen. Patrick Leahy, $250; Rep. Ed Markey, $500; Rep. Bob Matusi, $500; Rep. Tom McMillen, $250; Rep. David Skaggs, $250; Sen. Ted Stevens, $500; Rep. Al Swift, $500; Rep. Mike Synar, $1,000.

Daniel B. Burke, President, Capital Cities/ABC: Sen. Ernest Hollings, $1,000; Rep. Peter Kostmayer, $500.

Thomas S. Murphy, Chairman, Capitol Cities/ABC: Tom Campbell for Senate, $1,000; Feinstein for Senate, $1,000; Sen. Ernest Hollings, $1,000; Sen. John Kerry, $1,500; Sen. Daniel K. Inouye, $1,000; Rep. Marty Russo, $500; Sen. Terry Sanford, $2,000; Rep. Mike Synar, 1,000; Rep. Tom Tauke, $1,000.

Mark MacCarthy, VP-Government Affairs, Capital Cities/ABC: Sen. Ernest Hollings, $500; Sen. John Kerry, $500; Rep. Peter Kostmayer, $500; Rep. Ed Markey, $1,500.

Robert C. Wright, President, NBC: Sen. Bill Bradley, $1,000; Bush-Quayle '92,$1,000; Rep. John Dingell, $1,000; Sen. Earnest Hollings, $2,000; Sen. Daniel Inouye, $1,000; Rep. Thomas Manton, $500; rep. Ed Markey, $500; Rep. Charles Rangel, $500; Rep. Christopher Shays, $2,000; Tom Tauke for Senate, $1,000.

Lawrence A. Bossidy, Vice Chairman, General Electric: Bush-Quayle '92, $1,000; Sen. Ernest Hollings, $1,000; Rep. Charles Schumer, $2,000.

Richard Cotton, Vice President and General Counsel, NBC: Clinton for President, $1,000; Sen. Ernest Hollings, $2,000; Sen. John Kerry, $1,000; Rep. Thomas Manton, $500; Rep. Ed Markey, $500; Rep. Jim Scheuer, $1,000.

Frank P. Doyle, Senior Vice President, General Electric: Clinton for President, $1,000; Democratic National Committee, $2,200; Dole For President, $500; Rep. Dick Gephardt, $250; Sen. Tom Harkin, $1,000; Sen. Ernest Hollings, $1,000; Sen. John Kerry, $1,000; Rep. Ray McGrath, $500; Rep. Thomas Petri, $300; Sen Paul Simon, $1,000.

Edward E. Hood, Jr., Vice Chairman, General Electric: Rep. Nicholas Mavroules, $500.

Terence p. Mahony, VP-Governmental Relations, NBC: Rep. Ed Markey, $250; Kerrey for President, $1,000.

Cathleen P. Black, President, American Newspaper Publishers Association and former publisher, USA Today: Rep. Ed Markey, $1,000; Women's Campaign Fund, $1,000.

Victor Zonana, Financial Reporter, Lost Angeles Times: Clinton for President, $100.

Millicent Feller, Vice President for Government Relations, Gannett: Rep. Beryl Anthony, $500; Sen. Bob Packwood, $1,000; Rep. Al Swift, $300.

Douglas J. Bennet Jr., President, National Public Radio: Tsongas for President, $500.

Judith Moyers, Executive Producer, Public Affairs Television (PBS): Sen. Harris Wofford, $1,000; Emily's List, $250.

Sharon Percy Rockefeller, President, WETA and retiring board member, Corporation for Public Broadcasting: Barbara Boxer for Senate, $250; Clinton for President, $1,000; Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, $1,500; Democratic National Committee, $3,000; Ferraro for Senate, $500; Harvy Gantt for Senate Campaign, $500; West Virginia State Democratic Executive Committee, $1,000; Sen Tim Wirth, $1,000; Women's Campaign Fund, $500.

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