As a longtime ABC WNT viewer I am sad to say they have flipped

[underpants]

I know many here hate any and all main stream media but I have found ABC's World News Tonight to be the best and most fair (down the middle) network newscast-considering the field. Last night I actually sat jaw dropped as I watched how the news of the day was reported. I have noticed a precipitous drop off in the quality of the newscast when Jennings isn't there. Elizabeth Vargas anchored last night and it seems pretty clear that when the head is away they resort to the Foxfeed to write their stories.

This is paraphrased (except the last quote).

First Moussaoui pleads guilty

~"this is the first conviction related to the 9/11 attacks"
That was repeated at least three times at the beginning of the story

uh....NO. Moussaoui was arrested a MONTH before the attacks (they did mention that near the end of the story) and he is a glaring illustration of the complete neglect by the Bush Administration. The 9/11 Commission found that Moussaoui was never really involved in THAT attack and that even OBL determined he was too much of a whackjob to carry out the plan.

They did mention that Moussaoui (firmly painted as a nut job by this point in the story-for MSM purposes) claimed to be training for another mission.

Next-Bush on Earth Day
~"On this 35th anniversary of Earth Day President Bush visited the Great Smokey Mountains...."

uh....NO. They didn't mention that his speech was from inside a airplane hangar because little precious didn't need to go out in bad weather if no good quality photo op was available.

Next-a report of enviro Evangelists "Creation Care"
Full story here
http://www.abcnews.go.com/Technology/Politics/story?id=690994&page=1



Lastly-the "Person of the Week"
Usually this is an inspiring story about someone who is rarely reported on but really does good for their community or the world. Past Persons of the Week have included a doctor who stayed to care for tsunami victims, a legally blind Iditarod racer, and Brian Lamb (founder of C-Span).

This week?

Hold on to your hats.



Person of the Week: Sandra Froman
First Woman Elected President of National Rifle Association
http://www.abcnews.go.com/WNT/PersonOfWeek/story?id=695111&page=1

This is right from the story.

Froman has already had a minor misstep. After a school shooting on an Indian Reservation in Minnesota last month, Froman was reported as saying consideration should be given to any method that might make a school safer — even arming teachers. She said her comments were taken out of context.

[MADem]

1. In my experience, ABC has always been right of center. YMMV n/t

[Smarmie Doofus]

2. Sadly, you are not imagining things.

I've noticed this too. The infotainment quality of 20-20 declined precipitiously( more 'tainment; less info) when B Walters left and Vargas and J Stossell took over and it appears that, when Jennings is gone, WNT will follow suit.

I'm choosing to look at it as part of what I hope is a constructive evolution. Media is undergoing a fundamental realignment with thinking people going more to the net (and to a lesser extent print media) and away from electronic infotainment.

[underpants]

3. I agree-cable news was the first step in news when YOU want it

unfortuneately it has become HOW you want it too (Fox) and the others have followed like good little children.

Don't even get me started on GE's the Today Show-it is a morning People magazine these days.

[Smarmie Doofus]

6. I won't get you started, but the morning "news" shows...

are unwatchable. That's probably where the rest of that medium is headed.

[KharmaTrain]

4. Complete Misinfornation Of This Story

Thank you for pointing out Moussaoui was not involved in 9/11...WAS IN JAIL at the time of the attack and his plea bargain/conviction was on a totally unreleated charge.

Instead of the corporate media hearlding this as some sort of triumph...CNNServative used their paid-for "Terror Alert" crap around this story and filled with inacurracies, they should be examining why we had this guy in custody...he knew about the plot (as did others who fled) and how this dude all but could have spilled the cards and the FBI, CIA and DOD ignored the information. Not going tin foil hat here, just remind folks as to how much of a fuck up this regime was in the days prior to 9/11.

Next...let's get some convictions for 9/11. When are some of the Gitmo prisoners to be tried? Any extraditions being requested on those being held in Germany & Spain for them to face an American jury?

By 1997...4 years after the 1993 WTC bombing, most of the conspirators of that crime had been rounded up and tried. Where's the TRUE justice in this event?

I long dialed off ABC and virtually all corporate news except to see how they're spinning a story...not for anything factual or credible.

[underpants]

8. Odd-the excuses for torture are never applied to Moussaoui

your post just clicked this on in my brain.

As you probably know one of the ways RW hate radio and media have made excuses for torture is the "What if you family was in danger? WOU'DN'T YOU TORTURE SOMEONE TO GET THAT INFORMATION NOW? Don't you love your family????"

Well then why didn't they torture Moussaoui?

[KharmaTrain]

11. How Do We Know They Didn't?

I suspect the netherworld of this regime's true "war on terror" inside Gitmo and in the other torture chambers around the world stagger my mind.

Cheers

[underpants]

13. I meant before 9/11

If they did they have kept it real quiet...as is the SOP.

[leftchick]

5. I never watch any ameriKan news source

It is like a Hollywood set with these "news bunnys" (IMUS's Words) chirping away the scripts. It is amazing to go abroad and see what real world news looks and sounds like. We are living in a soviet like state except for one huge difference, most ameriKans don't recognize propaganda when they see it.

[underpants]

7. Yeah I think I will start tuning back into BBC World News

I have tried in vein to get RW'ers I know to watch it. Not that it is the one and only truth but just so they can see how drastically different news can be reported and see how what they watch is not necessarily how it happened.

What we have observed with the whole "liberal media" lie is an old brainwashing technique. What you thought was the truth (MSM/what your parents told you) isn't WE (RW media) will tell you the NEW TRUTH. Many people see this as an act of rebellion (like cult members) and when those OLD TRUTH tellers try to bring you back they have to at least recognize some of the NEW TRUTH in order to begin the discussion.

[leftchick]

10. A quote on my fridge....

"The most dangerous man, to any government, is the man who is able to think things out for himself, without regard to the prevailing superstitions and taboos. Almost invariably he comes to the conclusion that the government he lives under is dishonest, insane and intolerable, and so, if he is romantic, he tries to change it. And if he is not romantic personally, he is apt to spread discontent among those who are." - H.L. Mencken

[underpants]

14. Mencken

See my sig line.

I believe Mencken had some horribly racist things to say but he was spot on in other matters.

[MasonJar]

9. Dan Rather was the only one of the big three that really seemed

to actually care about the direction the world was going, and he was inconsistent at best.

[Toucano]

12. I agree.

And Charlie Gibson is the absolute WORST. Can anyone be more of a twat?

They spent about 15 seconds on the attack on Abu Graib a couple of weeks ago, but led with the breast implants story.

Silicon boobs were the most important story of the day.

[underpants]

15. Does that guy sleep?

Not that I am a big fan but he seems to be on the TV continually.

[leftchick]

16. twat did you say?

lol! I haven't seen or heard that word used in a very long time!

[Toucano]

17. The return of a classic, I guess.

It has a certain amiable quality that appeals to me. Few words can quite express dirision with a hint of fun! LOL!

[AtTheEndOfTheDay]

21. Don't know where you live

but in my town the word is twit. A twat is a bit of female anatomy.

[Toucano]

22. Twat knows no geography.

Charlie Gibson may be a twit, but he's also a twat.

I can't believe I just typed that! :rofl:

[Toucano]

18. Did you notice the 7 minute piece on Bobby Fisher?

Saturday, 4/23.

30% of their news broadcast was devoted to a completely pointless and useless story about the psycho chess champion.

The news department's sense of priorities are totally out of wack.

[Misunderestimator]

19. "little precious"

:rofl:

(I was thinking "little, Mr. Delicate" myself)

[Stinky The Clown]

20. "Prancing Preznit Precious"

This is a new one that has been floating around here on DU for a month or so ... at least.

I like it ... sez it all about the boy king.