Gainesville Times

Do newspapers give in to political pressure?

Well, ... yes.

On October 18, 2006, CNN aired a small portion of a videotape sent to them which showed snipers shooting at and apparently killing American troops. After the news report was shown, Press Secretary Tony Snow accused CNN of "propagandizing" the American public. Representative David Hunter, then-chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, asked Donald Rumsfeld to remove CNN embedded reporters following the airing of the news report,claiming that "C-N-N has now served as the publicist for an enemy propaganda film featuring the killing of an American soldier."

Kind of a heavy handed use of persuasion, used in public.

What about something more subtle?

The Bush White House paid public funds t0 right wing media commentators by several U.S. Executive Departments under Cabinet officials to promote various policies of U.S. President George W. Bush's administration. Thousands of dollars were paid to at least three commentators to promote Bush administration policies. This included Armstrong Williams, Maggie Gallagher, and Michael McManus.

An example of how a little public funds can go a long way in the press.

And, how about something more to my personal taste? A newspaper having a story about a crime and not printing it? What was the story about? Well, a politician accused of statutory rape. The reporter, who did have the courage and courageous editors to confront crime and politicians, won a Pulitzer. How long did the newspaper sit on the allegations? Years and years.

The integrity of The Oregonian took a blow after it was revealed that the paper failed to act on evidence that former Democratic governor Neil Goldschmidt committed statutory rape. Willamette Week, another Portland newspaper, ran a story that alleged that Goldschmidt engaged in sex acts with his 14-year-old baby sitter.

As with the Bob Packwood scandal in 1992, The Oregonian had information which it failed to seriously investigate. The Oregonian was further criticized for its follow-up coverage, which called Goldschmidt's statutory rape an "affair." Willamette Week writer Nigel Jaquiss won the Pulitzer Prize for his coverage. ^[30]

Do I think newspapers are free to print the facts? No. Not always. Not nearly enough. Newspapers stories can be bought and sold. News reporters can be bought and sold. Local merchants can threaten "execs" and back up those threats by pulling advertisements. Elected government officials can threaten and belittle reporting by newspapers. Those threats can be backed up and enforced by banning reporters and them denying access given to other "friendly" reporters and newspapers.

And, what have the courts said? "The public interest in being fully informed about controversies that often rage around sensitive issues demands that the press be afforded the freedom to report such charges without assuming responsibility for them."

BTW, still no interest from the Gainesville Times in seeing my video.

"Fully informed?"