Media Got It Right with Pope John Paul but Wrong with Terri Schiavo
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VOLUME 12 ISSUE 5 MAY 2005 www.MediaResearch.org The Media Research Center’s Monthly Members’ Report Media Got it Right with Pope John Paul INSIDE But Wrong with Terri Schiavo PAGE 3 The liberal bias was everywhere. The Limbaugh Cites Dear Member, News Stories Written networks and CNN produced “medical It was the best of times, it was the worst By MRC Interns! experts” to claim – repeatedly – that Terri of times – for media coverage, that is. Terri ● Schiavo was in a “persistent vegetative Schiavo. Pope John Paul II. They suffered state” – that she had no awareness of PAGE 4 tremendously. They both died within days of herself or others. Yet alternative media, Bits & Pieces: each other. And the major media treated their ABC Ignores Jessie including the MRC’s deaths like night and day. Jackson on Schiavo; CNSNews.com, The Terri Schiavo Media Mum on interviewed doctors, Berger’s Guilty Plea case showed the media at nurses, and other experts their worst, while the last ● who argued against that days of John Paul II PAGE 6 diagnosis. Her parents showed that the media, CNSNews.com Sets and siblings also con- when they want to, can get Reporting Standard firmed that Terri was it right. We only want, and on Schiavo Case often aware of what was deserve, good journalism ● happening around her. more often, which is why Terri Schiavo They argued that she PAGE 7 we do what we do. MRC In The News 1963-2005 needed real therapy – Without reviewing the therapy her husband had ● entire history of the tragic denied to her for 10 years. Page 8 Terri Schiavo case, it is fair Furthermore, despite A Post-Tax Analysis to say that the major media media claims about the sided with her adulterous extent of her brain husband, Michael Schiavo, damage, a full MRI scan, and his “right-to-die” which would have shown lawyer, while siding against the damage’s real extent, Terri Schiavo’s family, the was never done on Terri millions of conservative Pope John Paul II Schiavo. Why not? religious who prayed for 1920-2005 The left-wing media her, the governor of Florida, frequently claimed that the U.S. Congress, the President of the United Terri was on “life support,” implying she States and, ironically, Pope John Paul II, whose was hooked up to some complex medical America’s Media Vatican denounced Terri Schiavo’s death as machinery. Not true. She was not terminally Watchdog homicide. Continued on page 2 MEDIA RESEARCH CENTER FLASH APRIL 2005 Continued from page 1 ill, and received nourishment Time’s Nancy Gibbs wrote: through a simple feeding tube. All “The last glimpse of him high above her major bodily functions worked. the square became the latest in an She just couldn’t swallow; thus, the album of images he left behind: a tube. kiss on the tarmac in each new city; The actor Christopher Reeve, a smile lit by love and certainty; a by the way, also received food and white robe stained red by a would- water through a feeding tube and be assassin’s bullet, and the public yet the media never called for forgiveness that followed; a removing his care. Pope John Paul, challenge thrown down before again ironically, was also put on a prisoners and Presidents, sinners feeding tube; did the media call and saints to heed the highest calling for its removal? of their hearts.” The left-wing media claimed In their tributes, the (mostly) that Congress and the President secular media could most easily got involved in the Schiavo case grasp the Pope’s political triumphs for political reasons. Most of the bringing his moral witness to bear Washington press corps argued on the dissolution of Soviet viciously that congressional communism. Some reporters noted Republicans were just playing not just his impact on politics, but politics. However, the polls inside the Church as well. Writing showed most Americans opposed in Newsweek, Andrew Nagorski Congress’ action, destroying that stated, “I’m convinced John Paul media spin. II will go down in history as one of The media further claimed the greatest popes ever, one whose that removal of Terri’s feeding intense spirituality, intellectual tube would lead to a natural and brilliance and sheer physical dignified death. Hogwash. stamina are beyond dispute.” Dehydration and starvation cause In its many hours of coverage, horrific effects. Death takes about the news media signaled the respect two agonizing weeks. Terri they held for this Pope in spite of the Schiavo persevered for 13 days. differences they had with him on She died Thursday, March 31, at important social and religious issues. the age of 41. He was the “Holy Father” in their A day and a half later, Pope The media got it right with Pope John Paul II. reports. For all their respectful John Paul, 84, died. As head of They got it wrong with Terri Schiavo. attention to Church teaching and the 1-billion-plus member Catholic philosophy, they deserve the gratitude church, and respected and admired by billions more, the of the Pope’s supporters, Catholic and non-Catholic alike. major media dared not disparage the Polish Pope – at least The media got it right with Pope John Paul II. They got not until after his funeral. it wrong with Terri Schiavo. And they are savaging the new In fact, in the days preceding, and for several days Pope’s conservatism just as they continue to savage the following the Pope’s death, the major media provided largely conservatism in the White House and Congress. We’re positive and what can easily be called “politically balanced watching the media and documenting their bias every day. and responsible coverage.” With your help (and maybe a little help from above), we For example: On Sunday, April 3, the day after the Pope can fight harder to get the coverage we deserve and that died, CNN anchor Aaron Brown declared that the Pope which we know is possible. “does provide a kind of moral and human balance to all of Until next time, the other pressures that culture presents, and Pope John Paul did that aggressively.” Wyatt Andrews of CBS said: “Perhaps, with the exception of Christ himself, no one reached the flock with L. Brent Bozell III, greater impact.” Founder and President MEDIA RESEARCH CENTER 2 FLASH APRIL 2005 Rush Limbaugh Cites Four News Stories Written by MRC Interns! What a trip – actually, four trips – for a youngster! Four Nov. 2 elections in the USA. She also attended the Leadership stories written by MRC interns were picked up and cited by Rush Institute’s workshop on Public Relations. Limbaugh: two on the air to millions of Rush’s listeners, and two Two of Ms. Rhodes’ stories for CNSNews.com were referenced in his monthly newsletter, The Limbaugh Letter, read by hundreds on the Rush Limbaugh Show, reaching potentially 15 million listeners. of thousands of people. Her Jan. 19 story, “Anti- That’s a fantastic achievement for two interns, one of whom, War Crowd Backs Nathan Burchfiel, is still in college, and the second, Kathleen Notorious Dictators, Rhodes, only recently a graduate. Their hard work and Communists,” was cited in achievement is testament to the worthiness and effectiveness of the February 2005 edition the MRC’s Youth Education and Internship Program. of The Limbaugh Letter. The Program, launched in 1992, is designed to teach young In a gracious “thank people to understand the problem of liberal media bias and the you” letter about her need for balanced journalism as the solution. The Program is further internship, Ms. Rhodes designed to train young people to enter careers in journalism, wrote to MRC President public relations, marketing or government. Brent Bozell: “It was In the Program, interns are assigned to a division of the highly rewarding to see Kathleen Rhodes (Newark, DE) MRC where they gain hands-on experience—in the News that my work was Analysis Division, CNSNews.com/Cybercast News Service, Free considered important to Market Project, or the Marketing or Development department. the overall product of The interns’ work is specifically designed to sharpen the skills CNSNews.com. I had five they will use in their careers. stories make the top The interns also attend events in the nation’s capital, such as headline (nine overall), CNN’s Crossfire at George Washington University and a variety and I was proud to have of programs sponsored by the Heritage Foundation, the Leadership had two of my stories Institute, and others. Last November, some interns also had the classified as ‘special opportunity to cover the presidential election. reports.’ Even more For fall 2004, the MRC hosted four interns: three in exciting was to see that CNSNews.com and one in the News Analysis Division. prominent conservatives Frank Caliva (Dewitt, NY) Nathan Burchfiel (Woodstock, MD), a print journalism major, were reading my work. … is a junior at the University of Maryland-College Park. Mr. “To have the oppor- Burchfiel completed 20 stories and several “World in Briefs.” His tunity to do engaging and Aug. 5 story, “German Firm Defends Subway Restaurant Press consequential work such Kit” was cited in the September issue of The Limbaugh Letter as this is rare in and of (the monthly publication sent to subscribers of Rush 24/7). itself, but to be able to do Erin Brezsnyak (Glen Rock, NJ), a political science and it as an intern is even more sociology major, is a senior at the University of Mary Washington. incredible. … I also think it Ms. Brezsynak completed seven stories.