A Reminder About C-Span . . . . FAIR Report

[Dinger]

I've been reading more and more about c-spin increasingly kissing GOP ass, especially this past week. Lest we forget:

http://www.fair.org/index.php?page=2780

" . . . . . Among the most striking findings:

Of the partisan guests, Republicans outnumbered Democrats nearly two to one (134 to 70). Not a single representative of a third party appeared during the study period.

People of color made up only 15 percent of Washington Journal's guestlist (100 out of 663). People of African and Asian heritage accounted for 4 percent each, while those of Middle Eastern and Latin American descent represented 3 percent each. No Native Americans were identifiable during the six months studied.

Male guests outnumbered women by four to one, at 80 percent to 20 percent. Moreover, 69 percent of guests were white males, while just 3 percent were women of color.

Journalists accounted for nearly a third of all guests (32 percent), the largest single occupational group on the guestlist. Of opinion journalists, 32 were right-of-center while only 19 were left-of-center.

Citizen-based organizations and public interest groups accounted for just 9 percent of total guests. . . . . "

I once heard a caller cite this FAIR study/report, and brian cut him off right away.

[SaneInSC]

1. Thank you for the link

Thank you for the link, as I hadn't heard/read that info. before. Veddy interesting...and lopsided from the looks of it(.

[acmejack]

2. Good Info!

We'll have to use this on them. But they are a service of our Cable Companies...

[Dinger]

3. They (C-Spin) Need To Have This Exposed Again - DUers?

Call in, on a day when brian or steve host the journal. Give it to 'em good!

http://www.fair.org/index.php?page=2780

[MarinCoUSA]

4. And Karl Rove drafts the "questions of the day" for Wash Jnl

Swear to God, I wouldn't even blink if this were true.
I almost never turn it on at this point.

[Jai4WKC08]

6. Whether Rove drafts the questions or not

He or someone like him certainly gets a heads-up on what topics and guests will appear in advance (apparently in more detail than what might be available at the c-span website), because talking points are quite obviously disseminated to the "supports the President" callers before the show.

Two other issues:

The basic premise of taking one caller from one side and one from the other is unfair when only 30-40% of the population supports the president.

The WJ hosts are either unwilling or grossly unprepared to correct callers, even when they make the most outrageous lies. 'Course, this is problem with talking heads all over the so-called news cable networks.

[Finder]

5. I disagree they are pro- GOP or right wing...

and the imbalance is not due to promoting but for highlighting.

[KoKo]

8. huh? didn't understand your post....can you clarify? n/t

[Finder]

9. Sure...

I think the reason there are more RW types as guests on Cspan is because they are the group in power and it is important for viewers to listen to them, ask questions, and decide for themselves. In particular, Washington Journal invites guests based on the newspaper headlines. Since these RW hacks are central to most of the headlines they would naturally be over-represented.
The call-in portion is telling in particular. Rarely do you get a "Bush Supporter" who is articulate and rational. I especially appreciate the holy roller, bible quoting, racists spewing lies that even the politically apathetic are embarrassed to be affiliated with.

I see it more as giving them enough rope than promoting them. Getting them on record, in video is important.IMO

[KoKo]

7. K & R....C-span's WJ has been on a Repug Roll this past week.

:kick: