[Media-watch] FW: New York Times Killed "Bush Bulge" Story

[Tim Gopsill]

-----Original Message-----
From: FAIR [mailto:fair at fair.org]
Sent: 05 November 2004 21:06
To: Tim Gopsill
Subject: New York Times Killed "Bush Bulge" Story


                                 FAIR-L
                    Fairness & Accuracy In Reporting
               Media analysis, critiques and activism

http://www.fair.org/press-releases/bush-bulge.html

PRESS RELEASE: 
New York Times Killed "Bush Bulge" Story 

Five days before the presidential election, the New York Times killed a
story about the mysterious object George W. Bush wore on his back during
the presidential debates, journalist Dave Lindorff reveals in an exclusive
report on this week's CounterSpin, FAIR's weekly radio show.  The spiked
story included compelling photographic and scientific evidence that would
have contradicted Bush's claim that the bulge on his back was just a
matter of poor tailoring.

"The New York Times assigned three editors to this story and had it
scheduled to run five days before the election, which would have raised
questions about the president's integrity," said Lindorff. "But it was
killed by top editors at the Times; clearly they were chickening out of
taking this on before the election."

Lindorff says two other major newspapers, the Washington Post and the Los
Angeles Times, also decided not to pursue the story, which featured a
leading NASA satellite photo imaging scientist's analysis of pictures of
the president's back from the first debate.

The Times' bulge story is the latest example of possible self-censorship
by major news media during the election campaign.  In September, CBS's 60
Minutes decided to delay until after the election an investigative segment
that questioned the Bush administration's use of forged Niger uranium
documents in making its case for the Iraq war, saying that "it would be
inappropriate to air the report so close to the presidential election"
(New York Times, 9/25/04; FAIR Action Alert, 9/28/04).

And on September 10, CNN reporter Nic Robertson said of a CNN documentary
on Saudi Arabia, "I don't want to prejudge our executives here at CNN...
but I think we can be looking forward to [it] shortly after the U.S.
elections."  The segment is now scheduled to air this Sunday, five days
after the election.

Lindorff first broke the story of "the bulge" in Salon (10/8/04).  His
latest report, "Was Bush Wired? Sure Looks Like It," was published October
30 on MotherJones.com
(http://www.motherjones.com/news/update/2004/11/10_407.html).

CounterSpin provides a critical examination of major media stories every
week, exposing issues the mainstream press misses. It is heard on more
than 130 noncommercial stations across the United States and Canada, and
can also be heard on FAIR's website.

To listen to Lindorff's CounterSpin interview (available in Real Audio in
MP3 format), go to:

http://www.fair.org/counterspin/110504.html

The interview begins 17 minutes and 30 seconds into the show.

      ----------
Your donation to FAIR makes a difference:
http://www.fair.org/donate.html

SUBSCRIBE TO EXTRA! AND GET FAIR'S NEW BOOK FOR FREE:
The Oh Really? Factor
http://www.fair.org/ohreally.html

FAIR SHIRTS: Get your "Don't Trust the Corporate Media" shirt today at FAIR's online store:
http://www.merchantamerica.com/fair/

FAIR produces CounterSpin, a weekly radio show heard on over 130 stations in the U.S. and Canada. To find the CounterSpin station nearest you, visit http://www.fair.org/counterspin/stations.html

Feel free to respond to FAIR ( fair at fair.org ). We can't reply to everything, but we will look at each message. We especially appreciate documented examples of media bias or censorship. And please send copies of your email correspondence with media outlets, including any responses, to fair at fair.org .

You can subscribe to FAIR-L at our web site: http://www.fair.org . Our subscriber list is kept confidential.
                                  FAIR
                             (212) 633-6700
                          http://www.fair.org/
                          E-mail: fair at fair.org

---
You are currently subscribed to fair-l as: timg at nuj.org.uk
To unsubscribe send a blank email to:
leave-fair-l at comet.sparklist.com

NOTE: To change your address, simply unsubscribe your old address, and re-subscribe with your new address.