http://mediamatters.org/items/200607150001About the media's ridiculously unbalanced coverage of blogs and "blog rage." Jamison Foser is a national treasure.
This phenomenon isn't limited to coverage of bloggers, of course. In July 2004, the first edition of this newsletter noted that liberals are frequently portrayed by the media as "angry" and full of "hate," while conservatives escape similar characterization:
The contrast in media coverage of controversial remarks by comics Whoopi Goldberg and Dennis Miller illustrates how pervasive the "mean, angry liberal" story line has become. More than a week after Goldberg made comments at a July 8 fundraiser for Senator John Kerry, the cable news networks continued to devote significant primetime attention to the controversy around her remarks. But Miller's comments at a rally for President George W. Bush, in which he suggested a homosexual relationship between Kerry and Senator John Edwards, got relatively little attention. Media Matters for America reviewed FOX News Channel, MSNBC, and CNN primetime coverage between 5 p.m. and 11 p.m. (ET) on July 15 and found that the three cables addressed Whoopi Goldberg's remark a total of 19 times. In contrast, Dennis Miller's comments were addressed only twice; CNN Crossfire co-host Paul Begala called it "an interesting example of the double standard in the media."
Continuing the double standard, on July 21, USA Today ran an article titled "Celebrities declare own war -- on Bush" that asserted "Bush-bashing is turning into an en vogue celebrity sport. But unsolicited anti-Bush rhetoric, which appears to be spinning out of control, is alienating both Republicans and Democrats." USA Today didn't mention Miller's anti-Kerry rhetoric, or vitriolic Kerry-bashing from such right-wing figures as Rush Limbaugh. As Salon.com's Eric Boehlert wrote, "Tip for USA Today; just because the RNC claims Bush-hating celebrities are out of control, that doesn't make it so. Let alone news."
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