Fox News, MSNBC devoted scant coverage to initial aftermath of Rep. Cunningham's guilty pleas, resignation
In the hours after Rep. Randy "Duke" Cunningham (R-CA) pleaded guilty to federal charges of conspiracy and tax evasion and subsequently announced his resignation from the House of Representatives, Fox News and MSNBC devoted scant coverage to the unfolding story. A Media Matters for America review of the first four hours of the three cable news networks' coverage following Cunningham's pleas and resignation revealed that Fox News was the last to cover the story, mentioned it the fewest times, and devoted the least time to the story. MSNBC also offered limited coverage, reporting on the resignation only twice.
Cunningham entered his plea early in the afternoon and announced his resignation at a press conference held during the 2 p.m. hour. From 1 to 5 p.m. ET, CNN reported on the story five times, at least once per hour (1:49 p.m., 2:25 p.m., 3:31 p.m., 4:15 p.m., and 4:35 p.m.) for a total of 17 minutes of coverage. MSNBC reported on the story twice (at 2:32 p.m. and 3:16 p.m.) for a total of four minutes. Fox News covered the story only once (at 3:38 p.m.) for a total of three minutes.
Prior to his resignation, Cunningham sat on the House Appropriations Committee, occupying a position on the committee's Defense subcommittee. He pleaded guilty to taking $2.4 million in bribes in exchange for helping defense contractor MZM Inc. secure Department of Defense contracts.
important story, but i think the abrahamoff investigations are going to make cunningham pale by comparison.
If a Democrat got a speeding ticket in Iowa it would have been the top story on Fox. Is anyone surprised by this? Fox doesn't report the news, they invent it. I can't wait for the next update on the "War against Christmas" or the missing white girl du jour. Pathetic.
"If a Democrat got a speeding ticket in Iowa it would have been the top story on Fox. Is anyone surprised by this? Fox doesn't report the news, they invent it. I can't wait for the next update on the "War against Christmas" or the missing white girl du jour. Pathetic." < by ohiocore >
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I saw Shep Smith on Fox News and he covered the story. Brit Hume also covered the story. Both showed the video of Cunningham's crying speech after he plead guilty.
And I was listening to Hannity on the radio today ... the Cunningham story was the first story he covered.
Finally, FOX NEWS WEBSITE has 11 stories on Cunningham that were on their website. See if any other news organization has covered Cunningham as much as FOX NEWS has.
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November 28, 2005 -- Cunningham Pleads Guilty in House Sale Probe
[link to www.foxnews.com]
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September 16, 2005 -- Cunningham Gets to Set Up Legal Defense Fund
[link to www.foxnews.com]
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August 26, 2005 -- Feds May Seize California Lawmaker's Home
[link to www.foxnews.com]
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August 04, 2005 -- Cunningham Falls to Typical Enticements
[link to www.foxnews.com]
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July 14, 2005 -- Cunningham Won't Seek Re-Election
[link to www.foxnews.com]
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July 09, 2005 -- Court: Convict's Firm Aided Rep. Cunningham
[link to www.foxnews.com]
_____
July 06, 2005 -- Cunningham Web Site Down
[link to www.foxnews.com]
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July 01, 2005 -- FBI Searches Calif. Congressman's Home
[link to www.foxnews.com]
_____
June 30, 2005 -- Grand Jury Wants Papers on Cunningham Real Estate Deal
[link to www.foxnews.com]
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June 23, 2005 -- Calif. Pol: Home Sale Was 'Poor Judgment'
[link to www.foxnews.com]
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June 21, 2005 -- Feds Probe Calif. Pol Over Real Estate Deal
[link to www.foxnews.com]
and none of those links have a thing to do with the contention of this story. fox covered it once in a four hour period for three minutes. cnn five times for seventeen minutes. and it is an important story that a so-called news channel should report.
"I saw Shep Smith on Fox News..."
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Nothing in your Fox-apologetic post refutes the point of this Media Matters item - that Fox News devoted scant coverage in the initial aftermath.
I have FOX news send auto emails on certain current events. I see that everybody on this site likes to bash FOX news. However, I received, within minutes of Cunningham's admission, an email about the story and several links. No other news org sent the story until HOURS after the fact....and I get MANY! So, go ahead and bash a FOX today! I remain unfazed.
"I remain unfazed."
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The Fox News target demographic. Bulls eye.
Here are some facts about coverage on Cunningham.
CNN.com has only had (2) stories about Cunningham. CBSNEWS.com has had only (2) stories on Cunningham. And FOXNEWS.com has had (11) stories on Cunningham. That's why Fox is "Fair and Balanced" ... "We Report, You Decide"
(CNN #1) Congressman resigns after bribery plea -- November 28, 2005 [link to www.cnn.com]
(CNN #2) Rep. Cunningham won't seek re-election amid contractor probe -- July 14, 2005 [link to www.cnn.com]
(CBS News #1) Lawmaker Quits After Guilty Plea -- Nov. 28, 2005 [link to www.cbsnews.com]
(CBS News #2) Embattled GOPer Won't Run Again -- July 14, 2005 [link to www.cbsnews.com]
And FOXNEWS.com has (11) stories on Cunningham.
(FOX #1) November 28, 2005 -- Cunningham Pleads Guilty in House Sale Probe [link to www.foxnews.com]
(FOX #2) September 16, 2005 -- Cunningham Gets to Set Up Legal Defense Fund [link to www.foxnews.com]
(FOX #3) August 26, 2005 -- Feds May Seize California Lawmaker's Home [link to www.foxnews.com]
(FOX #4) August 04, 2005 -- Cunningham Falls to Typical Enticements [link to www.foxnews.com]
(FOX #5) July 14, 2005 -- Cunningham Won't Seek Re-Election [link to www.foxnews.com]
(FOX #6) July 09, 2005 -- Court: Convict's Firm Aided Rep. Cunningham [link to www.foxnews.com]
(FOX #7) July 06, 2005 -- Cunningham Web Site Down [link to www.foxnews.com]
(FOX #8) July 01, 2005 -- FBI Searches Calif. Congressman's Home [link to www.foxnews.com]
(FOX #9) June 30, 2005 -- Grand Jury Wants Papers on Cunningham Real Estate Deal [link to www.foxnews.com]
(FOX #10) June 23, 2005 -- Calif. Pol: Home Sale Was 'Poor Judgment' [link to www.foxnews.com]
(FOX #11) June 21, 2005 -- Feds Probe Calif. Pol Over Real Estate Deal [link to www.foxnews.com]
""We Report, You Decide"
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In the initial aftermath of Cunningham's guilty pleas and resignation, we've decided that Fox DIDN'T report much at all. What a shock.
None of these links demonstrate any error in the MMFA story:
From 1 to 5 p.m. ET, CNN reported on the story five times, at least once per hour (1:49 p.m., 2:25 p.m., 3:31 p.m., 4:15 p.m., and 4:35 p.m.) for a total of 17 minutes of coverage. MSNBC reported on the story twice (at 2:32 p.m. and 3:16 p.m.) for a total of four minutes. Fox News covered the story only once (at 3:38 p.m.) for a total of three minutes.
All of the above is factual. Certainly, this alone doesn't mean bias in Fox news (as they may have simply been slow at responding - which would explain the nearly 2 hour lag time). This MMFA article is just 1 piece of information that must be integrated with other information to determine overall bias.
All of the above is factual. Certainly, this alone doesn't mean bias in Fox news (as they may have simply been slow at responding - which would explain the nearly 2 hour lag time). This MMFA article is just 1 piece of information that must be integrated with other information to determine overall bias.
by kwinters79 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Your wrong! Fox News was totally and completly ashamed of this.They purposly did not talk about it because it's an embarrassment to the lot of them.
I happened to tune in at the moment that they mentioned it, and of course they did not mention that he is a Republican.
Your wrong! Fox News was totally and completly ashamed of this.They purposly did not talk about it because it's an embarrassment to the lot of them.
by deeanna
Really? Could you point out which word or phrase I wrote that is "wrong"? I wasn't defending Fox news at all, I was merely pointing out to vegasdealer that the MMFA story is factually accurate and should be taken as 1 more piece of information one should use to determine overall bias (which I long ago - using many such data points - concluded was excessively conservative GOP on Fox).
Of your eleven Fox stories, only one was in the aftermath of the guilty plea, which is precisely what MMFA said.
Of your eleven Fox stories, only one was in the aftermath of the guilty plea, which is precisely what MMFA said.
by Easy to refute wingnuts
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Of course there is only one story on the guilty plea ... it just happened yesterday. lol ... I can see your not a rocket scientist.
My point was that ONLY Fox News covered the story from beginning to end ... or did that go over your head.
"Fair & Balanced"
My point was that ONLY Fox News covered the story from beginning to end ... or did that go over your head.
"Fair & Balanced" --vegasdealer
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So you were using the strawman technique? Fox's total coverage of the corrupt congressman was not the topic.
I think you're just trying to change the subject, because you can't refute MMFA on this.
What part of scant coverage to initial aftermath of Rep. Cunningham's guilty pleas was hard for you to understand, other than all of it?
NBC's "TODAY" show just aired a segment focusing on Cunningham's "tearful" resignation and blatantly hyped his fighter pilot history as the inspiration for Tom Cruise's "TOP GUN"(with exciting action footage from the movie).
The canned report included a few specifics of the bribery case, BUT IT WAS NEVER MENTIONED ANYWHERE, NOT ONCE-TOP OF THE SHOW, INTRO TO THE PIECE, OR WITHIN THE REPORT ITSELF-that he was a REPUBLICAN Congressman. Oh--and no follow up commentary or reaction from pundits or colleagues either.
I just looked over at the FOX *cough* news website and didn't find any links to Republican Cunningham pleading guilty to federal charges of conspiracy and tax evasion. I did see a story where Sandy Berger pleaded guilty to reckless driving though (clocked him going 88 mph). Heh! That story will probably be up there for a week.
Guess we all know the guilty stories FOX likes to run with. Well, I guess they did have guilty Cunningham up there for what, one day?
I don't know why people waste their time defending that GOP propaganda channel.