Chicago Media Does Not Cover Pro-2nd Amendment Rally

legion · 07-15-2008, 05:16 PM

500 people gathered on Friday at the Thompson Center in downtown Chicago (coincidentally where our esteemed governor rules from) to rally in support of a concealed carry law in Illinois.

How much coverage did this pro-gun rally in Chicago get? Almost none. It got a 20-second spot on ABC news. The Chicago Tribune, The Sun Times, WBBM, WGN, WLS, CBS, Fox, and NBC all completely failed to mention this.

Chicago media outlets consistently cover every anti-gun rally in the state, ad-nauseam, even if there are only 10 people there (usually, Jesse Jackson, Michael Pfleger, and enough "supporters' to fill the frame).

http://newsbusters.org/blogs/tom-blumer/2008/07/15/chicago-tribune-ignores-pro-2nd-amendment-rally-has-covered-similar-oppo

Quote:

Focusing on the Tribune: Its editorial board last month advocated repealing the Second Amendment in the wake of the Supreme Court's Heller ruling, holding that the amendment confers an individual right. Perhaps not coincidentally, it has frequently covered anti-gun events with a similar number, or even fewer, participants, than were at Thursday's event.
...
Recent rallies at the Thompson Center have been demands for gun control laws following fatal shootings of Chicago children. Thursday, the plaza was full again, but the message was from those demanding the right to bear arms.
...
The Tribune exemplifies an Old Media elite that consistently fails to give equal coverage to Second Amendment supporters. Further, in this particular case, it's fair to ask whether the paper is allowing its editorial position to affect how it covers this area of the news.

Joeaksa · 07-15-2008, 06:34 PM

Why am I not surprised? Could never live there, no matter how much someone offered me.

legion · 07-16-2008, 05:15 AM

On WBBM (AM News Radio out of Chicago) this morning, during my 7-minute drive to work, there were two stories on shootings in Chicago. Both stories made sure to mention that Daley blames the guns and not the shooters.

I've been listening to this radio station for 18 years and I have never heard one story about a gun being used to stop a crime (whether or not it was fired).

Pazuzu · 07-16-2008, 06:18 AM

Chicago media is a series of privately owned companies, and by all rights, they have the option to put whatever they want in their news. Would you want them to be FORCED to include certain stories?

legion · 07-16-2008, 06:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pazuzu

Chicago media is a series of privately owned companies, and by all rights, they have the option to put whatever they want in their news. Would you want them to be FORCED to include certain stories?

When did I advocate forcing them to do anything?

No, I am merely pointing out that these companies, which promote the idea that they are unbiased sources of news, are not unbiased and in fact have very specific biases.

Pazuzu · 07-16-2008, 06:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by legion

When did I advocate forcing them to do anything?

No, I am merely pointing out that these companies, which promote the idea that they are unbiased sources of news, are not unbiased and in fact have very specific biases.

Um...it's media, it's written BY humans, FOR humans, and it's designed to sell in a certain market. When has it NOT been biased? You sound surprised with this thread. Media is to be consumed, not to teach us.

However, you did a good job of answering one thing i would have called out before I finished reading your first post...a gather of 500 people never warrants news media in a city like Chicago...but you amply caught me when you showed that they had reported on tiny gathers...although, I bet they don't write about those 10 person gathers IN Chicago, just downstate.

legion · 07-16-2008, 06:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pazuzu

Um...it's media, it's written BY humans, FOR humans, and it's designed to sell in a certain market. When has it NOT been biased? You sound surprised with this thread. Media is to be consumed, not to teach us.

However, you did a good job of answering one thing i would have called out before I finished reading your first post...a gather of 500 people never warrants news media in a city like Chicago...but you amply caught me when you showed that they had reported on tiny gathers...although, I bet they don't write about those 10 person gathers IN Chicago, just downstate.

There was a "rally" at Chuck's Gun Shop in the south suburbs last spring where Jackson and Pfleger were arrested for harrassing the shop owner. From all accounts (that mention the number of attendees--most omit it), there were around 20 people there. Several news stations and newspapers were on hand--before the arrests happened. From what I hear, all of the photos and video were carefully shot to fill each frame with "protesters" to give the impression of a large gathering when in fact there were more reporters on hand than "protesters".