As U.S. Troops Succeed, Network News Retreats from Iraq War Story

NewsBusters.org ^ | 2/1/2008 | Rich Noyes

[Pyro7480]

After months of improving security in Iraq, the big network morning shows on Friday cited one horrific suicide bombing as proof that “mayhem and misery are back in Baghdad,” as CBS correspondent Mark Strassmann put it. But over the last five months, the broadcast networks have consistently reduced their coverage of Iraq, as if the story of American success in Iraq is less worthy of attention than their old mantra of American failure in Iraq.

Media Research Center analysts tracked all coverage of the Iraq war on the ABC, CBS and NBC evening newscasts from September 1 through January 31, and we documented a steady decline in TV coverage of Iraq that has coincided with the improving situation in Iraq. Back in September, the three evening newscasts together broadcast 178 stories about the war in Iraq; in January, that number fell to just 47, a nearly fourfold decrease. (See chart.)

On all three networks, however, journalists are admitting that the U.S. strategy is yielding success. “As a new year begins, overall violence is falling and hope seems to be rising,” fill-in anchor Harry Smith announced on the January 1 CBS Evening News.

“The downturn in violence is being reflected in an upturn in the country’s economy. Since the U.S. troop surge took hold, everything from Iraq’s street markets to its stock market has been enjoying better days,” anchor David Muir cheered on ABC’s World News Saturday January 26. Baghdad reporter Hilary Brown translated the comments of one Iraqi businessmen: “‘Each month is better than the month before,’ says this shop owner. ‘It used to be the other way around.’”

[Pyro7480]

"If it bleeds, it leads." I guess the opposite is true as well.

[Always Right]

It is only newsworthy when the ‘good’ guys are ‘winning’.

[EyeGuy]

“.... cited one horrific suicide bombing as proof that “mayhem and misery are back in Baghdad.”

Well, that has been the LeftMedia strategy from the beginning. We have been winning all along. Yes the surge has helped to snuff out even more of these ISOLATED attacks, but the overall big secret is that we are most definitely winning, and have been since the kickoff.

[TNCMAXQ]

I was stunned to hear 38 troops (not all Americans?) were killed in Iraq this month. It used to be that when even a single guy was killed this was screamed in the headlines. Now I guess the media figure they don’t have to report it as loudly anymore? I guess the campaign and Britney Spears dominate so much of the news there isn’t time for Iraq anymore. (sarcasm)

[FFranco]

All the media is leftist, and that includes Fox News. They won’t give out the story of America’s victory in Iraq because they are hoping the public will force our leaders to surrender before Total Victory is achieved.

I am sure we will see Total Victory in Iraq this year. Then, all we will need in the way of troops there are garrison troops stationed in fortified bases for peace keeping and to protect the oil supplies.

[sakic]

The reason the story of the war is being reported less has nothing to do with the results. It has to do with America’s short attention span and their love of Ms. Spears and Ms. Hilton.