Using Repetition and Suggestion to Create a Story
Reported by Eleanor - July 20, 2004 -
Sandy Berger was the lead story on Fox this morning (July 20, 7:00 - 10:00 a.m.). Fox asked the question, "Should Kerry drop Berger from his campaign?" as well as a lot of speculation with few facts to go on. The story goes that Sandy Berger, one of Kerry's advisers and a former Clinton man, walked out of the National Archives with copies of some classified information. Fox pointed out that this is front page news in USA Today, but it's a two-paragraph story on page 17 of the NY Times. (So they are remedying that situation.)
In interviews of a number of people, including Joe Lieberman, Trent Lott, Rep. Duncan Hunter, Richard Goodstein, and Ben Ginsberg, (2 dems and 3 reps) no one clarified the issue. Ginsberg came closest to telling us why the republicans are hyping this story with, "Did Berger give those documents to the Kerry campaign to benefit them?"
The people interviewed said: Goldstein: "They were copies that are available elsewhere." Hunter: "He proclaimed his innocence. We accept that. He violated the discipline you must have as an adviser to Kerry. I must see the final details. Until then, I take them at their word, but ethics are an issue if you're working in a campaign." Lieberman: "I believe him when he says that it was inadvertent." Lott: "I know about this only from your reporting. I hope it was an error."
Comment: Fox covered this story at least every 15 minutes for three solid hours making it the biggest story of the day with a lot of hyperbolic language, i.e. "Berger is in hot water; huge investigation; highly classified documents not all returned; was he trying to hide something, "etc. When Wendall Goler said that the White House "knew it was wrong, but they're not sure it's illegal," E.D. said, "Welcome to America!"
Berger's response was, "I deeply regret my sloppiness, but every document to my knowledge that was requested was produced." The "big story" seems to be coming from the media more than anyone else. All parties interviewed are willing to wait, rather than make a big deal out of this.
Another example of the media making news rather than simply reporting it. Fox succeeded in thoroughly confusing and blowing up this story with personal comment and innuendo.
