Barbara West should be fired

Posted on October 28th, 2008 by ecthompson md

There are some things that have been truly repulsive in this election season. Over the weekend, Joe Biden did an interview with a Florida television station and the questions were simply the worst Republican talking points...ever. KFTV needs to apologize and fire Barbara West. There is a grave difference between a political operative and a news reporter.

From FireDogLake:

It’s a tale of two interview subjects and one GOP-agenda-driven “journalist.” And what a tale it is. JedReport took a peek at KFTV’s Barbara West and interviews with Joe Biden and John McCain. The side by side comparison is astonishing.

Watch the clip and you’ll see exactly what I mean: bias, alla way, baby.

Matt Stoller’s done a series of posts recently about issues of bias in local media, and repeated use of hand-fed GOP talking points as “research” which is worth watching closely. With the advent of media consolidation, more and more local stations are in the hands of fewer and fewer large corporate conglomerates, and that’s not good for fact-checking or diversity of opinion.

BT asked this morning that folks sign a petition demanding an apology from WFTV for this hatchet job posing as an interview. I’m asking for your help on this as well.

You can sign the petition here.

Tags: Election 2008, Party Politics // 3 Comments »

  • Chris

    Seriously, Doc? Fired for having a bias?

    Why does Keith Olbermann still have a job, then?

    And as far as a right wing media bias, I submit this article from the Pew Research center:

    http://journalism.org/node/13307

    The media coverage of the race for president has not so much cast Barack Obama in a favorable light as it has portrayed John McCain in a substantially negative one, according to a new study of the media since the two national political conventions ended.

    Right wing bias indeed.

  • Guy Roger

    I heard the questions asked to Biden, it is ridiculous.

    I watched her other interviews doen by her to republicans. i do strongly think there is bias.

    Her husband also campaigned for Bush in 2000 / 2004.

    that shows her support to republicans., it is total silly the question marxist.

    It is clear people are divided.

    God bless our country.

  • http://www.whereistheoutrage.net ecthompson

    Guy –

    Thanks for your comments.

    It is okay to be divided when you are discussing politics with your friends. It is not okay when you are supposed to be a reporter

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