CNN Criticized For Fiery But Most Peaceful Reporting On Violent Protests JONATHAN TURLEY
Yesterday, we discussed the personal attacks against speakers at the Republican National Convention by CNN analysts, including a false attack on former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley. The concern is the increasingly personal attacks against anyone who seems to counter a narrative in the media. That adherence of a story line was evident in a much ridiculed graphic from last night where CNN national correspondent s Omar Jimenez was reporting live from Kenosha, Wis. with a raging fire in the background over a chyron reading, FIERY BUT MOSTLY PEACEFUL PROTESTS AFTER POLICE SHOOTING. Not to get all mavericky, but claiming these protests are fiery [but] peaceful seems a tad oxymoronic.
Notably, CNN did not add that the protests were all looty or assaulty or shooty as well as fiery.
CNN was also criticized this week when a graphic initially and accurately said, 8PM CURFEW ORDERED AFTER VIOLENT PROTESTS OVER POLICE SHOOTING OF UNARMED BLACK MAN IN WISCONSIN. A few seconds later, the message was removed and replaced without the word violent.
It is not just CNN. We discussed earlier how an NBC reporter noted that they were not supposed to say rioters as opposed to protesters
I have worked for the media as a columnist or a commentator for thirty years. I have never seen more consistently slanted coverage than in the last four years, particularly in framing stories against the Administration. Recognizing violence or rioting is seen by some as undermining the basis for the protests or supporting the criticism of Trump of the handling of violence by major cities.
Jonathan Turley.