MEDIA MATTERS: Media ignored Ryan's GOP affiliation, but not Rod's

[wndycty]

Media ignored convicted Illinois governor's Republican affiliation

Summary: On April 17, numerous news outlets -- including NBC, CBS, NPR, and Fox News -- covering former Illinois governor George Ryan's conviction on corruption charges failed to mention that he is a Republican. Time magazine went a step further, omitting Ryan's Republican affiliation while reporting that "the current administration of Democrat Rod Blagojevich is also being investigated."

In reports on the conviction of former Gov. George Ryan (R-IL) on corruption charges, numerous news outlets failed to mention that Ryan is a Republican. Brief segments airing on the April 17 editions of NBC Nightly News and CBS Evening News ignored Ryan's party affiliation, as did several reports on Fox News. National Public Radio's All Things Considered, meanwhile, aired a full segment on Ryan's conviction that never identified him as a Republican. Time magazine went a step further, omitting Ryan's Republican affiliation while reporting that "the current administration of Democrat Rod Blagojevich is also being investigated."

After a five-month trial, a federal jury convicted Ryan on all 18 felony charges against him, including racketeering conspiracy, mail fraud, tax evasion, and making false statements. During his tenure as both secretary of state and governor, Ryan was found to have steered state contracts to cronies in return for cash and gifts, misused campaign funds, and rigged the Illinois inspector general's office to cover up his tracks. Patrick J. Fitzgerald, the special counsel in the CIA leak case, who is also the U.S. attorney for Illinois, called the former governor's actions "a low watermark of public service."

But in reporting on Ryan's conviction, news outlets repeatedly failed to inform viewers that he is a Republican. As noted by blogger Joshua Micah Marshall, an April 17 "web exclusive" Time article by staff writer Eric Ferkenhoff omitted Ryan's party affiliation but managed to highlight that of current Illinois governor Rod Blagojevich, whose office is also under investigation:
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http://mediamatters.org/items/200604180003

[DanCa]

1. Sickening aint it?

Whatever happened to the party of personal responsibilty? :sarcasm:

[mopinko]

2. but, but, he stopped the death penalty

after he realized that he was going to prison. sucking up in advance to his new cronies. what a brilliant poitical move that was. pushed the word republican right off the page.
wasn't he illinois chair of bush 2000? NOBODY mentioned that.

[stevebreeze]

3. Ryan was also personally responsible for killing the ERA

That is not a pardonable sin in my book.

[mopinko]

4. his original sin in my book. also

the votes were there, and he killed it. son of a bitch.

[Norquist Nemesis]

5. IMO, it's hilarious the way the defense is trying to get a new trial

by trashing the jury as being liars and criminals. Somehow, I don't think 12 pristine jurors would have a different outcome. They'ld just take a little less time to decide.

[DanCa]

6. I know you gotta love the Il Gop party.

They just can't seem to not shoot themselves in the foot at every oppurtunity. I expect a low voter turnout out this fall. Good news for Blago. IMO.