That was fast–but not unexpected. The media frenzy over the IRS scandal, which dominated the Big Three networks for two weeks, has practically disappeared from the news, according to a new report.
The dominant story in May when ABC, CBS and NBC crawled over each other for new details and provided 96 stories on morning and evening broadcasts has fallen to just one this week on ABC’s Good Morning America, according to the Media Research Center. In some cases, it was replaced by the National Security Agency snooping scandal.
MRC analysts reviewed each of the morning and evening newscasts on the Big Three from May 10 through June 12 and found 127 full stories, interviews or anchor briefs that focused on the IRS scandal. Analysts determined that 76 percent of the IRS stories were aired within the first two weeks, while 24 percent of the stories arrived in the latter period, a huge drop-off, MRC said in a report on the web page.
This is going viral and is really funny. Jay Leno and Jimmy Fallon address the Tonight Show controversy by singing a parody of ‘Tonight’ from West Side Story.
Good for him for standing up for his rights. This case should be a no brainer for any judge given the depth NBC went to to make Zimmerman look like a racist.
George Zimmerman, charged in the shooting death of a 17-year-old Florida boy, sued NBC Universal on Thursday for using “the oldest form of yellow journalism” by editing an audio tape of his 911 call to make him sound racist, the lawsuit said.
Zimmerman is seeking “damages in excess of the jurisdictional limit” in Seminole County Circuit Court in Florida, where the lawsuit is filed.
Zimmerman, who is Hispanic and is charged with second-degree murder, is accused of fatally shooting Trayvon Martin, who was African-American. The February incident has provoked national controversy.
Zimmerman says he shot Martin in self-defense. Attorneys for Martin’s family say the teen was shot and killed “in cold blood.”
“NBC saw the death of Trayvon Martin not as a tragedy but as an opportunity to increase ratings, and so set about to create the myth that George Zimmerman was a racist and predatory villain,” the lawsuit said.
“Because of NBC’s deceptive and exploitative manipulations, the public wrongly believes that Zimmerman ‘us(ed) a racial epithet’ while describing Martin during the call to the dispatcher on that fateful night,” the suit said.
A spokesman for NBC Universal couldn’t be reached immediately for comment.
The defamation lawsuit accuses the network of sensationalizing and manipulating a potential “racial powder keg that would result in months, if not years, of topics for their failing news program, particularly the plummeting ratings for their ailing Today Show.”
According to the Daily Mail, the long-time host is being blamed for the NBC morning show’s plummeting performance. GMA took the top spot in the morning show ratings race after Ann Curry was ousted and replaced by Savannah Guthrie. Having watched Guthrie and Lauer together, this news is not a surprise as the two just don’t have any chemistry.
After repeatedly clashing with co-anchors and overseeing plummeting ratings, the Today show’s Matt Lauer is reportedly being given the boot.
The long-time host, who earns a staggering $21.5 million a year, is being blamed for the NBC morning show’s dismal performance over the past three months and sources claim ratings will only improve if he is replaced.
According to The National Enquirer, weatherman Al Roker is plotting to push the 54-year-old TV veteran out of his anchor chair and is lobbying a newly appointed Today producer for help.
Parks And Recreation is back! Check out the great cameos from episode one of the new season, especially the one with Senator McCain, in the video above.
Laughed hysterically through both episodes I was (finally!) able to watch last night. Great cast and great chemistry. Bent is on Wednesday’s at 9 so be sure to tape this show and watch it. You WON’T be sorry.
Catch up and view the episodes on Hulu at this link.
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