 |
|
|
in Spitzer Study Coverage |
|
Compiled By GayToday Courtesy of GLAAD
The Associated Press AP Science Writer Malcolm Ritter filed a story on May 8 that announced Spitzer's findings. Unfortunately, Ritter's article -- most of which was devoted to Spitzer's results, conclusions and opinions -- failed to adequately address the serious flaws in Spitzer's research. A revision of the story later that day included mention of the gay community's concerns with the study and improved on the first story's reporting, but still failed to provide an coherent, scientific discussion of the problems with Spitzer's self-selected sample, methodology and conclusions.
To make matters worse, the AP never ran a follow-up story discussing the scientific and psychiatric communities' criticisms of Spitzer's study subsequent to its release at the APA meeting, nor has it addressed the Schroeder/Shidlo study released at the same meeting -- the conclusions of which directly conflict with Spitzer's. Because they are often reprinted verbatim by regional and local media, Associated Press stories have a tremendous impact in shaping news coverage. The Associated Press has an extra burden of responsibility for fair, accurate and inclusive journalism -- a standard that Ritter's reporting failed to meet. Contact: The Associated Press 50 Rockefeller Plaza New York, NY 10020 News Features Editor: Bruce DeSilva Phone: (212) 621-1500 Fax: (212) 621-1679 E-mail: info@ap.org FOX News Channel Much of Fox News Channel's coverage of the Spitzer study was sensationalistic and one-sided. Most problematic were interview segments on two of FNC's highest-rated prime-time shows: The O'Reilly Factor and Hannity & Colmes .
At the very least, these programs--which claim to be "fair and balanced"--were obligated to discuss the study with members of the scientific community, whose criticism of Spitzer's work represented a major part of the evolving story. To its credit, FNC did run two daytime debate segments on the issue--one on May 9 between Wayne Besen of the Human Rights Campaign and Jerry Falwell, and another on May 14 featuring Besen and ex-gay activist Anthony Falzarano. However, while the Besen/Falwell debate was fairly and effectively moderated by Patti Ann Browne, the moderator of the Besen/Falzarano debate, John Gibson, made no effort to conceal either his support for Falzarano's position or his contempt for Besen's. Such biased, unbalanced reporting should not go unchallenged. Contact: Fox News Channel 1211 Avenue of the Americas, Floor C-1 New York, NY 10036 News Director: Janet Alshouse Phone: (212) 301-3322 Fax: (212) 301-8273 E-mail: alshouse@foxnews.com General Coverage--Observations: Despite generally good coverage of the Spitzer debate in The New York Times, The Washington Post, ABC's Good Morning America, CNN, MSNBC and TIME, these and most other outlets did not discuss the crucial issue of bisexuality in the continuum of sexual orientation. No outlet mentioned the fact that Spitzer did not consider bisexuality in his study, nor did they discuss the logical probability that Spitzer's subjects may have been bisexual. In fact, Spitzer observations may have been the result of a shift in the behavior of bisexual people and their comfort level with same-sex attractions. Ironically, one of the few outlets that hinted at this complexity of sexual orientation was National Review, a conservative journal. Until media outlets and reporters are more comfortable discussing issues of bisexuality, bisexual invisibility will negatively impact coverage of all sexual orientation issues GLAAD also was disappointed that some media outlets used religious spokespersons such as Jerry Falwell to discuss the scientific implications of the Spitzer study -- or ignored the "science" altogether in favor of religious and/or political debate. Most outlets ran the study as a news story and presented it through the filter of its social and political ramifications, rather than analyzing the study's scientific merits (notable exceptions include Good Morning America and TIME). The opinions of Spitzer's peers should have been more actively solicited in discussions of the study, especially given the controversial nature of its methods and findings within the scientific community. |
The O'Reilly Factor? Biased coverage of a recent 'ex-gay' study, says GLAAD 
Hannity & Colmes: GLAAD says, They Distort, You Decide 