Media Bias 101

Hopefully, you had a chance to watch the local news’ take on the debate and the alleged assault by Mayor Hession’s wife. I find it always interesting to see how a story is put together.

First, KXLY started with a montage of the debate – with Hession making strong accusations and Mary not saying very much. And if you saw the debate, you know it was just the opposite!

The headline of the article on the KXLY website is “Fallout from mayoral mudslinging hits wife, firefighters.” A lady holding a sign critical of Hession claims she was assaulted by the mayor’s wife. So is this mud #1? What about firefighters and mud? The mayor’s wife grabbed one of our firefighter’s hands because she was clapping for Mary. So is this the flip side, the balance – that somehow a firefighter put herself in the grip of the mayor’s wife’s hand? Bizarre.

Hession is making political hay out of his wife’s alleged assault(s) upon others – playing the victim. Interesting that his wife all but admits that she did assault these folks – just not as “hard” as they’re claiming. Look for many anti-firefighter and pro-Hession letters to the editor around this issue in the next few days. I would wager that the Hession campaign’s PR firms are busy crafting them right now.

Lastly on bias, it’s interesting that at this event (according to KXLY) there were Hession supporters and then there were “protestors.” Protestors?!? Maybe next they will be calling those who don’t support Dennis “insurgents.”

I don’t know about you, but I think my wife would be pretty angry at people who didn’t like me if I were running for mayor, so I can understand Mrs. Hession’s feelings. And this election is not about Dennis Hession’s wife. Whatever happens, as far as assault charges go, shouldn’t have any effect on the election one way or the other. It’s still the policies, the strengths and weaknesses of each candidate that should decide this thing - I hope. It’s just too bad KXLY couldn’t have filed a straight and unbiased story on this and let it go.

However, it was nice to hear the always right-purty Karina Shagren quote from the blog and purr “meow” and “snarl.” Ahhhhhh. Too bad the producers didn’t follow with a cat food commercial. Hey, that’s a freebie KXLY!

1743 10/11/07 Addendum. Check out the latest on KXLY. They have assigned a Spokane Sheriff Deputy to the case and this is the first line:

"Instead of solving rapes, murders and burglaries, a Major Crimes detective with the Spokane County Sheriff’s Office is now investigating a police report that Spokane Mayor Dennis Hession’s wife shoved a supporter of candidate Mary Verner so hard her bursitis flared up."

One question for Karina or whomever wrote the copy - Did the Hession PR team provide you with this line, or are you moonlighting for them? Beautiful!