According to CBS and NBC, here’s what matters: Ron DeSantis “scolding” teens for wearing masks. What doesn’t matter? There are many issues like the Hunter Biden scandals, crisis at border, and critical race theory that schools teach.
Last week, the Florida governor said to event with high schoolers: “You do not have to wear those masks. I mean, please take them off.” He added, “So if you want to wear it, fine, but this is ridiculous.”
What was the media’s reaction to this? NBC’s Nightly NewsThe story was covered by NBC on March 2. NBC’s TodayOn March 3, another story was produced Nightly News That evening, he wrote another story. You can read the entire article here. CBS Evening NewIt was noticed by s on March 3rd. CBS MorningsOn the 4th.
Here’s a flavor of the breathless hyping of a non-story:
On Thursday’s Nightly News, anchor Lest Holt blasted, “Tonight’s outrage at the scolding of Florida’s Governor to a group of students because they wore masks, calling it political theater.”
Reporter Miguel Almaguer hyped, “More fallout tonight after Florida Governor Ron DeSantis admonished a group of high school students Wednesday.” He ended the report with this ridiculously pompous close: “And while he won’t wear a mask, tonight he is the face of controversy.”
NBC was the main force in making such a minor event an overheated big deal. Late Night host Seth Meyers played video of the moment and snarled, “What kind of idiot are you to shout at high school students trying to stay safe?”
(Meyers spent the first year in the Biden presidency sounding like someone talking to the DNC.
Although CBS gave the story less time than NBC for the same reason, it was still widely promoted by the network. The March 2 CBS Evening News, reporter Mola Lenghi warned, “Today, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis admonished a group of students at the University of Florida for wearing masks.” The network covered it again on the March 3 CBS Mornings.
On average, three minutes were spent by the NBC-CBS morning and evening show on a DeSantis discussion with teenage viewers. (This does not include the brief joke. Late Night Also, ABC, unlike the other two networks, ignored the non-story.) While three minutes might not sound like much, think about the stories that the networks BURIED by 2022.
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Like in every other year 2021, networks did not pay attention to the situation at the southern border in January.
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They spiked any news in January of Critical Race Theory and controversies like “Privilege Bingo” being taught in Virginia public schools.
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During the first year of Biden’s presidency, the networks allowed 308 seconds to the various scandals of Hunter Biden.
Clearly, the above controversies, scandals and news stories are not priorities of the networks. An offhand comment made by Florida’s governor to students in high school gets the attention of five national news stations.
Liberty Mutual sponsored Ameritrade and Fidelity’s promotion of a nonstory to national news. You can click the links and let them know how you feel.
This is the transcription for March 3, 2018. NBC Nightly News. To read more, click “expand”.
NBC Nightly News
3/2/2022
Eastern: 7:17.47 p.m.LESTER HOLTS: This is the outrage from Florida Governor’s scolding of students for wearing masks. He called it political theatre. This incident upset parents, and highlighted the intense debate about masks. Miguel Almaguer.
GOVERNOR RON DESANTIS : These masks are not necessary. Please take off those masks.
MIGUEL ALMAUGER: There is more to the fallout from Wednesday’s warning by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis to a number of high school students.
DESANTIS
ALMAGUER – Identifying once again the bitter division over face masks.
DESANTIS: You can wear it if that is your preference, but otherwise, this is absurd.
ALMAGUER – And what do they mean?
DESANTIS: [sighs]
ALMAGUER. Eric Marshall was one such student.
DAWN MARSHALL: It was almost like I had jumped from my skin. It was shocking.
ALMAGUER: His mother, Dawn who’s immunocompromised, was furious by what the Governor said.
MARSHALL : He took away all my authority. My child was put at risk by him. My child returns home from him, and he placed me at great risk.
ERIC MARSHALL : It was not something I had prepared for. It was a photo-op for me, so I attended the USF press conference.
ALMAGUER – Despite mask mandates being rescinded for most of the country the CDC recommends that you wear them indoors if COVID levels rise, as was the case in Tampa where the press conference took place. Today’s interview was with Rochelle Walensky, Director of the CDC.
ROCHELLE WALENSKY They can choose to wear a mask.
ALMAGUER – Governor DeSantis doubled his efforts today and called masks “political theater”. DeSantis defended his statements and highlighted the event in a fundraising email. He won’t be wearing a mask tonight, but he will defend his comments. Miguel Almaguer is NBC News.
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