Distorting Defense: Network News and National Security

Using journalists' own standards as the measure, an exhaustiveanalysis of nearly 3000 network news reports from the Reagan, Bush,and Clinton administrations reveals that the networks may do moreto misinform than inform on a whole range of complex issues relatedto national defense.This study paints a disturbing picture of the inadequatecoverage ABC World News Tonight, CBS Evening News, and NBC NightlyNews provide to millions of viewers each night. Aubin concludesthat network coverage of defense issues was too often tainted bypreconceived attitudes and lapses in journalistic standards.