Hi Mike,

I've had the impression for a while that news stories on TV are written before the interviews, and this, in my mind, confirms it. I think they picked up a few details, but the main point was decided already, and the lack of supporting evidence didn't change it.

Reporters have to be able to sell their stories to their editors to get air time and column inches. A "sensational" story is easier to sell than one which reports nothing much happened.

For another example, compare participant reports (peaceful except for a few anarchists, only about 20-30 counter-protesters, etc.) with [link|http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A46766-2001Sep29.html| press stories] about the peace rallies in Washington DC this weekend. TV reports about the rallies were far more biased.

You can't forget that marketing is at work in news stories too...

Cheers,
Scott.