Protesters denounce media at CNN's San Francisco office
Wednesday, March 26, 2003
SAN FRANCISCO -- Marching in front of news reporters and cameras, protesters staged a demonstration outside of Cable News Network's San Francisco bureau today to denounce what they believe is unbalanced media coverage of the war in Iraq.
Beginning at noon, more than 150 activists assembled outside of CNN's offices at 50 California St. to protest what they claim is an underreporting of Iraq casualties and too much reporting of American patriotism by national news networks.
Some protesters laid small white coffins bearing pictures of children on the sidewalk and others chanted, "independent journalism is dead and gone when the media is in bed with the Pentagon."
"We are here to say that bombs are not smart," demonstration spokeswoman Medea Benjamin, dressed in fake blood covered clothing and clutching a bloody baby doll, said to the crowd. "Show us what collateral damage really means."
Organizers say they selected CNN because it is one of the most watched American news networks in the world and they feel it should be a leader in unbiased and accurate coverage.
"Media really has played an uncritical role that has not helped America make the most democratic decisions," said Global Exchange spokesman Ted Lewis. Global Exchange, Media Alliance and Code Pink Women for Peace organized the demonstration.
"The overall framework is such that it is difficult for people to get an accurate picture of what is happening," Lewis said.
Despite the attack on its war coverage, CNN officials feel strongly that the network's reporting on the U.S.-led war on Iraq is an honest and fair depiction of the events taking place in the Middle East.
"We continue to report on both the war and the anti-war story on a daily basis and hear regularly from viewers offering both praise and protest about our coverage. As for reporting on casualties, American and Iraqi, CNN is committed to covering this war as comprehensively as possible while being mindful of the sensitivities of our audience and families involved," said CNN in a prepared statement.
Toward the end of the protest the crowd marched around the block of the building on the sidewalk.
Police on the scene estimated the crowd to be 150 to 200 people. About 20 police supervised the demonstration.
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