Media Matters’ New Report Reveals Imbalance Between
Right and Left on Influential Sunday-Morning Talk Shows

Report is available online at www.SundayShowReport.com <http://www.sundayshowreport.com/>.

Washington, D.C. -- Congressman Maurice Hinchey (D-NY), Congresswoman Lynn Woolsey (D-CA), and Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur (D-OH) today called on the major television networks to address the findings of a new Media Matters for America study that shows Republican and conservative voices dominating the influential Sunday-morning talk shows despite the results of the 2006 midterm elections, in which power in Congress shifted hands for the first time in a dozen years.  The House members today sent a letter to the head of the major networks, asking them to address the imbalance in guest selection.

"The Sunday morning shows arguably provide the most prominent platform for political discussion in America, but unfortunately, as this new report from Media Matters points out, these shows are out of balance," said Hinchey, who is the founder and chairman of the Future of American Media Caucus. "When network news shows favor one political point of view over others, the American people are cheated out of an open, honest, and fair discussion.  The American people are the owners of the public airwaves, and the networks have an obligation and responsibility to use those airwaves to offer a balanced presentation of ideas and perspectives from Democrats and Republicans alike."

"This report sheds light onto a serious problem, and that's making sure that the American public has the chance to hear opposing voices on the national debates underway in Washington, and at home, that affect their lives. The media has a responsibility to make sure that all sides are heard. It is a disservice to the public when either party is not given the opportunity to publicly make their case. This is not only a question of fairness, this is what keeps our democracy healthy," Woolsey said.

Kaptur added, "The findings of Media Matters’ recent study demonstrate a widespread problem with the media. I am truly concerned with the lack of diversity of opinions on the Sunday shows and elsewhere in the media. The Sunday shows serve as town hall meetings for the American public and Democratic and progressive voices should be fairly and equitably represented in those debates. This is a problem that needs to be addressed as a healthy media is critical to a healthy democracy."

Among the report’s key findings:

• Despite previous network claims that a conservative advantage existed on the Sunday shows simply because Republicans controlled Congress and the White House, only one show, ABC’s This Week, has been roughly balanced between both sides overall since the congressional majority switched hands in the 2006 midterm elections.

• Since the 2006 midterm elections, NBC’s Meet the Press and CBS’ Face the Nation have provided less balance between Republican and Democratic officials than Fox Broadcasting Co.’s Fox New Sunday despite the fact that Fox News Sunday remains the most unbalanced broadcast overall both before and after the election.

• During the 109th Congress (2005 and 2006), Republicans and conservatives held the advantage on every show, in every category measured. All four shows interviewed more Republicans and conservatives than Democrats and progressives overall, interviewed more Republican elected and administration officials than Democratic officials, hosted more conservative journalists than progressive journalists, held more panels that tilted right than tilted left, and gave more solo interviews to Republicans and conservatives.

"We recognize that the Sunday shows occupy a singular place in our political culture. They serve as weekly "town hall" meetings where millions of Americans learn what is happening in their nation’s capital.  The terms of national debate is often set, and conventional wisdom is often formed, by these programs," the House members wrote to the executives of the major networks.  "Consistently booking Republicans and conservatives in higher numbers than Democrats and progressives gives the public a skewed and imbalanced perception of the national discourse.  Furthermore, Democratic and progressive Americans are being denied the right to have their points of view adequately represented in this important weekly forum. We hope you will agree that the networks need to actively address this problem, and safeguard against its recurrence, or risk diminishing their respected position in the American political landscape."

Signing the letter to ABC, CBS, NBC, and FOX were: Hinchey, Woolsey, Kaptur, and Congresswoman Tammy Baldwin (D-WI).

The report is available online at www.SundayShowReport.com <http://www.SundayShowReport.com>.