Unions: Sunday Shows Are Shutting Us Out

UPDATE: NBC just sent out its line-up for Sunday's "Meet the Press" and it does now include AFL-CIO head Richard Trumka, who will be part of a roundtable. Other guests are: Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker (R), Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), Gov. Haley Barbour (R-Miss.), Rep. Emanuel Cleaver (R-Mo.), MSNBC's Lawrence O'Donnell and the Wall Street Journal's Kim Strassel.

UPDATE: Several sources have told The Huffington Post that in addition to Christie, "Meet the Press" has preliminarily booked Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker (R) and "Fox News Sunday" has booked Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels (R). These bookings are not final and could still be changed. There are also still open slots for other guests on the shows.

WASHINGTON -- Though thousands of Americans have turned out this week to show solidarity with Wisconsin's public employees and oppose a threat to their collective bargaining rights, union officials say they have not been able to place a labor voice on this Sunday's editions of the weekly public-affairs TV shows. The shows' producers, they complain, are shutting out the workers' perspective.

A union official told The Huffington Post that when none of the Sunday shows' producers reached out to them to book a labor representative this week, several unions started to pitch the shows with affected workers and local and national leaders who they felt could discuss the protests. The official said the response from the shows was essentially "thanks, but no thanks."

"If you're a Sunday show and there are labor fights going on for two weeks, if you can just book ... Chris Christie, why would you actually go out and get somebody who is actually involved in this? That would be work!" snarked the official, adding, "Everybody's been pushing, and everybody's been shut down."

The Huffington Post reached out to officials at Fox News, NBC, ABC, CNN and CBS. NBC News spokesperson Erika Masonhall said the lineup for this weekend's "Meet the Press" will not be final until Friday and "will highlight a number of topics and include a variety of guests and opinions." An official at another network said their show's guest roster had likewise not been set and a labor representative could still be included. Additionally, there's a chance that not every show will cover the protests this week -- and would therefore be unlikely to have on a labor official -- just as not every show covered the topic last week.

CBS's "Face the Nation" will feature Christie, the Republican governor of New Jersey who has been waging a fierce battle with the state's teachers union. (He has even accused the union of "using children like drug mules" in school elections.)

Christie is also a frequent media guest, and that presence appears to have helped make him a particular target of labor. On Twitter, the AFL-CIO's political communications director, Eddie Vale, joked, "But, don't worry, while no labor members or leaders on Sun shows, you get Chris Christie! He's never on TV so should be new & interesting."

While no Sunday show featured any workers or labor officials last week, ABC's Bob Woodruff did do an on-the-ground report from Madison, Wis., where he interviewed some workers who were protesting. That report has been criticized, however, for overplaying the role of the small group of Tea Party protesters who were also there. Mediaite's Tommy Christopher called it "a stunning example of the mainstream media's true bias, toward laziness and conflict."

Comments

[Jamiefolk45]

08:52 AM on 03/15/2011

The media will not cover these events. There could be 3 million people protesting and they wil cover a spelling bee over this. The top 400 earners have as much money as the bottom 150 million earners in this country. This is also something that will not be reported by any network. Why? Because these stations are owned by the top 400 earners? It is all rigged. They try to pit public workers against the private sector while squashing them both. Support the workers of Wisconsin and everywhere else in this country or else be a pawn in a game you will never win. It is a pretty simple choice really.

[lapdogs]

09:09 AM on 03/01/2011

Does John McCain ever spend an entire Sunday back home in Arizona with his family?

Seems like he wants his face to be on every Sunday talk show, every week.

[shivabeach]

07:26 AM on 03/01/2011

The most important issue in the US today and the media refuses to cover it. Will Charlie Sheen be on? The baby who laughs when dad tears paper?

I am showing my satisfaction with our US media by not using them

[Maxx Webber]

11:52 PM on 02/27/2011

Unions would probably get more coverage if they did not behave so obnoxiously on every video out there.

How is the msm suppose to cover up all the hateful behavior they love to accuse the tea party of, not to mention the mostly monochromatic crowds at all the state houses ? .

Sorry no way to spin this one into "passion" when they resort to violence.

I am glad the unions are finally being revealed for what they really are .

[kuvasz]

04:20 AM on 02/28/2011

There has been no union violence in any protest rally in America, so your remarks are delusional. Do yourself a a favor and stop watching faux news.

btw how much money do you get from the Koch brothers to post such nonsense?

[Maxx Webber]

10:20 AM on 02/28/2011

My replies are free, how much do you pay your pinky ring union boss to be able to call in sick with fake dr's notes.

[shivabeach]

07:28 AM on 03/01/2011

It seems that the rights of American workers are meaningless to some people. They dont realize or care how it will affect them

[Nick Jurjens]

10:20 PM on 02/27/2011

"WE THE PEOPLE WILL NEVER BE DEFEATED!!!"
"WHAT'S DISGUSTING? ...UNION BUSTING!!!!"
...These are just two of our rally cries here in the great state of Wisconsin! Proud to be a part of the greatest union on Earth...The United States of America!!!

[Okieborn]

08:19 PM on 02/27/2011

I am sure everyone has noticed , go to the internet for great coverage.

[mancoff]

05:13 PM on 02/27/2011

Yep, I noticed that too. Gregory is a wimp and a fawning, hope this question isn't to tough, kind of guy. He takes advantage of the fact that the administration and the President can't really fight back so he comes on tough when questioning them. But when he's got a "rightie", he backs off, won't challenge and doesn't go for the gotcha question, because golly gee, he's afraid they won't come back again. The rest of the media has avoided getting some in depth interviews with Union members, actual wisconsin people, etc. If it were not for Ed Schultz, O'Donnel, Maddow and the "young Turk" guy, no one would know all of the crap the governor of wisconsin has pulled on his state. And even O'Donnel was among the meek on Meet the Press. No questions about all the tax breaks the governor gave the wealthy and big business in his State while at the same time telling the middle class worker they had to suck it up and suffer. Hey you union guys, you need to make up for the money I shelled out to the rich. No one has challenged Walker on that move. No one has challenged him on his complete disregard on what his threats to lay off thousands if he doesn't get his way will cost middle class workers and their families when he doesn't even have to do it because the union already gave in to the financial demands.

[zoiebear]

03:49 PM on 02/27/2011

Check out Keiths new website...He has a great article on Wisconsin!!!!!!!! http://foknewschannel.com/wisconsin-and-the-union/

[zoiebear]

03:02 PM on 02/27/2011

Candy Crowley and David Gregory have unbelievable nerve to call themselves journalists!!!!!!!!!!!!

[ArbitorA]

11:26 PM on 02/27/2011

I have been soo disappointed in Candy since she got her show. She was much better as a non-host.

[SHElliott]

01:06 PM on 02/27/2011

I gave up watching the Sunday shows a long time ago. A complete waste of time and more than frustrating because they only tell the bogus conservative side of any story. If you have cable and go way down the dial you come across World View (Journal from Germany, France 24, Al Jazeera English and more. I even watched a news program from Afghanistan last night. Yes Afghanistan!). RT (Russia Today) is also wonderful. You can get real news from all over the world on these 2 channels, but SSHHHHHH. Don't let the cable or dish companies know you like it or they'll pull them. American news is a big waste of time. Al Jazeera also has a wonderful website that streams 24/7. RT and World View also have great websites if you can't watch them on the tube. It's scary that so many people watch the networks and think they are reliable. I fear for our country.

[Disciple1]

10:24 AM on 02/27/2011

Why is ANYONE surprised? This weekly media "lineup" is heavily weighed to conservative values--and the moderators don't hide it. Any semblance of equanimity giving voice to liberal agendas is strictly superficial. Believe I'm wrong? Click on the link below and check out who owns each network (why even bother listing Fox News--there's no mystery there!):

http://la.indymedia.org/news/2003/04/47530.php

[goleafsgo]

10:56 AM on 02/27/2011

Thanks for this Disciple!  Great link.
Fanned.

[Gabrielle]

11:22 AM on 02/27/2011

that is an old link...still acurate?

[phredralf]

10:24 AM on 02/27/2011

For-profit news is about as beneficial to the general public as for-profit health care.

[Dunkleberger Karl]

10:16 AM on 02/27/2011

Its 10:13 to face the nation had walker on for 11 minutes and he did not respond to the Fake david Koch phone call other than to say he is an optimist and feels they will return (the Madison 14)
NBC is becoming like ABC anti union and anti middle america!
Quick to jump on the Chriss christy train! (believe ameriKa spoke yesterday , the Christy train has ran outa track)

[jerzygurl]

09:37 AM on 02/27/2011

Maybe because the networks realize that the viewers are interested in hearing the other side of the argument as well. The unions have had almost the complete attention of the media in the last week. What could they be afraid of?  Could it be that  people after listening to both sides decide to disagreeing with labor?

[Dunkleberger Karl]

10:22 AM on 02/27/2011

Media focus has been on wisconson! And Libya ,
and the new crack down on Egyption Protesters!
Who are protesting the Interum goverment crack down!
 
Fair is fair But the anti union Reporting has been
even for once with pro Wisconson reporting
(perhaps because the Gov, Walker was caught with his Unit in his hand!
 
And a Fake contributor on the line ...Gov.Walker confessed to the plan!
He laid out the plan and he went in 20 hours from
 a possible rep> presidential canadateto a person
who Ticked off the cheif of police In Madison!

[zoiebear]

03:04 PM on 02/27/2011

Are you fricken kidding me!!!!!!!!!!!!!! CNN did not even cover it except for a couple minutes here and there. What world are you living in....oh wait Faux land no doubt!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!