Help the Media Get the Stand Up Rally Story Straight
Posted by Matt Yonke (June 11, 2012 at 12:19 pm)
Last Friday’s Stand Up for Religious Freedom rallies were a rousing success with tens of thousands of Americans from coast to coast taking to the streets to defend our cherished liberties.
News coverage of the event was widespread with hundreds of stories in local and national publications in nearly every market where a Rally was held.
But despite the coverage being very broad, it lacked something in the way of depth and all of us who attended Friday’s Rallies need to set the record straight. Some common errors popping up in many stories included:
- Calling the effort an “anti-contraception” rally
- Stating that President Obama’s “accommodation” did away with the problem
- Underestimating Rally attendance
- Characterizing the event as a “religious rally”
ABC TV covered the Rally here in Chicago and committed every one of these errors, so I got in the comment section and told them so!
If you attended a Rally on Friday and saw inaccurate coverage, take some steps to set the record straight. You can leave comments on online stories, write a letter to the editor and share the story on Facebook and ask your friends to chime in on the comments as well.
If you couldn’t make it to a Rally, you can still counteract misinformation about the HHS Mandate in stories you see online. We’ve even created a document called HHS Mandate Q and A [PDF] to help make it easier to discuss the Mandate—especially slippery issues like President Obama’s “accommodation”. Use the information in the Q and A or link directly to it in your comments.
The media doesn’t have to get the last word. After the Rally in March, Rally attendees in Rockford, Illinois waged a huge campaign and got their local newspaper to correct inaccurate coverage change—and it worked! So let’s get busy letting people know the truth about this movement, the Mandate and the success of Friday’s Rallies.
For the past two rallies I have been struck by the media’s lack of attention, or when there is a tiny blurb, the deletion of pertinent information. I read an article from NPR (Nat’l Public Radio) after the first rally, and a couple of smaller local stories. My local paper also ran a short blurb after this recent rally. In every case, the headline spotlights “birth control” only, and usually, as in the case of the NPR story, the word abortion NEVER EVEN MAKES IT INTO THE STORY! The NPR story made it sound like a “Catholic problem” and made a point of adding that this issue does not seem to be important to most Americans. Glad we can count on our trustworthy unbiased media to inform the masses. What a joke.
June 11th, 2012 at 1:04 pm
I attended the Stand Up For Religious Freedom Rally at Independence Mall in Philadelphia. The Mass was very full and the speakers were excellent.
I saw no coverage at all in the Philadelphia Inquirer, the major newspaper in Philadelphia. I did write a letter to the editor, I would be very surprised if it were published.
June 11th, 2012 at 2:57 pm
Our local coverage – Spokane, WA – downplayed the turn-out, using the word “dozens” to describe how many cities were involved, and again to describe how many organizations were united in putting on this nation-wide event. Seems awfully tepid, to me.
The Spokesman-Review says “dozens”.
June 11th, 2012 at 3:39 pm
This is interesting, but I don’t think it was deliberate on anyone’s part. To me the Memphis, TN count would be more like 200-300, but seemingly more than 150. I was present at the meeting as I arrived early and was there til the closing. It was a beautiful occassion to see men, women and children of all faiths and races coming together on the premises of religious freedom. It was definitely not a “Catholic Thing” in all due respect. FYI: “And I am NOT Catholic.”
June 11th, 2012 at 4:17 pm
I was the Rally captain for La Crosse WI and I personally delivered the Press release to the Local Newspaper, TV Stations and Radio stations. While this is the first time media has shown up – I am also the 40 Days for Life COordinator and they have never showed up or published an article about our rallies or vigils- the TV stations showed up but gave very perfunctory coverage and the reporters had almost no idea what they were reporting on -ie asking silly questions and repeating misinformation- and then the Newspaper the La Crosse Tribune did not even send a reporter or report on the fact that 217 people were rallying 2 blocks for mtheir office. We will be have a prayer vigil with our signs outside their offices as I deliver a letter to the editor. Let’s not stop until they get right and print it!
June 11th, 2012 at 5:21 pm
Most of the media is controlled by the same people who force this mandate on us in the government. They are progressive-communists who seek to destroy religion as they know people of faith will not bow to them or the state. So we have to fight their bias, but recognize who we are facing at the same time.
June 11th, 2012 at 7:20 pm
Hi, I attended the STAND UP FOR RELIGIOUS FREEDOM RALLY in Trenton New Jersey- But, First, There was 10:30 AM Mass celebrated by Bishop David O’ Connell, which was OUTSTANDING, along with many parish priests. The ENTIRE CATHEDRAL was filled with devoted Catholics from all over the diocese!!! It was such a blessing to be there!!! Then we march to Trenton and there were at least 2000 people there, maybe more…… Fantastic Speakers- Many Speakers from ALL RELIGOUS DENOMINATIONS came to speak at the Rally!!!
June 11th, 2012 at 9:58 pm
To Ms. Elizabeth D. Garibaldi, THANK YOU , THANK YOU you are a great example to all.
God bless you
June 12th, 2012 at 12:17 am
Hello… Just want to comment… I am unable to click into HHS Mandate Q and A [PDF] … When I do it transfers over to Internet not operating properly… I have found this to be the case in other sites on controversial issues as well… I don’t know if you can email it to me direct if I can get it or not… Wondering if others are having the same troubles?? Thanks and God Bless for standing up for our Religious Freedom… CE
June 12th, 2012 at 8:37 am
Our news media Scripps Treasure Coast Press Journal
reported over 100 attending . We distributed 200 programs and provided 1 program per couple. Our estimate 250. Weather was a threat but the Lord held
Satan back. Allelujia!
Vero Beach Fl.
June 12th, 2012 at 8:51 am
Fat Chance of that. The media is firmly in the pocket of the present administration and it’s idealogy. Look how the March for Life in DC is ignored.
June 12th, 2012 at 9:32 am
One method to get more media coverage might be to stage the next round of rallies at media locations. What if the Washington DC rally was held in front of the Washington Post offices, and the NYC rally in Rockefeller Plaza, NBC’s studio headquarters. Just an idea.
June 12th, 2012 at 10:11 pm
NEWS MEDIA: I am at the point of stopping to watch news at all because of the attack on our LIBERTY by unfair reporting and not with FULL UNDERSTANDING of TRUTH- you who are news reporters you and your childrens’ future is at stake too!
June 13th, 2012 at 6:44 am
I’m from La Crosse Wisconsin as was a previous commenter. The only time I heard about this was at a funeral for my girlfriend’s Great Grandmother. I knew from the start that it would be full of religious bigots, manipulative religious leaders and ignorant sheep. The media doesn’t give you coverage for the same reason they don’t show streakers in the middle of football games. I hope you all come to your senses at some point, but I definitely do not expect it.
June 13th, 2012 at 12:37 pm
Evan. The media ALWAYS show the streakers at football games. It’s usually the first thing they show. 😀 Sensationalism rules the media. Real issues are never addressed. By the way Evan, did you go to the rally?
June 13th, 2012 at 4:44 pm