Reporting News? Or Pontificating and Opinionating

From the New York Times frontpage, the Times headline blares:

Bush Takes Responsibility for Failures in Storm Response
By KIRK JOHNSON
and CHRISTINE HAUSER 12:59 PM ET
The president also said the disaster raised broader questions about the government's ability to respond to terror attacks.
• Video: Bush's Remarks at White House
• In the Ripples, 2 Men Salvage Memories
• Complete Coverage: Storm and Crisis

Yet, in the picture along the right side above the fold, the exact statement that President Bush said is visible: "To the extent the federal government didn't fully do its job right, I take responsibility," President Bush said today regarding the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.

Which part do you think people will notice, the headline or the caption. What do you think the effect of that editorial choice will have on an electorate?

Similarly, CNN headline states: Bush 'I take responsibility'

"To the extent the federal government didn't fully do its job right, I take responsibility," Bush says
Katrina's floodwaters may have ruined 160,000 homes
45 bodies found in New Orleans hospital
Levee at Mississippi River and Gulf outlet virtually gone

That's the rest of the story beneath the headline, but what part does the eye go towards - the headline.

The actual CNN article uses a slightly different headline - Bush: 'I take responsibility' for U.S. failures on Katrina. That clearly leaves open responsibility for failures at the state and local level to be placed on those state and local authorities who screwed up.

MSNBC? Same thing - Bush 'I take responsibility'

And what about Foxnews? They only have a one-line link to the story - Bush takes responsibility. Nothing about responsibility for federal efforts.

But, if you're out to impeach Bush, this is what you want to hear. And facts wont stand in your way either.

Now, are some people going to actually admire Bush for taking a stand and taking responsibility? Possibly. The media is going to be sure to lay blame for the entire response on Bush, despite the fact that most of the failures lie at the state and local levels. So, a much greater number of people will come to think that Bush screwed up in the disaster response.

Oh, and if you haven't noticed, I've reversed the highlighting of the various stories' coverage. I emphasized what Bush actually said versus what the media wanted us to hear.