***To read the full blog, please check out the complete post on NewsBusters***
Tuesday’s edition of ABC’s World News Tonight was a prime example of how sensationalism in journalism damages credibility. Instead of leading the show by reporting on something important like CBS did with the opioid epidemic, or political conflict like NBC, ABC chose to celebrate the NFL seemingly not requiring players to stand during the National Anthem at a meeting earlier in the day. But the problem was, setting the league’s policy was not the goal of that particular meeting.
“And we begin with breaking news from the NFL,” announced an overly excited Anchor David Muir. “The NFL Commissioner coming before the cameras just moments ago here in New York City and revealing that owners today did not ask players to do what the President wants them to do, to stand during the national anthem.”
Muir then declared that NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell was not asking them to stand. ABC Reporter Adrienne Bankert parroted him saying: “Late today, the NFL commissioner saying he did not ask the players to do what the president wants them to do. Stand for the national anthem.” “We did not ask for that,” a ridiculously cut down clip of Goodell said following her.
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