Chicago Tribune bias reduced

Illinois Right to Life Committee

Chicago Tribune Bias Reduced

At least one positive change has been made at the Chicago Tribune after the recent complaints about Tribune bias. "Pro-life" will no longer be edited from letters to the editor. 11/14/03 Update

Statement on Tribune policy change:

It is progress to know that people can now express their pro-life viewpoint in Tribune letters to the editor. This change is clearly a response to concerns expressed to the Tribune by pro-life citizens. However, bias at the Tribune remains a given until they are willing to use "pro-life" in news stories when referring to pro-life groups. As Don Wycliff observed, "why, for example, is "pro-life" forbidden but "pro-choice" is not?" For Tribune management, that should be more than a rhetorical question.

Bill Beckman

Don Wycliff raises more concerns
about Chicago Tribune bias

In a November 6th article, Don Wycliff addressed concerns raised in calls and emails received by the Chicago Tribune after their Woman News section used very biased headlines. Mr. Wycliff stated, "In some editions the headline read, 'Anti-choice groups celebrate victories'. In others it was 'Anti-choice victories alarm pro-choice groups.' .... In either case, the flaw was the same: The perspective of those who define the issues involved in terms of "choice" was taken as normative, and the position of those who disagree with them and define the issues differently was characterized in "choice" terms. The result was two headlines that couldn't have been more slanted if they had come directly from the public relations office of NARAL Pro-Choice America."

Mr. Wycliff again mentioned my letter that was printed on September 7th with all occurrences of "pro-life" changed to "anti-abortion". He then revealed that a policy change has been made. Letters to the editor will no longer be edited to change "pro-life" to "anti-abortion". In fact, letters to the editor have been seen in the Tribune that confirm the new policy has been activated.

Later in the article, Mr.Wycliff commented, "Leaving aside whether our stylebook policy really does steer us 'straight down the middle'--why, for example, is 'pro-life' forbidden but 'pro-choice' is not?"

He also questioned why an article about the ban on partial birth abortion had a headline that read "Senate votes to ban type of abortion". He observed, "If our purpose is to communicate clearly with our readers, should we not use the term they understand?"

Will Mr. Wycliff's comments lead to further improvements in Tribune coverage on life issues? Only time will tell. When he first raised a concern in his September 25th article about changing "pro-life" to "anti-abortion" in letters to the editor, he noted, "But that's one man's opinion." In that case, his opinion was converted into policy. Might it happen again? If not, at least Mr. Wycliff has made it clear that, in one man's opinion, there is still room for important. That is certainly something we can agree with!

Bill Beckman

Chicago Tribune bias reaches new level (10/30/03)

On October 29, 2003, the Woman News section of the Chicago Tribune ran a biased AP article with the headline “Anti-choice groups celebrate victories”. It included various quotes from “pro-choice” (translate this to pro-death) activists who expressed their concern about these new threats to “abortion rights”. In the article itself, supporters of life are initially described as "the self-proclaimed right-to-life movement" and later as "anti-abortion groups".

What are these new threats to “abortion rights"? Congress passed the ban on partial birth abortion, which President Bush will sign, and Terri Schiavo's life was spared by Governor Jeb Bush's order to restore her feeding tube. No, Terri's "right" to an abortion was not denied. Rather, her husband was denied the "right" to end her life by starvation and dehydration. Someone apparently noticed this dilemma and decided that "anti-choice" was more accurate than "anti-abortion". They dare not use "Pro-Life" because that violates their stylebook, so avoiding that phrase is not biased from their viewpoint. Of course, using "anti-choice" is even more outrageous because the Pro-Life movement supports many choices, but not the choice to kill those who become inconvenient.

Letters to the Chicago Tribune are encouraged. They can be emailed to ctc-woman@tribune.com. The Woman News editor, Cassandra West, can be reached at 312-222-8619, after spelling “west” on your keypad.

You may also want to consider sending emails to Don Wycliff, Public Editor. His email address is: dwycliff@tribune.com. The email address for letters to the editor is: ctc-tribletter@tribune.com.

In an October 29th phone conversation with Ms. West, she was most gracious in expresssing her own concern that this headline was a mistake. Your calls and letters will give support to her resolve to provide more balance in the future. She can then relay this support for more balanced coverage to the Tribune's upper management and style book committee. If you tell them you want to cancel your subscription, maybe they will actually make the choice to offer more balanced coverage.

Bill Beckman

Action Needed

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