A new Syracuse University study examines every CBS and ABC news story about Iraq in the run-up to war (Aug. 1, 2002 to March 19, 2003). The study finds that those networks gave more prominence to pro-war Bush administration officials while marginalizing domestic opposition:
Bush administration officials were the most frequently quoted sources, the voices of anti-war groups and opposition Democrats were barely audible, and the overall thrust of coverage favored a pro-war perspective. But while domestic dissent on the war was minimal, opposition from abroad — in particular, from Iraq and officials from countries such as France, who argued for a diplomatic solution to the standoff — was commonly reported on the networks. While we surmise the opinions of foreign leaders would probably have been accorded less credibility by many Americans than the views of U.S. officials, the public was not entirely deprived of an alternative viewpoint.
(HT: The Monkey Cage)