# Pro-lifers asking: Why isn't the Gosnell trial bigger news in the traditional media? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [April 13, 2013, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pro-lifers-asking-why-isnt-the-gosnell-trial-bigger-news-in-the-traditional-media/655557 "2013-04-13T01:11:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 9
**Author:** ![Minnie\_Luna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4bbf92/32.png) [@Minnie\_Luna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Minnie_Luna)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2013, 1:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pro-lifers-asking-why-isnt-the-gosnell-trial-bigger-news-in-the-traditional-media/655557/161 "2013-04-16T13:50:25Z")
> [@PhillyGuy](#): > > Well, it’s about both. But, you’re right, it’s mostly money. > > The clinic was walking distance from the best medical campus in Pennsylvania (according to rating sources like US News and World Report). Unlike many hospitals, it seems that the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania (HUP) still does abortions, at least if this pro-life link can be believed: > > [http://prolifeunion.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/abortchar10a.pdf](http://prolifeunion.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/abortchar10a.pdf) > > Based on the above, Gosnell’s clinic (Lancaster Avenue) was doing more than four times as many abortions as HUP. I think this is because HUP is extremely expensive for self-pay patients. We often get bills where HUP’s Blue Cross charge is a tenth the original price that would be charged someone without insurance. That’s the other money scandal. I know that anecdote does not equal data, but a friend of mine who was a patient at HUP’s OB/GYN practice was referred to PP for an elective abortion. She was told that the practice referred all elective abortions. Another friend (at the same practice) had a fetus with no heartbeat detected at her 12 week ultrasound. She was given a surgical abortion at HUP. Maybe HUP’s number are reflective of surgical abortions that were done for medical, not elective reasons? For HUP (including Penn Family Care and Pennsylvania Hospital) the numbers look really low for the sheer volume of patients they see, but I guess since medicaid in PA doesn’t cover elective abortions, these patients would seek abortion services where self-pay is cheaper. Which leads me to this…Gosnell’s services were in demand (IMHO) because PA medicaid **doesn’t** cover abortions. These women had to pay for the procedure themselves and it may have taken them a while to save/gather the money. By the time they had the money, they are past or close to 23 weeks and PP or the other clinics in town won’t take them. Gosnell was their alternative. That doesn’t make Gosnell’s action any less heinous or disgusting. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2013, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pro-lifers-asking-why-isnt-the-gosnell-trial-bigger-news-in-the-traditional-media/655557/162 "2013-04-16T16:58:38Z")
> [@Bricker](#): > > Several. Odd that none of them, apart from the single AP dispatch, were mentioned in the blog entry, huh? I wonder why that blog author did not mention the existence of these stories? > > There was [this from January 22,2011](http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2011/jan/22/women-pa-abortions-left-us-sterile-near-death/): > A week later in [January 2011, they ran](http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2011/jan/31/probe-of-delaware-abortion-sites-asked/) this piece: > This ran [January 19th](http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2011/jan/19/pa-abortion-doctor-killed-7-babies-with-scissors/): > And [later that month:](http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2011/jan/25/checks-of-pa-abortion-clinics-find-some-problems/) > [From February 2011](http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2011/feb/9/judge-orders-trial-for-pa-abortion-doctor/): > [This one,](http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2011/mar/2/prosecutors-seeking-death-pa-abortion-doctor/) from March 2011: > There’s [this one](http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2011/oct/27/two-plead-guilty-to-murder-of-a-baby-mother-at-phi/), from October 2011: > Here’s one from [June of 2012 that says:](http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2012/jun/18/abortion-clinics-in-pa-face-new-regulations/) And how does that compare with mainstream media coverage of this story back in 2011? Remember what we’re discussing here: the right-wing slam that the mainstream media hasn’t been giving sufficient attention to this case. In the **present** , which is what Kevin Drum was talking about, the wingnut media itself has largely given it a pass other than to criticize the MSM for the same failure they’re guilty of. Now maybe **back in 2011** , the wingnut media covered this story while the MSM was neglecting it. But let’s see some proof of the latter. ---
**Author:** ![miss\_elizabeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/838e76/32.png) [@miss\_elizabeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/miss_elizabeth)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2013, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pro-lifers-asking-why-isnt-the-gosnell-trial-bigger-news-in-the-traditional-media/655557/163 "2013-04-16T17:25:56Z")
The school shooting was horrific; this is horrific and disgusting. Again, I can’t take anyone seriously who pretends that there aren’t things about this story that are more viscerally disturbing than a mass shooting. It seems quite obvious to me. Also, I notice people have taken exception with my first statement (this story is almost to gross to report on properly), but no one was addressed the second: that ALL the pro-choice, liberal, feminist news sources I read have been covering this story since 2011. If pro-choice liberals don’t want to talk about this because they feel it tarnishes their position, _why are they extensively reporting it?_ Isn’t it just _possible_ that the mainstream media finds this story gross and disturbing, and doesn’t see a good hook for controversy, and has therefore limited it’s coverage? Yesterday I read that right- and left-wing media are reporting this story in about equal numbers; it’s only the centrist mainstream news that isn’t discussing it. I will try and find that citation. ---
**Author:** ![miss\_elizabeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/838e76/32.png) [@miss\_elizabeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/miss_elizabeth)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2013, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pro-lifers-asking-why-isnt-the-gosnell-trial-bigger-news-in-the-traditional-media/655557/164 "2013-04-16T17:33:43Z")
This isn’t actually what I was looking for, but it is a compelling argument that the **actual** liberal media hasn’t covered up this story at all. > **[There is no Gosnell coverup](https://www.salon.com/2013/04/12/there_is_no_gosnell_coverup/)** > > The horrors and underlying disparities exploited by Kermit Gosnell aren't new -- nor have they been ignored(UPDATE) ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2013, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pro-lifers-asking-why-isnt-the-gosnell-trial-bigger-news-in-the-traditional-media/655557/165 "2013-04-16T17:44:40Z")
The story isn’t covered up, so much as reported in a subdued way. There are no larger questions to be asked, no action that needs to be taken beyond the trial. Unlike Newtown, which requires swift federal action and should make us all think about guns. And the Trayvon Martin case, which should make us all think about race and Stand Your Ground laws. But Gosnell? Just an interesting local crime story. No larger significance. ---
**Author:** ![miss\_elizabeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/838e76/32.png) [@miss\_elizabeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/miss_elizabeth)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2013, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pro-lifers-asking-why-isnt-the-gosnell-trial-bigger-news-in-the-traditional-media/655557/166 "2013-04-16T18:33:49Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > The story isn’t covered up, so much as reported in a subdued way. There are no larger questions to be asked, no action that needs to be taken beyond the trial. Unlike Newtown, which requires swift federal action and should make us all think about guns. And the Trayvon Martin case, which should make us all think about race and Stand Your Ground laws. But Gosnell? Just an interesting local crime story. No larger significance. So, now you’re saying that the problem isn’t that Gosnell hasn’t been reported on (he has), but that the reporting hasn’t been sufficiently biased/politicized? Huh. I find this odd, since most of the coverage has been in the form of op-eds. Maybe what you’re really upset about is that the bulk of the US populace doesn’t see this story as a referendum on abortion the way you think they should? I was under the impression that the right wing _wanted_ more straight reporting. Are you saying I’m wrong, and the actual goal is just biased reporting in their favor? ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2013, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pro-lifers-asking-why-isnt-the-gosnell-trial-bigger-news-in-the-traditional-media/655557/167 "2013-04-16T19:05:25Z")
No, just an observation that there’s an agenda. And the reporting started because the refs got worked. They got shamed into reporting it more. ---
**Author:** ![miss\_elizabeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/838e76/32.png) [@miss\_elizabeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/miss_elizabeth)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2013, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pro-lifers-asking-why-isnt-the-gosnell-trial-bigger-news-in-the-traditional-media/655557/168 "2013-04-16T19:14:47Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > No, just an observation that there’s an agenda. And the reporting started because the refs got worked. They got shamed into reporting it more. Then why has the left-wing, liberal, feminist, pro-choice media been reporting it extensively for years? ETA: and if there’s this left wing agenda, like you claim, why hasn’t the supposedly biased MSM reported this story using the left-wing talking points and conclusions all those feminist discussions had? Why is the reporting straight instead of biased? ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2013, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pro-lifers-asking-why-isnt-the-gosnell-trial-bigger-news-in-the-traditional-media/655557/169 "2013-04-16T19:22:57Z")
Reporting it straight is reporting it biased. The Martin case didn’t get reported straight, neither has Newtown. The Boston Marathon will be reported straight until they find out who did it. Al Qaeda-reported straight Right wing American-weeks of coverage on other right-wing militias, concerns about rhetoric from right-wing politicians, gun control and explosives control coverage Left wing American-reported straight, but motivation will remain “unknown” or he’s just mentally unbalanced. And let’s stop talking about it as soon as possible, m’kay? ---
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2013, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pro-lifers-asking-why-isnt-the-gosnell-trial-bigger-news-in-the-traditional-media/655557/170 "2013-04-16T19:30:09Z")
> [@RTFirefly](#): > > And how does that compare with mainstream media coverage of this story back in 2011? > > Remember what we’re discussing here: the right-wing slam that the mainstream media hasn’t been giving sufficient attention to this case. In the **present** , which is what Kevin Drum was talking about, the wingnut media itself has largely given it a pass other than to criticize the MSM for the same failure they’re guilty of. > > Now maybe **back in 2011** , the wingnut media covered this story while the MSM was neglecting it. But let’s see some proof of the latter. I can’t find much from sources outside Pennsylvania during that time period. Perhaps you can? ---
**Author:** ![miss\_elizabeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/838e76/32.png) [@miss\_elizabeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/miss_elizabeth)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2013, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pro-lifers-asking-why-isnt-the-gosnell-trial-bigger-news-in-the-traditional-media/655557/171 "2013-04-16T19:32:54Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > Reporting it straight is reporting it biased. The Martin case didn’t get reported straight, neither has Newtown. The Boston Marathon will be reported straight until they find out who did it. > > Al Qaeda-reported straight > Right wing American-weeks of coverage on other right-wing militias, concerns about rhetoric from right-wing politicians, gun control and explosives control coverage > Left wing American-reported straight, but motivation will remain “unknown” or he’s just mentally unbalanced. And let’s stop talking about it as soon as possible, m’kay? I think your biases are deeply influencing your perceptions. If both left-wing biased reporting is bias, and no bias is a left-wing bias, then essentially only a right-wing bias can be fair (under your terms). Which… I can’t understand or agree to. I think if the media was as biased as you say, they would be reporting this story with a leftist, pro-choice slant. There are plenty of templates to use, since the real, actual leftist media has been covering this in that manner for years. _But they didn’t._ Which makes me think it isn’t political bias at all, but something else (which I think is the gross factor, but others disagree). I feel like this is a reasonable viewpoint based on the facts, but you would rather speculate on motives and create a conspiracy. ---
**Author:** ![miss\_elizabeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/838e76/32.png) [@miss\_elizabeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/miss_elizabeth)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2013, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pro-lifers-asking-why-isnt-the-gosnell-trial-bigger-news-in-the-traditional-media/655557/172 "2013-04-16T19:34:33Z")
> [@Bricker](#): > > I can’t find much from sources outside Pennsylvania during that time period. Perhaps you can? My link posted above goes to several. ---
**Author:** ![EverwonderWhy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee59a6/32.png) [@EverwonderWhy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EverwonderWhy)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2013, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pro-lifers-asking-why-isnt-the-gosnell-trial-bigger-news-in-the-traditional-media/655557/173 "2013-04-16T19:39:34Z")
In Newtown, Lanza’s weapons and ammunition were legally obtained. In the Trayvon Martin incident, George Zimmerman’s actions were legally sanctioned under stand your ground laws. In Gosnell’s case, his actions are already illegal. Now, what needs to be clear is whether Gosnell’s atrocities were due to lax regulatory enforcement or lack of proper regulation. Were all medical clinics that performed procedures of similar degree of complexity and invasiveness (such as oral or plastic surgery) as neglected from oversight? Are there clear facility standards such as hallway size and emergency entrance/exit, etc, for these medical clinics already on the books in PA? How often were the other 17 (I believe?) abortion clinics in PA inspected compared to Gosnell’s? How often were any other medical facility (e.g. oral or plastic surgery) inspected? Speaking from my own bias: Whenever I read about new abortion regulations I roll my eyes because the majority of new regulations proposed are ideologically driven by lobbyists and politicians (with no medical training) with a clear agenda to restrict women’s access, coerce/shame them for their choice or put providers out of business through sneaky TRAP laws not applied to any other medical procedure or facility. I am all for regulations that are uniformly applied to medical clinics where patients undergo procedures of similar complexity and invasiveness as abortion – based on credible evidence that these regulations improve facility and patient safety. It is clear from the grand jury report that Gosnell’s clinic had serious issues, but what is not clear was whether these issues (cramped hallways, emergency access, etc) were in violation of regulations already on the books - outside of the obviously heinous violations of keeping fetal feet in jars, unsanitary conditions, terminating pregnancies over the legal limit and gross medical negligence. ---
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2013, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pro-lifers-asking-why-isnt-the-gosnell-trial-bigger-news-in-the-traditional-media/655557/174 "2013-04-16T20:01:07Z")
> [@miss\_elizabeth](#): > > My link posted above goes to several. Does it? First link provided (which is now broken; who knows what the story said): [http://rhrealitycheck.org/article/2011/01/31/learning-right-lessons-philadelphia-abortion-clinic-disaster/](http://rhrealitycheck.org/article/2011/01/31/learning-right-lessons-philadelphia-abortion-clinic-disaster/) I don’t know what “rhrealitycheck” is. I certainly don’t consider it “national, mainstream media.” Second link: (works) [http://thegrio.com/2011/01/21/abortion-clinic-horror-in-philly-highlights-need-for-more-access/](http://thegrio.com/2011/01/21/abortion-clinic-horror-in-philly-highlights-need-for-more-access/) I don’t know what “thegrio” is. I certainly don’t consider it “national, mainstream media.” Third link: [http://blogs.philadelphiaweekly.com/phillynow/2013/03/18/kermit-gosnell’s-defense-case-is-an-“elitist-racist-prosecution”/](http://blogs.philadelphiaweekly.com/phillynow/2013/03/18/kermit-gosnell%E2%80%99s-defense-case-is-an-%E2%80%9Celitist-racist-prosecution%E2%80%9D/) A blog hosted by Philadelphia Weekly is not national mainstream media. And frankly, the tone of this piece is somewhat neutral, or at least muted. Fourth link: [http://www.philadelphiaweekly.com/news-and-opinion/cover-story/Neglect-of-West-Philly-Abortion-Victims-Was-By-Design.html](http://www.philadelphiaweekly.com/news-and-opinion/cover-story/Neglect-of-West-Philly-Abortion-Victims-Was-By-Design.html) Legitimate editorial piece, but not straight news, and again from a Philly paper. Fifth link: [http://www.thenation.com/article/158089/dr-kermit-gosnells-horror-show#](http://www.thenation.com/article/158089/dr-kermit-gosnells-horror-show#) Legitimate national media. That’s one. Sixth link: [http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-504083\_162-20029214-504083.html](http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-504083_162-20029214-504083.html) Legitimate national news, yes. But they buried the lede: it’s not until the ninth 'graph that the grisly detail ar eeven hinted at; a quick review of the article does not give the reader the sense of the story at all. Seventh link is to NPR’s headline: “Pa. Employees Fired In Wake Of Abortion Scandal.” [Pennsylvania Employees Fired In Wake Of Abortion Scandal : NPR](http://www.npr.org/2011/02/16/133806324/pa-employees-fired-in-wake-of-abortion-scandal) Again national, but again burying the lede. Is the story about the horrors of the doctor’s conduct or the fired state workers? ---
**Author:** ![EverwonderWhy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee59a6/32.png) [@EverwonderWhy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EverwonderWhy)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2013, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pro-lifers-asking-why-isnt-the-gosnell-trial-bigger-news-in-the-traditional-media/655557/175 "2013-04-16T20:04:49Z")
> [@Bricker](#): > > I can’t find much from sources outside Pennsylvania during that time period. Perhaps you can? I linked to the Huffingtonpost and SLTribune articles upthread, but here they are again: The [NYT](http://publiceditor.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/04/15/politics-aside-the-gosnell-trial-deserves-and-is-getting-more-coverage/) has put out 6 pieces on Gosnell, the [Huffingtonpost](http://www.huffingtonpost.com/news/kermit-gosnell-abortion-doctor), even the [SLTribune](http://166-70-33-200.ip.xmission.com/sltrib/world/51596749-68/gosnell-report-grand-jury.html.csp) reported it starting back in 2011. I, for one, would like more coverage that addresses the questions I asked here: > [@EverwonderWhy](#): > > Now, what needs to be clear is whether Gosnell’s atrocities were due to lax regulatory enforcement or lack of proper regulation. Were all medical clinics that performed procedures of similar degree of complexity and invasiveness (such as oral or plastic surgery) as neglected from oversight? Are there clear facility standards such as hallway size and emergency entrance/exit, etc, for these medical clinics already on the books in PA? How often were the other 17 (I believe?) abortion clinics in PA inspected compared to Gosnell’s? How often were any other medical facility (e.g. oral or plastic surgery) inspected? ---
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2013, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pro-lifers-asking-why-isnt-the-gosnell-trial-bigger-news-in-the-traditional-media/655557/176 "2013-04-16T21:05:57Z")
> [@EverwonderWhy](#): > > I linked to the Huffingtonpost and SLTribune articles upthread, but here they are again: > > The [NYT](http://publiceditor.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/04/15/politics-aside-the-gosnell-trial-deserves-and-is-getting-more-coverage/) has put out 6 pieces on Gosnell, the [Huffingtonpost](http://www.huffingtonpost.com/news/kermit-gosnell-abortion-doctor), even the [SLTribune](http://166-70-33-200.ip.xmission.com/sltrib/world/51596749-68/gosnell-report-grand-jury.html.csp) reported it starting back in 2011. > > I, for one, would like more coverage that addresses the questions I asked here: From the Times piece you linked to: > [@](#): > > I’ll add one: > > The behavior of news organizations often owes more to chaos theory than conspiracy theory. I don’t think that editors and reporters got together and decided not to give the Gosnell trial a lot of attention because it would highlight the evils of abortion. > > I do think that it wasn’t on their radar screen – and that it should have been. The murders of seven newborn babies, done so horrifically, would be no ordinary crime. Any suggestion, including mine on Friday, that this is just another murder trial is a miscalculation. And it’s certainly possible that journalists who were more in touch with conservative voices and causes would have picked up on the importance of this trial sooner. > > Judged on news value alone, the Gosnell trial deserves more coverage than it’s had, in The Times and elsewhere. ---
**Author:** ![miss\_elizabeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/838e76/32.png) [@miss\_elizabeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/miss_elizabeth)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2013, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pro-lifers-asking-why-isnt-the-gosnell-trial-bigger-news-in-the-traditional-media/655557/177 "2013-04-16T22:01:10Z")
> [@Bricker](#): > > Does it? > > First link provided (which is now broken; who knows what the story said): [http://rhrealitycheck.org/article/2011/01/31/learning-right-lessons-philadelphia-abortion-clinic-disaster/](http://rhrealitycheck.org/article/2011/01/31/learning-right-lessons-philadelphia-abortion-clinic-disaster/) > > I don’t know what “rhrealitycheck” is. I certainly don’t consider it “national, mainstream media.” > > Second link: (works) [http://thegrio.com/2011/01/21/abortion-clinic-horror-in-philly-highlights-need-for-more-access/](http://thegrio.com/2011/01/21/abortion-clinic-horror-in-philly-highlights-need-for-more-access/) > > I don’t know what “thegrio” is. I certainly don’t consider it “national, mainstream media.” > > Third link: [http://blogs.philadelphiaweekly.com/phillynow/2013/03/18/kermit-gosnell’s-defense-case-is-an-“elitist-racist-prosecution”/](http://blogs.philadelphiaweekly.com/phillynow/2013/03/18/kermit-gosnell%E2%80%99s-defense-case-is-an-%E2%80%9Celitist-racist-prosecution%E2%80%9D/) > > A blog hosted by Philadelphia Weekly is not national mainstream media. And frankly, the tone of this piece is somewhat neutral, or at least muted. > > Fourth link: [http://www.philadelphiaweekly.com/news-and-opinion/cover-story/Neglect-of-West-Philly-Abortion-Victims-Was-By-Design.html](http://www.philadelphiaweekly.com/news-and-opinion/cover-story/Neglect-of-West-Philly-Abortion-Victims-Was-By-Design.html) > > Legitimate editorial piece, but not straight news, and again from a Philly paper. > > Fifth link: [http://www.thenation.com/article/158089/dr-kermit-gosnells-horror-show#](http://www.thenation.com/article/158089/dr-kermit-gosnells-horror-show#) > > Legitimate national media. That’s one. > > Sixth link: [http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-504083\_162-20029214-504083.html](http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-504083_162-20029214-504083.html) > > Legitimate national news, yes. But they buried the lede: it’s not until the ninth 'graph that the grisly detail ar eeven hinted at; a quick review of the article does not give the reader the sense of the story at all. > > Seventh link is to NPR’s headline: “Pa. Employees Fired In Wake Of Abortion Scandal.” [Pennsylvania Employees Fired In Wake Of Abortion Scandal : NPR](http://www.npr.org/2011/02/16/133806324/pa-employees-fired-in-wake-of-abortion-scandal) > > Again national, but again burying the lede. Is the story about the horrors of the doctor’s conduct or the fired state workers? Ok, firstly you said “sources outside of Pennsylvania” NOT “mainstream national sources outside of Pennsylvania” so I maintain my link does indeed contain what you asked for. Secondly, it’s only your bias that makes the lede of this story the torture chamber that was Gosnell’s clinic. What he did is illegal; there’s no discussion there and the story is frankly awful. The only thing you can discuss in this case (and it needs to be discussed) is how can we ensure this isn’t happening anywhere else, and prevent this from ever happening again. It’s like the way when Sandusky broke, Paterno became the story. Everyone knows Sandusky is a horrid piece of shit. There’s no story there. But Paterno’s failure is more interesting; what did he know, and when, and why wasn’t more done. Same thing here; Gosnell is a criminal piece of shit. But why on earth did this go on so long? How the hell did no one check up on these reports? I also want to point out that the mainstream media’s general reluctance to disguss the gruesome details of this case perfectly supports my hypothosis that this story is too gross for primetime. If you leave those bits out, it doesn’t seem that newsworthy; if you put them in, no one will read it. And again, you seem to be complaining that the conservative side of this is being suppressed but from your own quote > [@](#): > > I do think that it wasn’t on their radar screen – and that it should have been. The murders of seven newborn babies, done so horrifically, would be no ordinary crime. Any suggestion, including mine on Friday, that this is just another murder trial is a miscalculation. And it’s certainly possible that journalists who were more in touch with conservative voices and causes would have picked up on the importance of this trial sooner. > > Judged on news value alone, the Gosnell trial deserves more coverage than it’s had, in The Times and elsewhere. they mention listening to conservative voices, but not the liberal ones that have also been reporting this story for years. If the journalists were the true lefties the right portrays them as, they would have been hearing about this story. And yet, they weren’t. Which, again, points to this being more about a gross story about poor people no one much cared about because the US media is lazy, rather than the covering up of a story by our leftist masters. ---
**Author:** ![EverwonderWhy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee59a6/32.png) [@EverwonderWhy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EverwonderWhy)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2013, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pro-lifers-asking-why-isnt-the-gosnell-trial-bigger-news-in-the-traditional-media/655557/178 "2013-04-16T22:18:58Z")
> [@Bricker](#): > > From the Times piece you linked to: My post was in response to this: > [@Bricker](#): > > I can’t find much from sources outside Pennsylvania during that time period. Perhaps you can? Which supplied you with multiple sources outside of Pennsylvania covering the Gosnell case during that time period. I linked to that specific NYT article because it linked to the other Times pieces. Did you read those as well? What about the other Huffingtonpost articles? What more coverage would you like to see or is your concern more with proving some sort of liberal media conspiracy? ---
**Author:** ![miss\_elizabeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/838e76/32.png) [@miss\_elizabeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/miss_elizabeth)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2013, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pro-lifers-asking-why-isnt-the-gosnell-trial-bigger-news-in-the-traditional-media/655557/179 "2013-04-16T23:41:33Z")
> [@EverwonderWhy](#): > > What more coverage would you like to see or is your concern more with proving some sort of liberal media conspiracy? And remember, a liberal media conspiracy is also defined as reporting the facts of the story in a straightforward manner, without bias or politicization. No wonder conservatives are mad… ---
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2013, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pro-lifers-asking-why-isnt-the-gosnell-trial-bigger-news-in-the-traditional-media/655557/180 "2013-04-17T00:08:33Z")
> [@EverwonderWhy](#): > > My post was in response to this: > > Which supplied you with multiple sources outside of Pennsylvania covering the Gosnell case during that time period. I linked to that specific NYT article because it linked to the other Times pieces. Did you read those as well? What about the other Huffingtonpost articles? > > What more coverage would you like to see or is your concern more with proving some sort of liberal media conspiracy? The Times itself, in the very piece you linked to, concedes that the coverage was insufficient. It’s unclear how you expect me to ignore that concession, count the articles linked, and reach a different conclusion. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pro-lifers-asking-why-isnt-the-gosnell-trial-bigger-news-in-the-traditional-media/655557.md?page=8) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pro-lifers-asking-why-isnt-the-gosnell-trial-bigger-news-in-the-traditional-media/655557.md?page=10)