PrintJune 6, 2007
New York Times buries inconvenient truth about education (updated)
The New York Times earned considerable derision for its decision to bury the story of the JFK Airport terror plot on page A30 last Sunday. Today, the paper confirms that it will bury any news that reflects well on the Bush Administration with its treatment of a story on one of its major concerns, education. Stories regarding educational issues often merit front-page, above-the-fold prominence.
The New York Times usually depicts charter schools as a blight on our educational landscape, and has routinely condemned the No Child Left Behind Act that took effect under the Bush Administration. The No Child left Behind Act has generated a great deal of heated discussion in education circles. Therefore, one might expect a new study measuring the performance under the No Child Left Behind Act to merit prominent coverage in the New York Times.
Not if the study finds that the act has produced gains.
Not if the study finds that the act has produced gains.
So we find this article about a new study that demonstrates the success of the No Child left Behind Act buried in the C section of the paper, page 15. Right before the sports section, where the readership starts to skew strongly toward males, especially younger ones.
All the news that's fit to print, but good luck finding it if you are a mom with kids in school.
Update:
Update:
Compare the WaPo treatment of the No Child Left Behind Act success with its invisibility at the NYT
On the front-page in the Washington Post: "Scores Up Since 'No Child' Was Signed".
NYT on Page C17: "New Study Finds Gains Since No Child Left Behind"
The on-line headline is Test Scores Soar After 'No Child'
NYT on Page C17: "New Study Finds Gains Since No Child Left Behind"
Much of the NYT article then tries to discount even the lukewarm optimism reflected in the headline.
