Analysis:

This story is the first local TV story on CAFTA that we have documented, despite many local efforts to get the word out. The channel 17 news reader starts off by saying Remember NAFTA?, which is sort of like saying remember leg warmers. NAFTA is a current trade policy, not some ancient relic.

The news reader says that Bush was meeting with 6 Latin American President’s, when in fact they are 6 Central American Presidents to discuss CAFTA. No where in the story does the news reader tell viewers what CAFTA is not any of the language of this trade proposal. Next, the news reader states that there is opposition from some sectors, but limits their opposition to just job loss. This is not an accurate depiction of the reasons, nor the groups who are opposed to CAFTA locally or nationally.

Lastly, Bush is the only voice that viewers here and he doesn’t say anything relevant to CAFTA. Viewers should ask themselves why no other voices were heard and why channel 17 didn’t question or verify the President’s statement. Viewers could also ask themselves why channel 17 chose to run that comment from Bush’s speech.

Story:

WXMI News Reader - Remember NAFTA? Now President Bush is pushing something called CAFTA, the Central America Free Trade Agreement. It's topping Business Download segment tonight.

The President met with 6 Latin American leaders at the White House today. The agreement would loosen trade restrictions. The fight is shaping up as the biggest since NAFTA was approved a decade ago. CAFTA is opposed by labor unions, sugar farmers, and other groups convinced it will cost US jobs. They say it would benefit US exporters as well as our neighbors to the south.

President - By passing this agreement we would signal that the world's leading trading nation was committed to closer partnership with countries in our own backyard, countries which share our values.

WXMI News Reader - Congress would have to approve the measure before it goes into affect.

Total Time: 46 seconds