Yesterday I wrote about the contrast Media Research Center and MediaMatters for America. One thing I probably didn't make clear is the difference in what the organizations see as their mission. Media Research Center documents bias in the main stream media (MSM). MediaMatters documents "lies" by conservatives. This means that Media Research spends most of their time quoting the MSM, allowing their words to speak for themselves. In contrast MediaMatters often editorializes about their subjects.

To see how each site handles the same event, look at an ad created by the United Church of Christ. The ad shows black-clad bouncers refusing entrance to a church. Some people are refused, either because of skin color or because they look too gay. A white family is allowed in. The then says that everyone is welcome at the United Church of Christ.

The big three networks have refused to run the ad. ABC has a long-running policy against religious ads. CBS and NBC declined to run it because it looked controversial. CBS specifically mentioned the gay angle.

MediaMatters complains about the rejection, pointing to past ads that CBS and NBC have run. In CBS's case it was an anti-drug ad during the 2003 Superbowl. In NBC's case, it was selling 30 minute blocks of time to Ross Perot in 1993.

Media Research did not cover the ad directly. They reported on ABC's coverage. The entire report is transcribed and Media Research provides a link to the UCC's web site where you can see the ad for yourself. MediaMatters does not link to the ad, only to UCC's press release about it.

Go look at the ad yourself. Personally I find the ad very offensive. It is making a blanket slam on all other churches. I have always been offended anytime anyone makes light of someone else's religion.