Wow.

I'm pretty sure that if Edward R. Murrow saw Randall's "youtube" video on Chevron vs. Ecuador, he would fall flat out of his seat. Talk about bias-the plaintiff’s didn't get more than two seconds in this video to express their views on the subject. If this "newsworthy" report prides itself in any way of presenting a “balanced" and "unbiased" view on this issue, we all may as well jump ship now.

Let’s break it down.

#1 The whole video focused on Chevrons supposed "squeaky clean reputation" and the "gallant" actions the company took to clean up spills they made before leaving the country.

#2 Randall describes the plaintiffs as "contingency fee-based lawyers" that want to "extort a big pay off." So obviously all the want to do is create a "smear campaign" and get money? Interesting... (P.S. why aren’t there any outwardly negative descriptions provided about Chevron?)

#3 Where on earth are the Ecuadorian experts (i.e. scientists, professors, etc.) in this video? We see about every expert and their grandmother who has something to say in Chevrons defense - why aren’t we getting both sides of the picture?

#4 Need I say more? A whole 13 minute and 52 second video with extreme bias towards Chevron?! Hmmmm...makes you kind of wonder if Chevron’s advertising some of their products on this "show's" commercial breaks.

#5 Way to hire ex-CBS reporter Gene Randall - if that's not bias, then I don't know what is!

On the other hand… the CBS report, I felt, was an improvement from the prior, but still does not fit the "Murrow standard"/ standard of traditional journalism. While both sides were presented in the clip, it is obvious that more emphasis was placed on the Ecuador's views (esp. since only Chevron representative was interviewed).

In all honestly, both of the videos only made me sick as they reiterated the downfall in the broadcast/news world. And the sad thing is that many people either a) will ignore the biases or b) acknowlege the biases or support them because of that. (In one study I learned about, people often watch a particular news station or show because it reinforces their own ideological beliefs). Either way, these shows need to either address that they are indeed biased towards one side or the other or report the facts in a balanced manner.