Egypt: Is The New York Times Slanting Its Coverage?

You might expect New York Times op-ed columnists to be given more "slack" with respect to the facts, because they are writing "opinion pieces".

Roger Cohen mentioned oppression of Iran's Baha'is only once in a single sentence in his 2009 series of op-eds from Tehran, in which he attempted to convince the New York Times readership that Iran is "not totalitarian". Moreover, in an op-ed entitled "What Iran's Jews Say" (http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/22/opinion/22iht-edcohen.3.20350579.html), Cohen never acknowledged that his interviews were being conducted via an Iranian government appointed translator reporting back to the government (see: http://jgcaesarea.blogspot.com/2009/06/was-roger-cohens-what-irans-jews-say-in_17.html). Today, Cohen would have us believe that the Egyptian uprising is all about "freedom, representation and the rule of law" (see: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/26/opinion/26iht-edcohen26.html?_r=1&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss) and has nothing to do with crushing poverty and unemployment.

In a similar vein, I do not recall Nicholas Kristof, who spent weeks cheerleading the birth of Egyptian "democracy" from Tahrir Square, ever devoting a single op-ed to the persecution of Egypt's Christian Copt minority.

But is this prejucial reporting limited to the op-ed page of The New York Times?

On April 25, a story entitled "Poll Finds Egyptians Full of Hope About the Future" (http://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/26/world/middleeast/26poll.html?_r=2&ref=islam) appeared prominently on the New York Times online home page. The article begins:

"Egyptians are looking forward with extraordinary confidence and enthusiasm to their first free and fair elections this fall after the defining revolution of the Arab spring, according to the first major poll since the ouster of Hosni Mubarak. But they remain deeply divided over the role of Islam in their public life.

The poll, conducted by the Pew Research Center and based on face-to-face interviews with 1,000 Egyptians, is the first credible survey since the revolution lifted many restrictions on free expression. It is also the first to directly address Western debate over whether the revolution might drift toward Islamic radicalism.

The poll found about 30 percent of Egyptians have a favorable view of Islamic fundamentalism and about the same number sympathize with its opponents. About a quarter have mixed views."

But now look at the heading of the Pew Research Center report (http://pewglobal.org/2011/04/25/egyptians-embrace-revolt-leaders-religious-parties-and-military-as-well/) upon which The New York Times article is premised:

"U.S. Wins No Friends, End of Treaty With Israel Sought
Egyptians Embrace Revolt Leaders, Religious Parties and Military, As Well"

Whereas, the New York Times article emphasizes Egyptian "hope" in its headline, the Pew Research Center report heading tells us:

1. U.S. Wins No Friends;
2. End of Treaty With Israel Sought;
3. Egyptians Embrace Revolt Leaders, Religious Parties and Military.

More than a slight difference in emphasis in headings, yet perhaps, in this regard, The New York Times can be excused. But headings aside, the full text of the New York Times article never mentions the enmity of Egyptians toward the U.S., which was revealed by the Pew Research Center report:

"Only 20% of Egyptians hold a favorable opinion of the United States, which is nearly identical to the 17% who rated it favorably in 2010.

. . . .

Looking to the future, few Egyptians (15%) want closer ties with the U.S., while 43% would prefer a more distant relationship, and 40% would like the relationship between the two countries to remain about as close as it has been in recent years."

Why was this enmity toward the U.S. entirely ignored by the New York Times article? Can this omission be deemed irrelevant to American readers given the billions of dollars of aid being provided by the U.S. to Egypt? Or was this a mere "oversight"?

You decide.