The Poynter Institute for Media Studies joins growing chorus of criticism over controversial ’60 Minutes’ report suggesting Florida government director Ron DeSantis, R. enters a pay-for-play scheme with Publix over coronavirus spread vaccines.
‘There really was no there there, ‘wrote Poynter’s senior media writer Tom Jones.
“’60 Minutes’ is the best and most respected investigative journalism program in the history of television … that does not mean it is infallible,” Jones wrote. “And a sloppy moment in Sunday’s program raises serious concerns.”
RON DESANTIS BLASTS CBS ’60 MINUTES ‘FOR’ MUSICLY EDITED ‘PUBLIX-COVID CLIP: A’ POLITICAL NARRATIVE ‘
The report by Sharyn Alfonsi and produced by Oriana Zill de Granados suggests that DeSantis Publix give preferential treatment to distribute COVID-19 vaccines because the chain donated $ 100,000 to the governor’s political action committee.
“If it’s true – if DeSantis had a ‘pay-for-play’ scheme for coronavirus vaccinations, it’s an explosive story. But ’60 Minutes’ does not really provide evidence that DeSantis did anything like that. not, “Jones said. wrote.
“Yes, Publix has donated to DeSantis’s re-election campaign. But it’s not illegal or unusual. Large companies often donate to political campaigns of both major parties,” Jones continued. “Yet the ’60 Minutes’ piece uses it as the main proof for the premise that DeSantis did something shady. They really did not have much else on the subject.”
Democratic government officials, conservative experts, Publix, DeSantis himself and now liberal media watchdogs have all rejected the story.
CRITICISM BLAST ’60 MINUTES ‘FOR’ FALSE NARRATIVE ‘WHICH DESANTIS INVOLVED THE PUBLIX IN PAY-FOR-PLAY SUBJECT SCHEME
“There is nothing wrong with a news network investigating the distribution of vaccines. And political contributions are a good place to address such a story. But in this case, DeSantis does not seem to have done anything wrong. , “Jones said. wrote. “If he did, ’60 Minutes ‘could not provide enough information, context or evidence that he did … It does not ruin the ’60 Minutes’ brand, but it was not one of the most beautiful moments of the program. ‘
Despite the widespread setback, CBS News defended its coverage.
‘When state data in Florida revealed that coloreds were vaccinated at a much lower rate than their richer neighbors, ’60 Minutes’ reported the facts surrounding the vaccine’s deployment, which is controlled by the governor. relevant authorities. We requested an interview with Governor Ron DeSantis. He refused; we spoke twice with the Director of State Emergency Management, Jared Moskowitz, but he did not want to be questioned on camera for our story until well after our deadline. The idea that we ignored their perspective is untrue, “a CBS News spokesman told Fox News in a statement.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
CBS also withdrew against Palm Beach Mayor David Kerner, a Democrat who said the piece was “intentionally false”.
“Contrary to his statement yesterday, we also spoke to Palm Beach County Mayor David Kerner on the record. For more than 50 years, the facts reported by 60 MINUTES have often sparked debate and provoked strong reactions,” he said. the CBS News spokesman added. “Our story Sunday night speaks for itself.”
A CBS News spokeswoman told Fox News the newsletter repeated the allegations already made in Florida newspapers and declined to comment.