UNIVERSITY NEWS - OCTOBER 2003

Rush is Wrong
Study Finds Race Not a Factor in Media Treatment of Quarterbacks

Conservative commentator Rush Limbaugh claimed the media coddle Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb because he is African American. Limbaugh's comments caused a furor, resulting in his resignation from ESPN. Now, a new study finds Limbaugh's racial critique of the media is inaccurate.

Limbaugh said on ESPN's NFL Countdown that the media have "hope invested" in McNabb and gave him "credit for the performance of his team that he really didn't deserve" because "the media have been very desirous that a black quarterback do well." When his remarks were criticized, Limbaugh did not retract them. Instead, he said the controversy shows "I must have been right about something."

Contrary to Limbaugh's comments, the study by Florida Atlantic University political science professor David Niven found that neither McNabb nor African American quarterbacks in general were treated better by the media than white quarterbacks.

The study compared newspaper coverage during the 2002 NFL season of seven African American quarterbacks (those who played in enough games in 2002 to be ranked in the NFL's quarterback rating system) to coverage of seven white quarterbacks with comparable quarterback ratings.

The study analyzed more than 10,000 articles from 25 major newspapers, looking at how much credit the quarterbacks received, how much blame, and how prominently they were mentioned in the articles. Overall, both African American and white quarterbacks were featured in the headlines of slightly more than 5% of the articles, were criticized in about 12% of the articles, and were praised in about 9%. None of the differences in coverage were greater than mere chance alone might cause.

Niven, an expert on media coverage of race, thinks Limbaugh had little interest in the facts. "If he had the slightest interest in how Donovan McNabb was really covered by the media, he could not have made those comments." Niven cites coverage of the Eagles when McNabb missed several games due to injury in 2002. "The media suggested the Eagles were fine without McNabb, running headlines such as 'Eagles don't seem to miss McNabb,' and 'Eagles Soar Minus McNabb.'" Niven added, "Limbaugh's comments don't tell us the first thing about McNabb or the media. Limbaugh's comments were made to offend not inform."

For more information: David Niven, 561-297-3211, 561-736-4879, dniven@fau.edu

Kristine M. McGrath
Assistant Director, Media Relations
Florida Atlantic University
Phone: 561/297-1168
Fax: 561/297-3001