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How Terry Jones Outfoxed the Media

Canny crackpot managed to grab world's attention

By Rob Quinn, Newser Staff

Posted Sep 10, 2010 7:35 AM CDT

(Newser) – Fred Phelps and members of his Westboro Baptist Church were ignored when they filmed themselves burning a Koran in 2008, but Terry Jones managed to grab headlines worldwide. The Florida pastor, the New York Times finds, managed to make himself a major news story by exploiting the "Ground Zero mosque" debate, the summer lull in news, and by giving more than 150 interviews in July and August as the story snowballed.

News outlets including Fox, the AP, and CNN now stress that if Jones goes ahead with the burning tomorrow—which he says has been suspended—they won't be showing any images of burning Korans. If he doesn't proceed tomorrow, but threatens to revive International Burn a Koran Day in the future, Richard Adams writes at the Guardian, "he'll be handled with much more caution by the US media, which has made itself look ridiculous in being outfoxed by the crackpot pastor of a miniscule church in the swamp."

[Images (1)]

[Quotes (2)]

Pastor Terry Jones of the Dove World Outreach Center makes comments to reporters prior to a service at his church in Gainesville, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)

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I am in the media, but think media gave life to this Florida burning ... and that was reckless. - ABC News anchor Chris Cuomo

He's one guy in the middle of the woods with 50 people in his congregation who's decided to try, I gather, to bring some attention to himself. - Michael Clemente, senior vice president at Fox News

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COMMENTS

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Showing 3 of 38 comments

getherdone

Sep 12, 2010 9:46 AM CDT

A suggestion...why doesn't he and Palin and Beck get together. These three are a bunch of whacko's.

Cobalt

Sep 11, 2010 1:27 AM CDT

He appointed himself as a pastor. No licenses or background checks are ever needed. And you pay no taxes as well. He's just a stupid backwoods agitator.

sandmannc40

Sep 10, 2010 8:56 PM CDT

Here is a prime example of the press distorting the news. In 2008 the Koran was burned and filmed but it was not promoted by the press and now they have not burned the Koran but the press has promoted it beyond reality and the terrorists are going nuts. Time to take America Back!!! Pandering to these terrorists is UNAMERICAN!!! We have to stop, stopping freedom of speech, or telling the truth about this religion of Peace (a.k.a. Terrorism)

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Media • US

Koran • Westboro Baptist Church • Terry Jones • International Burn a Koran Day • Dove World Outreach Center

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How Terry Jones Outfoxed the Media