Press Release of the Day: Sorry State of Journalism Edition

As my colleage Brian Lowry noted: "Iraq is going to hell. We're selling the ports to UAE. Dick Cheney shot a guy." And yet, 20/20's lead story this week?

THE TRUTH ABOUT WHOLE GRAINS, ON ABC NEWS’ “20/20,” FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 24

Plus: A Barbara Walters Exclusive: Sarah Jessica Parker;
Deborah Roberts Goes Behind the scenes of “Dancing with the Stars”;
Food for Thought – Get Ready to Rethink Your Grocery List

The anti-carb craze that swept the nation might be ending thanks to new research that shows whole grains can lower the risk of heart disease and some cancers. Bottom line: “good carbs” or “whole grains” are back in style. Literally hundreds of products – everything from cookies to crackers to bread – touting whole grain goodness are popping up on supermarket shelves. Just last week the Food and Drug Administration issued preliminary guidelines on “whole grain” food labels but, as ABC News correspondent JuJu Chang reports, things are just as confusing as ever. “20/20” puts whole grain labels to the test, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 24 (10:00-11:00 p.m., ET) on the ABC Television Network.

Also: Actress Sarah Jessica Parker speaks candidly to Barbara Walters about her personal and professional life.

And: Over the past weeks, millions of viewers have tuned in to the hit television competition show, “Dancing with the Stars,” to see celebrities dance the tango, jive and cha cha, leading up to this Sunday, when one will be crowned champion. From the fierce competition to the intense rehearsals, what really happens behind the scenes of this show packed with motion and emotion? ABC News correspondent Deborah Roberts gives viewers all-access to the action, and talks to the celebrity dancers, including the three finalists, former 98 Degrees popstar Drew Lachey, WWE (World Wrestling Entertainment) wrestler Stacy Keibler and Super Bowl legend Jerry Rice, as well as competitors Lisa Rinna and George Hamilton. Roberts also takes a spin across the dance floor with her very own ballroom dance lesson.

Of course, that's all the stuff of Murrow and Cronkite (well, except for the "Dancing with the Stars" segment) compared to this "Special Report" issued by New York's Fox station, WNYW/Channel 5:

FOX5 NEWS PRESENTS A SPECIAL REPORT: “INSIDE AMERICAN IDOL 2006”

February 23, 2006, New York, N.Y. – FOX5 NEWS presents a special report “Inside American Idol 2006,” a half-hour program on the fifth season of FOX’s successful primetime show, American Idol. FOX5 NEWS brings viewers a current season update, a look at momentous auditions and highlights of three local area finalists on Friday, Feb. 24 at 10:30 p.m., following “FOX5’s News At 10 p.m.” Hosted by entertainment reporter Toni Senecal, viewers will not want to miss this FOX5 NEWS special, “Inside American Idol 2006.”

The FOX5 NEWS special “Inside American Idol 2006” features one-on-one interviews with the tri-state area’s three local finalists: Kevin Covias, Brenna Gethers, and Becky O’Donohue. In a recent trip to Hollywood, Senecal sat down with each one to discuss his/her experience so far and what it’s like to be a member of the “Top 24.”

For instance, 16-year-old Covias of Levittown, Long Island, tells FOX5 NEWS about the recent attention he’s been getting since making it on Idol, “I've gotten some interest from the girls, it's a nice feeling... it's pretty cool.”

FOX5 NEWS also has the inside scoop on the judges. Simon Cowell dishes to Senecal his opinion about Randy Jackson’s decisions, “He just generally gets it wrong, but because he's a record producer, he's sort of an elitist.”

O’Donohue divulges to FOX5 NEWS what she thinks about the judges. “I listen to what they said and I try to use it to my advantage for my next performance.” The 25-year-old from Dobbs Ferry, N.Y., also says, “Here I am – fulfilling my dream and it's amazing.”

Senecal even speaks with Gethers’ grandmother Dorothy Tilgman at The White Rick Baptist Church in Mt. Vernon where the 25-year-old started singing to the public.

And of course, the FOX5 NEWS special “Inside American Idol 2006” recaps this season’s momentous auditions, including footage of favorite Idol rejects Rhonetta Johnson, Nick “Flawless” McCord and Blake “Mr. Lady Liberty” Boshnack. Tune-in to WNYW-FOX5 on Friday, Feb. 24 at 10:30 p.m. for all this and more!

Whoa, how in the world did the folks at Fox 5 get such exclusive access?