I noticed CBC Radio falling into a similar trap (not that the national radio
news makes much effort to avoid the standard traps).
In reporting Zedillo's order to the army to stop advancing, CBC added that he
is proposing an amnesty law for the Zapatistas. No mention that it is only for
individuals who lay down their arms, which makes it a pro forma exercise in
media manipulation of gullible news services. This is a standard measure
against armed rebels, with little real effect except to occupy newsprint
and airwaves. Note that to report it in proper context would require comment
from the rebels themselves or someone not wedded to the government view.
No wonder that when Noam Chomsky described the New York Times chief diplomatic
correspondent as a key State Department mouthpiece in his Toronto talk last
fall, the audience burst into applause. CBC isn't as obvious about it (and of
course does some worthwhile stuff), but a government-funded service should be
careful of regurgitating government bilge (from any government) if it wishes
to avoid a bad smell.