Joe Biden’s popularity stems from his perception of “folksiness.” In reality, though, Biden’s record is anything but working class–friendly.
Search Results for: Amy Poe
Apr
01
2012
Losing Patients
Making Medicare a story about doctors—not those they treat
By Amy Poe
For the elderly and disabled, catching up on the daily news during the latest Beltway brinkmanship—the deal to extend payroll tax cuts, unemployment benefits and current Medicare doctor fees—could be an exercise in frustration. Dodging persistent (and justified) rumors of forthcoming Medicare cutbacks, politicians and the medical lobby controlled coverage of 2012’s first serious budget debate, while the 47.5 million dependents of that program were left to eavesdrop from the wings. Lack of press scrutiny during the scramble for a payroll tax compromise meant typical Medicare users learned nothing about billions of dollars in program reductions slipped into the package [...]
Oct
01
2005
Defending Judith Miller's Indefensible Choice
How do you expose corruption by protecting the corrupt?
No reasonable person believes that a journalist’s right to protect their confidential sources is absolute. If a government official told a reporter—after obtaining a promise of strict confidentiality—that he was a serial killer planning to strike again, who would argue that the reporter should conceal that official’s identity—let alone defy a subpoena from a grand jury seeking evidence of the official’s crimes? This is not to say that journalists aren’t often justified in keeping their sources secret. Government (and corporate) wrongdoing is frequently exposed by people without a legal right to reveal the incriminating information, who may face retribution if [...]
Jul
18
2005
Defending Miller's Indefensible Choice
Her supporters point to principles her silence undermines
No reasonable person believes that a journalist's right to protect their confidential sources is absolute. Yet one is virtually required to act as though it is, and any exception to this right will have a devastating effect on investigative journalism, in order to justify New York Times reporter Judith Miller's non-cooperation with the special prosecutor investigating the Valerie Plame Wilson leak. That journalists' privilege cannot be absolute is easy to demonstrate: If after obtaining a promise of strict confidentiality, Karl Rove had told Time's Matthew Cooper that he was a serial killer planning to strike again, who would argue that [...]
Feb
06
2001
Support Grows for Dissenting Pacifica Board Members
Amid a crisis that threatens the future of the Pacifica Radio Network, more than 80 prominent progressives have rallied in support of the six dissidents on the Pacifica Foundation's board. These board members want Pacifica's national leadership to reverse course on its takeover of WBAI, and to "build democratic decision-making structures throughout Pacifica." A statement supporting the dissenting board members (below) was signed by the Local Advisory Board chairs of four of Pacifica's five stations and by former Pacifica staffers and board members, as well as by political figures, community leaders, journalists, artists and academics. These include Dennis Brutus, Noam [...]
Mar
01
1998
Media Zapped
Journalists swallow food irradiation PR
By Amy Poe
When the federal Food and Drug Administration last month approved irradiation of red meat, government scientists cited the need to beef up efforts to combat a new, deadly strain of E. coli bacteria. No scientific explanation, however, has been forthcoming for the way the FDA's decision seems to have zapped the critical faculties of the mainstream media. Virtually without exception, reporters and editorial boards from Long Island Newsday to the San Francisco Chronicle lined up to swallow the irradiation industry's hype, with headlines like "Say Yes to Irradiated Foods" (Chicago Tribune, 12/4/97). Even normally skeptical journalists have been loath to [...]
May
01
1995
Milking a Story
How the Makers of Bovine Growth Hormone Manipulate the Media
By Amy Poe
Like a sick cow, the mainstream press has lain down and closed its eyes to growing criticism of the drug rBGH since it reached the U.S. market lastyear, including the failure to report on the European Union's December decision to extend its ban on rBGH use until the year 2000. Extra! May/June 1995
Oct
01
1992
Can You Believe What CBS Says About Arabs?
Dan Rather, Fouad Ajami and Henry Kissinger in Arab-Bashing Israeli Fundraiser
By Sam Husseini
The June 3 Jerusalem Foundation fundraiser featured an all-star media cast. Introductions were made by Martin Peretz, editor-in-chief of the New Republic. Concluding remarks were given by Mort Zuckerman, editor-in-chief of U.S. News & World Report. One keynote speaker was Fouad Ajami, CBS News' main analyst on Middle Eastern politics. The other keynoter was former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, who serves on the board of CBS, Inc. And the moderator of the event was Dan Rather, the anchor of the CBS Evening News. With all these media powerhouses present, it was remarkable that no one found it newsworthy enough [...]
