The 2014 P.U.-litzers
It’s that time of year again– let’s revisit some of the smelliest journalism of the past year.
The ‘Center’ Always Holds
Corporate media always recommend Democrats move to the right after an election.
Four Myths About Obama’s War on ISIS
While Barack Obama’s military plan to launch strikes against the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) might impress many pundits, there are some serious questions that should be asked–about the threat posed by the Islamic State and about some of the assumptions guiding the debate.
Labor Almost Invisible on TV Talk
Have any labor leaders appeared on the Sunday chat shows this year? No, unless you count one reference to Ronald Reagan.
TPP TV Blackout
The TV networks don’t think the controversial Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal is newsworthy. But look at what they do think is worth covering….
Can White People Be Terrorists?
The man accused of shooting and killing three people at Jewish community centers in Kansas has a long history as a right-wing terrorist. So why won’t media call him a terrorist?
The 2013 P.U.-Litzers
Some of the year’s stinkiest moments in corporate media– it’s the 2013 P.U.-Litzers!
CIA and Mandela: Can the Story Be Told Now?
With coverage of Nelson Mandela’s death dominating the media now, can the story of the CIA’s role in Mandela’s capture be told? Mostly not.
Covering Christie
The real elephant in the room is that Chris Christie has an actual record of governing a state, and journalists seem almost totally uninterested in discussing it.
Defining Drone Deaths in Yemen
The United States has reportedly carried out nine drone attacks in the last few weeks in Yemen, generating headlines about the targeting and killing of suspected Al-Qaeda militants in the impoverished country. But how can media know for sure who is being killed? The uptick in attacks is apparently related to the alleged terrorist chatter […]
Pundits vs. Edward Snowden
There are plenty of people working in the media who don’t have much use for whistleblowers–and they’ve been having a field day going after NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden.
Justice Department Attacks the Press
The Justice Department’s seizure of AP phone records constitutes a troubling encroachment on the freedom of the press and underscores longstanding concerns about the Obama administration’s willingness to trample the First Amendment.
Syria Skepticism
U.S. suggestions that the Syrian government could have used chemical weapons have been treated as fact by some media outlets, and are helping to fuel the case for greater U.S. military involvement.
Social Security Cuts Are Media’s ‘Center’
The White House plan to cut Social Security benefits has been praised by major media as a brave move towards the “middle” by Obama, as well as an effort to use a more “accurate” measure of inflation. Neither claim is credible. Part of the White House plan is to change how inflation is calculated, by […]
In Death as in Life, Chávez Target of Media Scorn
Venezuela’s left-wing populist president Hugo Chávez died on Tuesday, March 5, after a two-year battle with cancer. If world leaders were judged by the sheer volume of corporate media vitriol and misinformation about their policies, Chávez would be in a class of his own.
Media and the Keystone March
Tens of thousands of climate activists marched in Washington D.C.on February 17. Did the corporate media notice them?
Obama to the Left?
The media message about the Obama inauguration ceremony was that he was announcing a clear shift to the left. But coverage failed to provide much background on the president’s actual policies, which would have challenged that impression.
Taking Aim at the Elderly
Wealthy pundits didn’t like the outcome of the “fiscal cliff” tax deal– mostly because it didn’t do more to cut Social Security and Medicare benefits.
The P.U.-litzer Prizes for 2012
It’s that time of year: When FAIR presents the P.U.-litzers, the “awards” for some of the stinkiest media moments of the year. Smearing Occupy Wall Street? Praising Paul Ryan’s wonkery? Phony factchecking? It’s all here. So, without further ado…
Robin Hood Isn’t News
We’re told that the “fiscal cliff” requires spending cuts and more revenue. But there’s a simple way to get more tax dollars– a small “Robin Hood” tax on financial transactions. So why won’t the press talk about it?
