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.
FAIR’s Action Alert network is a powerful activism tool that encourages the public to become critically engaged with media. FAIR distributes timely, focused reports via email, critiquing a particular instance of media inaccuracy or bias, and encourages members to communicate directly to journalists to demand more responsible reporting. This activism get results. Get involved in the FAIR fight for better media coverage – sign up today.
May
15
2013
Iraq Then, Syria Now?
New York Times, sarin and skepticism
During the run-up to the Iraq War, the New York Times amplified erroneous official claims about weapons of mass destruction (FAIR Action Alert, 9/8/06). Looking at the paper's coverage of allegations of chemical weapons use by Syria, some of the same patterns are clear: an over-reliance on official sources and the downplaying of critical or skeptical analysis of the available intelligence. In "Syria Faces New Claim on Chemical Arms" (4/19/13), the paper told readers that, according to anonymous diplomats, Britain and France had sent letters to the United Nations about "credible evidence" against Syria regarding chemical weapon use. On April [...]
May
08
2013
Don't Koch the L.A. Times!
After years of mismanagement, the Tribune Company newspapers--including the Chicago Tribune and L.A. Times--are up for sale. And one of the potential buyers? The Koch brothers.
Yes, those Koch brothers. Let's send the Tribune Company a message.
May
06
2013
Syria Skepticism
Chemical claims should be investigated, not used as pretext for war
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.
Apr
16
2013
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 switching to the "chained consumer price index." This results in a small reduction in benefits that compounds over time, so the cuts get larger as retirees get older. Many in the media depicted this as a bold centrist move. An Associated Press dispatch (4/5/13) began: [...]
Mar
06
2013
In Death as in Life, Chávez Target of Media Scorn
His independence, help for Venezuela's poor will not be forgiven
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.
Feb
19
2013
Media and the Keystone March
Little coverage of large climate action
Tens of thousands of climate activists marched in Washington D.C.on February 17. Did the corporate media notice them?
Feb
04
2013
PBS Ombud, Nova Disagree on Drone Disclosure
Lockheed funding a 'problem for PBS'
PBS ombud Michael Getler agrees with FAIR that the recent Nova special on drones that was underwritten by Lockheed Martin--a major military contractor and drone manufacturer--violates PBS funding guidelines.
