Still Killing the Messenger
For the Washington Post and other major newspapers, the release of the movie about Gary Webb–Kill The Messenger–was just a new opportunity to smear his reputation.
Peter Hart
NYT Columnist’s Faulty Attack on Elizabeth Warren’s ‘Rage’
New York Times columnist Andrew Ross Sorkin has earned a reputation over the years for being friendly with the Wall Street giants he covers. If you read his bizarre rant against Senator Elizabeth Warren, it’s not hard to see why.
ABC and Darren Wilson’s ‘Serious Injury’
Back in August ABC reported on Darren Wilson’s ‘serious facial injury.’ What will they say now?
CBS Finds Ferguson ‘Pipe Bombs’
Sensationalized stories feed the perception that protesters are prone to use violence, and that harsh crackdowns are necessary in order to keep the peace. This is true even when, as is the case in Ferguson, protests are overwhelmingly nonviolent.
NBC’s Energy Debate: Oil Exec Vs. Oil Industry Adviser
Meet the Press host Chuck Todd dismisses Keystone pipeline as a symbol, then presents an energy ‘debate’ between two industry insiders.
No, Tar Sands Oil Isn’t Inevitable
Pundits say opposing Keystone is foolish because they’re going to get that oil out of the ground no matter what. But is that true?
War Works—So Why Isn’t It Working?
“About 800 airstrikes so far against ISIS. Why isn’t this working?” What makes a seemingly innocuous question like that noteworthy is the assumption that airstrikes are supposed to “work” in the first place.
No Debate on War
Today I was pleased to visit Democracy Now! to talk about FAIR’s new study documenting the lack of debate over the wars in Iraq and Syria. Watch the interview here:
Will Bob Schieffer Move Toward the Center?
Bob Schieffer is right that “a lot of people” think the Democrats should move to the “center”–especially journalists and pundits, who have been saying this for at least 30 years. There’s no reason to think it’s especially good advice, but that doesn’t seem to matter.
Is Keystone Coverage Getting Worse?
The Keystone XL pipeline is back in the news. But some of the coverage is as bad as ever—if not worse.
FAIR TV: CBS’s Ebola Omission, Bush Iraq Lie and Climate Change, Fox-Style
60 Minutes went to Liberia to cover the ebola crisis. The segment by correspondent Lara Logan was moving and dramatic; but who was missing? George W. Bush is back in the news and still peddling some tall tales about the Iraq War. Plus the Fox News Channel manages to sneak a little climate change denial into a brief mention of the latest IPCC report. Fair and balanced.
No Debate and the New War
In the run-up to the US military attacks in Iraq and Syria, US media presented almost no debate on whether the country should go to war.
Obama’s ‘Hot Anti-Wall Street Rhetoric’?
Politico says bankers are fond of Hillary Clinton, in part because of “Obama’s hot, anti-Wall Street rhetoric.” What are they talking about?
Fareed Zakaria Wants a Better Public
Zakaria has a different standard for ignorant citizens and ignorant politicians–not to mention ignorant media pundits.
CBS Covers Liberia’s Ebola Crisis—Without Liberian Voices
CBS presented a very moving and dramatic account of the fight against ebola in Liberia. But no Liberians spoke in the piece.
Never Too Late to Tell Old Iraq Lies
Perhaps it is fitting that George W. Bush would say, “When you say something as president, you better mean it”–and then say something so demonstrably false.
FAIR TV: Joni Ernst, Midterm Money and CNN’s Climate Change ‘Debate’
ABC World News hardly covered the midterm elections–but when they did, it looked more like an ad for a Republican candidate. Plus we look at an example of campaign coverage done right, and a curious climate change segment on CNN.
On Iran Policy, America Is Not ‘the World’
When reporters talk about what “the world” thinks about Iran, they really just mean the United States.
Covering Climate Crisis, Fox News Style
Even when it’s barely covering the issue of climate change, Fox News reporters know that they’re supposed to include what climate change deniers have to say.
The ‘Center’ Always Holds
Corporate media always recommend Democrats move to the right after an election.
