Ignoring Lessons of #metoo, Media Scrutinize Biden’s Accusers
Election Focus 2020: As women come forward to accuse former Vice President Joe Biden of inappropriate touching, some media have responded by scrutinizing their political motives.
Tips for a Post-Mueller Media from Nine Russiagate Skeptics
Russiagate skeptics share what they saw as the worst moments or biggest failings during the 22-month spree, and their tips for moving forward.
Calling Racism by Its Real Name
That diverse people need to be in the room, that reporting involves listening to and learning from them—now there’s a radical idea.
Highlighting Israel’s Claims of Conquest, NYT Creates Confusion on Status of Occupied Territory
The New York Times seriously misled readers on the status of Israel’s illegal settlements on the occupied territories of the West Bank and the Golan Heights.
Corporate Media More Worried About Avocado Toast Than Human Lives
Trump’s border policies display zero regard for human rights, but for several news outlets, as Trump foments xenophobia, what’s at stake is brunch.
To Ramp Up Fear of Russia in Africa, NYT Downplays Massive US Military Presence on Continent
With a report on Russian influence in Africa, the New York Times added to its series of reports depicting Official Enemies surpassing the US in the race for global dominance.
Chelsea Manning Again Takes Fall for Defending Public’s Right to Know
Where is the outrage, or even recognition, that someone whose goal was to reveal what actions—illegal and unconscionable—were being carried out in US people’s name, and whose revelations led in fact to debate and interrogation of those actions, is once again taking the fall for reporters happy to report those revelations and claim awards for doing so?
‘Renouncing Violence’ Is a Demand Made Almost Exclusively of Muslims
Why should only these groups—Muslim 95 percent of the time—“renounce violence,” but the US and its allies never have to?
To Readers, $X Billion Just Means ‘a Whole Lot of Money’
If reporters made a point of expressing program spending as a share of the federal budget, people would immediately know whether these items are a big deal or small change.
Learning the Downsides of Candidates Is a Big Upside of Modern Media
The ability to communicate horizontally allows us to have conversations about politics that we’ve always needed and never have had until now.
Residents an Afterthought in Public Housing Privatization Coverage
Surely when journalists heard that there would be no additional city funding for NYC public housing, but rather a whole host of privatization initiatives, their first thought was: What do the residents think? Wrong.
Pathological Deceit: The NYT Inverts Reality on Venezuela’s Cuban Doctors
A New York Times “exposé” of Cuban doctors’ supposed interference in Venezuelan elections was riddled with inaccuracies, omissions and misrepresentations.
The Homeless 8-Year-Old Chess Champion and Other Horrific ‘Uplifting’ Stories
Any of these stories could have been used as a gateway to discuss many of the crippling economic and social problems the US is facing. But under neoliberalism, every problem is understood through an individualist lens.
Everyone Washington Supports, by Definition, Is a Moderate Centrist
It is virtually an iron law of journalism that descriptions of US government-friendly groups will be designed to signal readers that they deserve support.
Fox News’ Self-Fulfilling Propaganda on Ocasio-Cortez
Fox News’ story on Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s polling conveniently left out the key role that the network itself has played in damaging the public reputation of the congressmember, thanks to a relentless propaganda campaign over the past six months.
WaPo’s ‘Hard-Line’ Stance Against Medicare for All
Medicare for All, which the Washington Post describes as “hard-line” and “far left,” is actually a very popular position.
When They Don’t Ignore, US Media Often Disparage Palestinians’ Right of Return
When the right of return is mentioned in media, pundits and other journalists often baselessly call its legitimacy into question.
Factchecking WaPo’s Factchecker on Sanders and the Trillion-Dollar Bailout
Contrary to the Washington Post factchecker, Bernie Sanders seems on pretty solid ground when including the Fed loans in the total cost of the Wall Street bailout.
Bloomberg’s Armsmaker-Funded Columnist Wants You to Know: Military Spending Is Woke
You may not know it, but bloated Pentagon budgets are actually “progressive.” Or so says a recent opinion piece in Bloomberg News.
Exposure of Another Pro-War Lie Doesn’t Make Media More Skeptical of Pro-War Claims
The outlets that vigorously pushed the false story will not extend any new skepticism toward the official sources that sold it to them. Nor will they offer any new respect—or platform—to the people who questioned the claim…not weeks later, but in real time.
