FAIR is the national progressive media watchdog group, challenging corporate media bias, spin and misinformation.
There have been recent discussions (e.g., New York Times, 9/29/09) about whether the press is doing a better job covering allegations about Iran’s nuclear program than they did during the run-up to the Iraq War. But in some crucial and very basic ways, many in the media are performing just as poorly as they did […]
Download MP3 This week on CounterSpin: When the media talks foreign affairs, there’s generally an assumption that countries have identifiable interests and rationally pursue them as best they can. All that’s thrown out the window when it comes to North Korea. That country’s apparent decision to conduct an underground nuclear test and test-fire several missiles […]
[mp3-jplayer tracks=”CounterSpin032709 Riki Ott and Harvey Wasserman @https://eadn-wc04-3257648.nxedge.io/audio/counterspin/CounterSpin032709.mp3″] Download MP3 This week on CounterSpin: Disaster anniversaries are readymade news hooks for media always in search of one. March sees 20 years since the Exxon Valdez spilled at least 11 million gallons (and likely much more) of oil in Prince William Sound, Alaska. It’s also been […]
When Republican presidential contender John McCain called on June 17 for an end to the federal ban on offshore oil drilling, corporate media framing of the debate that followed helped sell his position. Journalists focused more on the political calculations of the move and its supposed populist appeal—while downplaying the question of whether or not […]
[mp3-jplayer tracks=”CounterSpin062008 Tyson Slocum and Matthew Lasar @https://eadn-wc04-3257648.nxedge.io/audio/counterspin/CounterSpin062008.mp3″] Download MP3 This week on CounterSpin: John McCain says the ban on oil drilling of the U.S. coast should be lifted, to increase oil production and lower prices. Drilling opponents say the drilling won’t lower prices and will endanger environments. Who’s right? Mainstream reporting is little help, […]
What does it mean to say that the surge in Iraq “is working,” with journalist Dahr Jamail. Also this week: How the nuclear industry is spearheading a highly financed campaign to bring nukes back, with author and journalism professor Karl Grossman.
Nuclear advocates in government and the nuclear industry are engaged in a massive, heavily financed drive to revive atomic power in the United States—with most of the mainstream media either not questioning or actually assisting in the promotion. “With a very few notable exceptions, such as the Los Angeles Times, the U.S. media have turned […]
Note: This is a sidebar to “Money is the Real Green Power” (Extra!, 1-2/08). The New York Times is not alone in promoting a revival of nuclear power. But as the U.S. paper of record, it sets the media tone. Its pro-nuclear editorial culture began decades ago when the Manhattan Project and its corporate contractors […]
How is the media assigning blame following the tragedy in Crandall Canyon, with Arianna Huffington of the Huffington Post. Also on the show: Ralph Nader joins to discuss the recent General Motors scandal and how he uncovered the story.
An August 15 NPR Morning Edition segment touted the benefits of nuclear power, suggesting it was gaining popularity with many environmentalists who once opposed it. The segment was an interview with Fortune magazine editor David Whitford, who has written a series of articles about the debate over nuclear power. The piece was introduced by NPR […]
On April 8, the CBS newsmagazine 60 Minutes aired a segment about the “resounding success” of the French nuclear power program, suggesting that “emission-free” nuclear power might offer an easy solution to the problem of climate change. The report protected this dubious assertion from skeptical scrutiny by failing to quote a single bona fide critic […]
This week on CounterSpin: The growing media popularity of nuclear power as a solution to global warming, with Diane Farsetta of the Center for Media and Democracy. Also on the program: E.J. Graff discusses how media leaned into the misleading “opt-out” myth and shares about her new article on the topic, which appears in the March/April issue of Columbia Journalism Review.
A conversation about Iraq’s oil with Antonia Juhasz, author of the book The Bush Agenda: Invading the World, One Economy at a Time. Also on the show: How is radio concentration impacting musicians, programmers, and the public, with Jenny Toomey and Peter DiCola of the Future of Music Coalition.
To several observers in the U.S. media, Latin America’s leftward shift is the misguided product of a naïve populace that can’t understand economics and demagogic leaders who need to be scolded back into line.
[Note: this piece is a sidebar to The Morales Moral] Mainstream U.S. media have portrayed Bolivian President Evo Morales’ efforts to renegotiate Bolivia’s oil and natural gas contracts as a leftist conspiracy orchestrated by Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez. The New York Times (5/3/06) reported, “Bolivia’s nationalization of its energy industry, announced Monday by President Evo […]
At a time of dramatic increases in gasoline prices and jaw-dropping oil profits, NBC’s Sunday morning talkshow Meet the Press has convened two panel discussions dominated by guests close to those interests—with no input from environmental or citizen groups critical of the energy industry. On April 30, Meet the Press devoted its entire hour to […]
This week on CounterSpin: A new proposal to Iran and how this has changed the tone of media coverage, with Professor Michael Klare. Also on the show: Fawaz Gerges of Sarah Lawrence College discusses his new book, Journey of the Jihadist.
What’s the deal with gas prices and how effectively are media outlets explaining the situation? We’ll hear from Tyson Slocum, director of Public Citizen’s Energy Program. Also on the show: Boston Globe’s Charlie Savage discusses George Bush’s “signing statements.”
This week Jamie Court of the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights joins the show to discuss the market and profiteering post-Katrina. Also on the program: We’ll talk to Knight-Ridder reporter Johnathan Landay about who was really in charge of the federal response to Katrina.
Wenonah Hauter of Public Citizen discusses a recently passed energy bill. Also this week: Anthony Riddle talks about corporate media attempts to disregard public access requirements.
