Meet the Press’s Snowden Debate: Traitor or Criminal?
The main debate about Snowden boiled down to one side saying he’s a traitor and the other side saying he should come home and do prison time, perhaps as a lesson to children.
Brian Williams Frantically Tries to Prove He’s No Glenn Greenwald
Before NBC aired its Edward Snowden special, its evening newscast presented a lengthy report presenting the case against the NSA whistleblower.
FAIR TV: Chinese Spies, Western Wildfires and Meeting (Some of) America
The TV networks fail to note US hypocrisy in Chinese spying indictments. Climate change is missing from California fire reports. And NBC’s “real people” are remarkably white and conservative.
Weather From Another Planet: Wildfires and Climate Change
Extreme drought, extreme heat and extremely devastating wildfires in Southern California are big news for TV journalists. But don’t mention climate change.
When NBC Says ‘Meeting America,’ It Means White, Republican America
An NBC series tries to introduce viewers to the America that isn’t much covered in the news. But it’s a remarkably narrow vision of the country.
This Just In: US Ruled by the Rich
The same well-heeled elites and their representatives who dominate US politics and policy are also grossly over-represented among the owners of US corporate media.
FAIR TV: Iran Nuke Tall Tales, New Benghazi Nonsense, White Guys on Affirmative Action
On the show this week: CNN goes to Iran nuclear expert… Benjamin Netanyahu? Plus new nonsense on Benghazi, and Meet the Press presents a discussion on affirmative action with mostly conservative white guys–showing media’s need for some affirmative action of their own.
Meet the White Guys: NBC Panel Tackles Affirmative Action
An NBC roundtable on affirmative action–dominated by conservative white men.
FAIR TV: NYT’s Russia Walkback, Obama’s ‘Manhood,’ Innocent Drones
The New York Times has a big exclusive on Russia–and quietly walked it back a few days later. David Brooks offers his thoughts on the Mideast and Obama’s “manhood,” CNN finds a guest who says innocent civilians don’t die in drone strikes.
Will NBC Retract Story NYT Has Walked Back?
The New York Times decided to walk back its story once there was skepticism about the photos they had been supplied. Will NBC do the same thing for its viewers?
Obama’s ‘Manhood Problem’—and Media’s Humanity Problem
David Brooks says the Middle East thinks Obama has a “manhood” problem.
Meet the Press Gets Out of the Beltway—But Takes Washington Worldview Along
NBC’s Meet the Press is introducing segments called “Meeting America,” billed as an attempt to get out of the Beltway bubble. It’s a fine idea in theory, but their first installment, a look at the Keystone XL pipeline, was a flop.
Intelligence Sources Play an Early April Fool’s Joke on NBC News
US intelligence claims about a Russian troop buildup on the Ukrainian border are just that–claims. On NBC Nightly News, however, anchor Brian Williams and Pentagon correspondent Jim Miklaszewski not only took these claims as gospel, they used them as the jumping off point for alarmist speculation.
Does Today Show Know Michelle Rhee’s Record?
Michelle Rhee’s history could make her an interesting person to interview for a piece about the overemphasis on standardized testing. But the failure to mention Rhee’s scandal suggests that either the Today show doesn’t know that history–or doesn’t think it matters.
Pundits Never Have to Say They’re Sorry—but They Can Demand Others Apologize for Being Right
National Review editor Rich Lowry slams Putin’s invasion based on “lies and force of arms.” You see, he’s against that kind of thing–except when it was the invasion of Iraq.
Finally, Corporate America Will Have a Voice
Former CNBC host Maria Bartiromo will be debuting a new show on the Fox News Channel soon, and she’s sharing one idea about what will make her show different: Corporations will finally get a chance to tell their story.
No More Media Silence on TPP
The proposed Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) trade deal has drawn heavy criticism. Over 500 labor, environmental and farm groups oppose granting the White House “fast track” authority to speed the pact through Congress. The deal, still being negotiated in secret, has spawned protests around the world.
But there’s one thing that TPP hasn’t generated: news. Let’s try to change that.
The Good Kind of Protesters—and the Bad Kind
The complex anti-government protest movements in both Venezuela and Ukraine were boiled down by US corporate media to send a clear message to their domestic audience: These are the good guys.
Russia, Ukraine and ‘US Prestige’
Pundits worry about US ‘prestige’ and the weakness of Barack Obama.
Pundits Bemoan Failure to Cut Social Security
Media comments after the Obama administration backed off attempts to cut Social Security benefits exhibited a curious notion about where the “middle” is and what “majority support” means.
