Brian Williams vs. Brian Williams on Iran
NBC’s Brian Williams misled viewers when he called Iran’s declaration that it wasn’t interested in nuclear weapons a “sudden” shift. It’s not–and he’s reported that himself.
FAIR TV: Shutdown Blame Game, CBS Misleads on Climate, and Brian Williams on Iran–Then and Now
This week on FAIR TV: Media should take a side on who’s causing the government shutdown. CBS Evening News wonders what happened to global warming. And Brian Williams can’t believe the stunning shift from Iran on nuclear weapons–so who was this Brian Williams guy who was was reporting on the “new line” from Iran years […]
Shutdown: Media SHOULD Play the Blame Game
Media like to dismiss the partisan “blame game,” but in cases like this placing blame is something that journalism ought to do.
David Gregory, Health Law Fact Injector
Meet the Press host David Gregory tried to take a different approach from his colleague Chuck Todd. Unfortunately, his attempted factcheck didn’t really clarify much.
NBC’s News on Iran and Nukes Is Old News
If the big news here is that the president of Iran is saying the country is not developing nuclear weapons, and does not ever intend to do so, that’s not really news.
Inform the Public? Not My Job, Says Chuck Todd
It’s sad that NBC‘s White House correspondent thinks his job is merely to convey politicians pronouncements, with no care about whether they are true or false.
On Syria, Sunday Morning TV Journalists Don’t Need Proof
The public doesn’t seem to support going to war in Syria–but some high-profile Sunday morning TV journalists are declaring their support for the war, or professing faith in the case for going to war.
Asking Kerry Questions–but Which Ones?
John Kerry appeared on all of the Sunday talkshows. But he was mostly not asked about the case for war with Syria. Instead, the questioning was overwhelmingly concerned with Barack Obama’s decision to seek congressional approval for an attack on Syria.
John Kerry’s Very Precise Death Toll: Where Does It Come From?
Media reports emphasize the number John Kerry gives for the number of Syrians killed in the apparent chemical attack. But where does that number come from–and why is substantially higher than other estimates?
On Syria, Intelligence and Evidence
One would hope that the lessons of Iraq might inform more of the coverage of Syria. But that’s not always the case. Over the course of the past week, the White House and various officials have been adamant that they have evidence that shows the Syrian government was responsible for the horrific attack last week […]
Richard Engel and U.S. Aid to Egypt
Since Engel’s point was that things must stay as they are, it’s not likely that the NBC reporter’s words will cause much controversy–certainly things would be different if he’d have given an equally impassioned rationale for cutting off aid to Egypt’s military government.
What Do You Call Edward Snowden?
CBS’s Scott Pelley suggests that Edward Snowden admitted to being a “spy” for Russia. But he’s not the only one using odd language to describe the NSA whistleblower.
NSA Defenders Take to the Airwaves
After intelligence reports about a possible Al-Qaeda attack , the Sunday chat shows were packed with politicians claiming that this meant that the NSA had been vindicated.
NBC Misreports Collateral Murder Video
Covering the Manning verdict on NBC Nightly News, anchor Brian Williams said that Pentagon correspondent Jim Miklaszewski had “covered this story from the start.” But you’d have a hard time believing that when you heard the way he described one of the most talked-about aspects of the trial.
FAIR TV: What David Gregory Doesn’t Know, NBC’s News-Ads, Karl Plays Bush Softball
This week on FAIR TV: David Gregory knows one thing about Obamacare–and it’s not true. We take a look at some NBC “reporting” that looks a lot like advertising. Plus ABC‘s Jonathan Karl gets an interview with George W. Bush, and pitches all softballs.
At NBC News, the Anchor Has to Remind You You’re Not Watching an Ad
NBC’s Matt Lauer issued a clarification that his news report was not an advertisement. That was helpful, because the report appeared to be virtually identical to a paid infomercial.
No Laughing Matter: Comedians Gave More Time Than News Shows to Climate Speech
Who would have thought the future of the environment was some kind of joke? It turns out comedians actually seem to care more about climate change than the people who produce real news programs do.
FAIR TV: Gregory vs. Greenwald, Snowden Anonymity, Time’s Bush Nostalgia
What are David Gregory and Andrew Ross Sorkin really trying to say about Glenn Greenwald? Unnamed government officials are telling media outlets that Edward Snowden’s NSA whistleblowing is helping terrorists. Plus, Time’s Jon Meacham has some odd nostalgia for the Bush years.
David Gregory Doesn’t Understand David Gregory’s Snowden Question
NBC’s David Gregory didn’t just “ask a question.” The question as posed assumed that the Guardian’s Glenn Greenwald was involved in a crime–aiding and abetting–and the question Gregory was pondering was the extent of his wrongdoing.
Syria and Sarin: Skepticism Still Warranted
When it comes to Syria, corporate media typically betray a lack of skepticism when it comes to government claims about the WMDs of “enemy” countries. But there are notable exceptions.
