FAIR is the national progressive media watchdog group, challenging corporate media bias, spin and misinformation.
New York—Fairness & Accuracy In Reporting (FAIR), the national media watchdog group, released a first-of-its-kind report today profiling 12 of the leading Islamophobic pundits and media figures and examining the ways they’ve negatively influenced media coverage in the U.S. The report, “Smearcasting: How Islamophobes Spread Fear, Bigotry and Misinformation,” describes a loose network of […]
This article is part of FAIR’s study, “Smearcasting, How Islamophobes Spread Bigotry, Fear and Misinformation.” Visit the report’s special micro-site at www.smearcasting.com or click here to download the full report. The term “Islamofascism” came into common use after the September 2001 attacks as a favorite way for neoconservatives to describe the ideology of extremist and […]
This article is part of FAIR’s study, “Smearcasting, How Islamophobes Spread Bigotry, Fear and Misinformation.” Visit the report’s special micro-site at www.smearcasting.com or click here to download the full report. In September 2007, the Khalil Gibran International Academy, named for the noted Lebanese Christian poet, became the country’s first public school focused on Arabic language […]
This article is part of FAIR’s study, “Smearcasting, How Islamophobes Spread Bigotry, Fear and Misinformation.” Visit the report’s special micro-site at www.smearcasting.com or click here to download the full report. Even the world of celebrity fashion is not spared by the Islamophobic smear machine. In May 2008, right-wing blogger Michelle Malkin accused celebrity chef Rachael […]
This article is part of FAIR’s study “Smearcasting: How Islamophobes Spread Bigotry, Fear and Misinformation.” Bigots aren’t born, and hate doesn’t spring up on its own; as the song says, “You’ve got to be carefully taught.” The following list includes some of the media’s leading teachers of anti-Muslim bigotry, serving various roles in the Islamophobic […]
When Pope Benedict XVI visited the U.S. in April, Fox News anchor and managing editor Brit Hume spoke of the Catholic leader in language that was more worshipful than journalistic (Fox News Sunday, 4/20/08): And he turns out to have about him sort of a beatific sweetness that I think is enormously important for a […]
This week on CounterSpin: Journalist Pepe Escobar joins to discuss the latest UN report on Iran’s nuclear program. Also on the program: The growing influence of Christian televangelists, with author Sarah Posner.
UPDATE–The Catholic League, a conservative Catholic advocacy organization, has challenged the accuracy of FAIR’s April 29 media advisory, “Pope Gets Pass on Church Abuse History.” In a May 2 release, “Media Watchdog, FAIR, Smears Pope,” League president Bill Donohue challenged FAIR’s report that before he was elected pope, Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger “sent a letter to […]
This week on CounterSpin: The Supreme Court and Indiana’s voter ID law, with Justin Levitt of NYU’s Brennan Center for Justice. Also on the program: Blogger/writer Sara Robinson joins to discuss how media coverage surrounding the recent raid on the Yearning for Zion Ranch turned sensationalized + the legal implications of this story.
When campaign discussion focused on videotaped comments made by Jeremiah Wright, Barack Obama’s pastor at the Trinity United Church of Christ in Chicago, it was not the first time that the press raised questions about Obama’s connections— something corporate media seem far less interested in doing with Sen. John McCain. For example, look at two […]
This week on CounterSpin: How well are the media examining the arguments being put forth about Iranian meddling in Iraq and Afghanistan? We’ll ask journalist and historian Gareth Porter. Also on the show: Revisiting the “values voters” conversation almost 4 years later, with Tarso Luis Ramos of Political Research Associates.
The New York Times (12/4/06), profiling new CNN Headline News host Glenn Beck, called him “brash” and “opinionated,” with an “unfiltered approach.” The conservative talk-radio host-turned-cable news announcer, the paper reported, “take[s] credit for saying what others are feeling but are afraid to say.” The Times mentioned one of the things Beck has said recently, […]
Fox News Channel‘s Bill O’Reilly and CBS talk show host David Letterman had a well-publicized showdown on Letterman’s program in early January, so it came as no surprise that their next face-to-face on October 27 would be similarly heated. After the interview aired, O’Reilly accused Letterman of dishonesty for accurately saying O’Reilly had lied on […]
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.
This week on CounterSpin: Ali Abunimah of Electronic Intifada discusses the Prophet Mohammed cartoons that have set off protests around the world and what media coverage tends to miss. Also on the program: David Swanson joins to talk about the new Bush memo.
This week on CounterSpin: Salon.com senior writer Michelle Goldberg about the alleged war against Christmas and her recent article “How the Secular Humanist Grinch Didn’t Steal Christmas.” Also: Baltimore City Paper reporter Gadi Dechter on how a curious story involving Oreo cookies became a talking point for conservative pundits.
In the rush to condemn Newsweek‘s May 9 report about abuse of the Quran at Guantánamo, little attention has been paid to a technique the magazine used in reporting its original story: submitting articles to government officials prior to publication. According to Newsweek‘s accounts of the reporting behind the brief “Periscope” item that caused so […]
The commemoration of the 60th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz, held at the former Nazi death camp in Poland on January 27, featured speakers warning about a new rise in antisemitism. “From broken windows to death camps was the blink of an eye,” said Moshe Kantor of the European Jewish Congress (New York Times, […]
Three broadcast networks have rejected an advertisement from the United Church of Christ, deeming the ad’s message of tolerance to be too controversial. Citing the Bush administration’s proposal of a constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage, CBS and UPN have refused to run a UCC commercial that advertises the church’s acceptance of all people, including […]
How did the media’s emphasis on “moral values” swing the election in Bush’s favor? Also on the program: the media’s refusal to critically assess the civilian impact of the Iraq War.
