Never Too Late to Tell Old Iraq Lies
Perhaps it is fitting that George W. Bush would say, “When you say something as president, you better mean it”–and then say something so demonstrably false.
Another 60 Minutes Puff Piece
60 Minutes’ interview with FBI chief James Comey was essentially an ad for the FBI, absent any critical scrutiny or questioning.
Meet the CEO Bold Enough to Kill Thousands of Jobs
CBS–which has a record of doing puff pieces about corporate CEOs–wants viewers to believe that an overpaid CEO who’s bold and risky enough to try and fix a company by firing tens of thousands of employees deserves a lot of attention.
American TV to Chinese Spies: Do as US Says, Not as US Does
US TV networks played up the FBI’s economic espionage charges against China–without mentioning that the NSA does something very similar.
The CIA Aided Polio’s Comeback—but Media Have Forgotten the Story
There’s a crucial piece of information missing in the New York Times and CBS’s reports on the return of polio from near-extinction—one that these outlets know full well.
An American Reporter in Paris
It’s odd that CBS went to an American living in France for a sense of how the French feel about their president’s personal life. But perhaps that was because the French mostly don’t think it’s an issue.
NSA Stenography at CBS
CBS covers latest NSA revelations by telling viewers that the NSA is getting better at rebutting its critics.
CBS Wonders What Happened to Global Warming
A helpful report would debunk the long-running, completely inaccurate meme among climate change deniers that global warming has stopped. But CBS correspondent Mark Phillips doesn’t really seem to be trying to be helpful.
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.
Bradley Manning on TV Network News
If you care at all about war and peace, press freedom, whistleblowers’ rights and the public’s right to know what the government is doing, the trial of Bradley Manning is of enormous consequence. It would have been hard for NBC News to come up with a more hostile framing.
The Problem With Journalism? Scott Pelley Blames the Internet
CBS anchor Scott Pelley declared, “We are getting big stories wrong, over and over again.'” Well, that sounds like pretty dramatic self-criticism. But, as usual with corporate media self-critiques, Pelley’s criticism mostly misses the mark.
Syria and the ‘Red Line’ Nonsense
The pundits’ message on Barack Obama’s talk of a “red line” on Syria is that they are concerned about the credibility of the president’s threats of violence–much more so than about the credibility of his evidence.
Iranians and Their Clunky Propaganda!
I suppose we might ignore that the first lady of a country appeared at an awards show, flanked by members of the military, to present a prize to a film about the heroism of U.S. intelligence. No, the real problem is Iran’s Photoshopping.
Hugo Chavez: Why Does He Hate Us?
Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez might be excused for harboring some hard feelings towards a government that helped to try to overthrow him.
What’s Missing from CBS’s Gaza History?
Giving viewers a quick sense of context and history is important in any story, but especially in the Israel/Palestine conflict. Doing a bad job of it is perhaps worse than not doing it at all. CBS Evening News anchor Scott Pelley gave this summary on November 19: We wanted to remind you tonight of what […]
You Think You’re Getting Social Security But You’re Not, Says Multimillionaire Banker
What should the U.S. do about the so-called “fiscal cliff”? Who better to ask than Goldman Sachs CEO Lloyd Blankfein, “one of the world’s most influential bankers”? That’s what CBS Evening News must have been thinking, anyway, when they did a segment last night (11/19/12) all about Blankfein’s opinions. CBS‘s Scott Pelley began: “When we […]
Media, Austerity and Bad Medicine
The election results in Greece and France sent a clearer message about austerity: Voters don’t like it. That sentiment isn’t hard to fathom; massive spending cuts and pay cuts aren’t fixing the problems in their economies–they’re making things worse. Media coverage seems to be clearer these days about what the public thinks of austerity. But […]
No Fracking Way, CBS Evening News
The February 23 CBS Evening News segment on hydraulic fracturing gas drilling, better known as fracking, revealed how journalists can cover a highly controversial subject by removing the controversy. The report started off with references to high gasoline prices; the implication, then, is that domestic gas drilling will help solve that problem. As anchor Scott […]
CBS, Panetta and (Hypothetical) Iranian Nukes
The Monday broadcast of CBS Evening News (12/19/11) began with big news, with anchor Scott Pelley announcing: The secretary of Defense says tonight that the United States will not allow Iran to develop a nuclear weapon. In an interview with CBS News, Leon Panetta says that despite efforts to disrupt their nuclear program, the Iranians […]
