Media

Lott Got Blogged

Submitted by Sheldon Rampton on

"The momentum that ended in Trent Lott's resignation yesterday as the Senate majority leader did not, primarily, come from the traditional behemoths of the US media - the New York Times, the Washington Post and the main TV news networks," observes Oliver Burkeman. Those publications initially failed to report on Lott's racist comments at Strom Thurmond's birthday party. "In the interim, writers on numerous weblogs, or 'blogs,' were condemning the remarks - and swiftly uncovering evidence of a pattern in Mr.

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Main Source: 
The Guardian (UK), December 21, 2002
Topics: 
Internet
Politics
Race / Ethnic Issues

Conservatives Rule the "Liberal" Media

Submitted by Sheldon Rampton on

"Resentment at the 'liberal media' has been a Holy Grail of the American right for 40 years, and a gold mine for conservative direct-mail fund-raisers," writes Joel Connelly. In reality, though, "the right plays an almost dominant role in setting the agenda and stereotyping opponents. It has unmatched powers to get a story airborne. ... The party line gets out on issues from going to war with Iraq to drilling the West." Then why do conservatives still pretend that the media are liberal?

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Main Source: 
Seattle Post-Intelligencer, December 16, 2002
Topics: 
Left Wing
Right Wing
Media
Rhetoric

Who's the Real Fake?

Submitted by Sheldon Rampton on

Oh what a tangled web: "Two giant companies are struggling to shut down parody websites that portray them unfavorably, interrupting internet use for thousands in the process, and filing a lawsuit that pits the formidable legal department of PR giant Burson-Marsteller against a freshman at Hampshire College," writes Paul Hardin (the freshman in question).

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Main Source: 
http://rtmark.com/dowpr.html
Topics: 
Activism
Internet
Corporations

Inventing a Terrorist Story

Submitted by Sheldon Rampton on

Prompted in part by reports that a leaders of the Hezbollah has urged Palestinians to step up their suicide bombings, the Canadian government has banned the Lebanese group. Only problem is, the alleged statement from Hezbollah was probably invented by Washington Times reporter Paul Martin, who has a history of fabricating news about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

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Main Source: 
Christian Science Monitor, December 13, 2002
Topics: 
Journalism
Terrorism
Ethics
International

News Director Resigns Amid Underwriting Questions

Submitted by Laura Miller on

The news director of Philadelphia's top public radio station, WHYY-91FM, resigned amid ethical questions surrounding news underwriting. "WHYY's president and CEO, would not say whether [former news director Bill] Fantini's resignation was connected to a story in Tuesday's Daily News that raised questions about a series of stories that were aired earlier this year. The series of environmental news reports was sponsored by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, which in turn is indirectly paid for by taxpayers," the Philadelphia Business Journal reports.

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Main Source: 
Philadelphia Business Journal, December 10, 2002
Topics: 
Journalism
Environment
Ethics

Cheerleading for War on TV, Resisting It Online

Submitted by John Stauber on

While Fox News and other mainstream media often seem to be cheerleading for a US attack on Iraq, an alternative media website is providing information, analysis and anti-war advocacy that is kept off the Boob Tube. Check out Alternet's Iraq News Log which says that "a unilateral strike against Baghdad is both unwarranted and potentially disastrous. This content file offers readers breaking news, the best analysis, activism resources, and timely information they need to resist this precipitous rush to war."

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Main Source: 
www.alternet.org, December 7, 2002
Topics: 
Activism
Left Wing
Internet
Iraq

The Dow of Satire

Submitted by Laura Miller on

During the past two days, PR Watch received emails alerting us of an unbelievable press release from Dow Chemical. "DOW ADDRESSES BHOPAL OUTRAGE, EXPLAINS POSITION," read the release headline. "Many individuals within Dow feel tremendous sorrow about the Bhopal disaster," the release read. However, Dow has "responsibilities to our shareholders and our industry colleagues that make action on Bhopal impossible." The release directs people to the website "www.dow-chemical.com" for Dow's statement on Bhopal.

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Topics: 
Activism
Internet
Corporations

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