Monthly Archives: September 2010

Why 'Congress Has Cooled on Colbert'

Posted on 09/30/2010 by Steve Rendall

Politico has a story about how congressmembers and their staffs are avoiding the Colbert Report that contains this anecdote: "My experience with that show is like herpes. It never goes away, and it itches and sometimes flares up," said a … Continue reading →

Posted in Cable TV, Politics | Tagged , | 29 Comments

The Lessons Learned From Killing Afghans

Posted on 09/29/2010 by Peter Hart

An important story is happening right now that'snot getting a whole lot of media attention. A military court is investigating claims that members of a U.S. Army Stryker unit randomly killed Afghan civilians. Some of the soldiers say they were … Continue reading →

Posted in Afghanistan, NBC, New York Times, War/Military | Tagged | 7 Comments

James O'Keefe, Now Even Creepier

Posted on 09/29/2010 by Jim Naureckas

You may remember James O'Keefe as the video hoaxter who fooled media into thinking ACORN gave tax advice to a man wearing a pimp costume (FAIR Action Alert, 3/11/10). Or as the miscreant whose attempts to interfere with Sen. Mary … Continue reading →

Posted in CNN, Gender | Tagged , | 14 Comments

Media Blitz Against the Paycheck Fairness Act

Posted on 09/29/2010 by Julie Hollar

There's a push for the Senate to pass the Paycheck Fairness Act before Congress adjourns for the season, which has sparked some pushback from right-wingers given prominent platforms in the corporate media. The Act, which already passed the House, would … Continue reading →

Posted in Gender, New York Times, Newsweek | Tagged , | 9 Comments

It's Publishers' Greed, Not E-Books, That's Pinching Authors

Posted on 09/28/2010 by Jim Naureckas

Jeffrey Trachtenberg, writing for the Wall Street Journal (9/28/10), reports in "Authors Feel Pinch in Age of E-Books" that electronic publishing is ruining authors: It has always been tough for literary fiction writers to get their work published by the … Continue reading →

Posted in Books, Wall Street Journal | 5 Comments

AFP Runs With Wikipedia Founder's 'Crazy Information' About WikiLeaks

Posted on 09/28/2010 by Jim Naureckas

Agence France Presse (9/28/10) has an interview with Wikipedia co-founder Jimmy Wales about WikiLeaks–apparently because of their proximity in alphabetical order. Wales says that he wishes WikiLeaks didn't have "wiki" in its name–fair enough; he's free to wish that. But … Continue reading →

Posted in Media Criticism | Tagged , | 12 Comments

How Not to Have a Debate on Obama's Economic Team

Posted on 09/27/2010 by Peter Hart

Two things that are true: –The discussion of Larry Summers leaving his job as director of the White House Economic Council often failed to provide any sense of progressive criticism of his tenure, or of White House policy. (Republican criticism … Continue reading →

Posted in Barack Obama, Economy, Social Security | Tagged , , , | 17 Comments

WashPost Editorial Page (Sort of) Tells the Truth About Venezuela 'Debate'

Posted on 09/27/2010 by Peter Hart

Longtime Hugo Chavez critic Jackson Diehl leads his Washington Post column today (9/27/10) Debate in Washington about Hugo Chávez –to the extent that it exists–generally centers on whether the Venezuelan strongman is a genuine threat to the United States or … Continue reading →

Posted in Venezuela | Tagged , | 12 Comments

Meet the New Boss–Glenn Beck's Old Boss

Posted on 09/24/2010 by Peter Hart

CNN president JonKlein is out–replaced byKen Jautz, who was theboss at Headline News. He is, among other things, the guy who brought Glenn Beck to television: CNN's Headline News has hired radio talkshow host Glenn Beck to host a one-hour … Continue reading →

Posted in CNN | Tagged , , | 16 Comments

Support This Blog!

Posted on 09/24/2010 by Peter Hart

We're really proud of the FAIR Blog; it's the easiest, fastest way for us to post short, sharp critiques of the corporate media. And it's a place where our readers can chip in, too–to point us to new information, or … Continue reading →

Posted in Media Criticism | Tagged | 3 Comments

Unsurprising Raves for 'Waiting for Superman'–a Big-Screen Version of Media's Education Spin

Posted on 09/24/2010 by Peter Hart

The media accolades that have greeted the new documentary Waiting for Superman confirm what FAIR documented in the September issue of Extra!–that the corporate media debate over education "reform" is heavily tilted in the direction of those who bash teachers' … Continue reading →

Posted in Education, Media Criticism | Tagged | 13 Comments

NewsHour's Tax Cuts Series Off to a Bad Start

Posted on 09/24/2010 by Peter Hart

On Wednesdaynight's broadcast ofthe PBS NewsHour (9/23/10), Gwen Ifill announced: "Now to the first of several conversations on whether or not to extend tax cuts that expire at the end of the year." The firstguest was Republican Glenn Hubbard, whoIfill … Continue reading →

Posted in PBS, Taxes | Tagged , , , | 11 Comments

Robert Samuelson Attacks–and Engages in–'Soundbite Economics'

Posted on 09/22/2010 by Peter Hart

Newsweek columnist Robert Samuelson (9/18/10) has had it with the way we discuss economics: With every election, we descend into soundbite economics. Rhetorical claims grow more partisan and self-serving…. These debates confirm the dreary state of economic discourse. He points … Continue reading →

Posted in Economy, Newsweek | Tagged | 10 Comments

Larry Summers, the 'Anti-Business' Hedge Fund Director

Posted on 09/22/2010 by Jim Naureckas

The New York Times' Sheryl Gay Stolberg (9/22/10), writing about "brusque and brilliant economist" Lawrence Summers stepping down as President Obama's chief economic adviser, cited House minority leader John Boehner's charge that "Mr. Obama's team lacked 'real-world, hands on experience,' … Continue reading →

Posted in Economy, New York Times, Washington Post | Tagged , , | 11 Comments

Martin Peretz on the 'Cultural Deficiencies' of Blacks

Posted on 09/21/2010 by Jim Naureckas

Martin Peretz, owner/editor of the New Republic, has come under fire recently for his anti-Muslim comments–leading to protests at Harvard, where Peretz is scheduled to be honored with an endowed chair in social studies named for him. Peretz's bigotry has … Continue reading →

Posted in magazines, Race | Tagged , | 15 Comments