Category Archives: Media Criticism

Meet the Other Chuck Todd

Posted on 09/22/2011 by Peter Hart

I caught this MSNBC commercial last night featuring their own Chuck Todd, explaining (apparently) how he thinks about his job: My job is to bring up issues that Americans care about. It's my responsibility to ask the tough questions. No … Continue reading →

Posted in Media Criticism, MSNBC | Tagged , | 10 Comments

Convincing Arab Protesters

Posted on 09/22/2011 by Peter Hart

From a Washington Post story today about Obama's speech at the United Nations: In his remarks, Obama sought to celebrate the Arab Spring â┚¬” the popular revolutions that have upended the political order of the Middle East â┚¬” but his … Continue reading →

Posted in Media Criticism | 8 Comments

Michael Moore on Progressive Protests and Media Blackouts

Posted on 09/21/2011 by Peter Hart

Michael Moore on the Rachel Maddow show on MSNBC (9/19/11): Or, if you prefer reading: But last week when Wolf Blitzer and CNN had that debate, the CNN/Tea Party Express debate, and Wolf sat there and called them his partners–I … Continue reading →

Posted in CNN, Economy, Election, Media Criticism, MSNBC | Tagged , , | 12 Comments

Rick Perry, Job-Creating Rodeo Cowboy!

Posted on 09/20/2011 by Peter Hart

The front page of USA Today (9/19/11) tells us that Republican presidential candidate Rick Perry is taking "the heat," but not to worry–he says he can handle it. That's especially true with reporters like Susan Page on his side: He's … Continue reading →

Posted in Economy, Election, Media Criticism, USA Today | Tagged , , , | 12 Comments

Finally–a Cable Channel for Rich Guys!

Posted on 09/19/2011 by Peter Hart

Finally, they will have a voice in the corporate media (New York Times, 9/19/11): When Discovery Communications set out to reformat HD Theater, the nine-year-old home of high-definition documentaries, its executives assessed the crowded cable programming landscape and asked what … Continue reading →

Posted in Media Criticism | 8 Comments

Is the Election Over Yet?

Posted on 09/16/2011 by Peter Hart

From Time magazine's Rick Perry cover story (9/26/11): When you look at Perry, it's easy to picture him in an old Western. His late arrival in the primary field in August certainly felt like that moment when the big stranger … Continue reading →

Posted in Election, Media Criticism, Time | Tagged | 33 Comments

Bill O'Reilly Polices the 9/11 Boundaries

Posted on 09/14/2011 by Peter Hart

Fox host Bill O'Reilly knows a thing or two about boundaries. As he told his TV audience Monday night, some "far-left" radicals crossed the line on the 10th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks. New York Times columnist Paul Krugman wrote … Continue reading →

Posted in Afghanistan, Fox News, Iraq, Libya, Media Criticism, New York Times | Tagged , , , | 31 Comments

What Do You Call a Guy Like Rick Perry?

Posted on 09/09/2011 by Peter Hart

Frontrunner-of-the-moment Rick Perry is getting a lot of press for his performance at the recent Republican debate–especially because he's standing by his belief that Social Security is a "monstrous lie" and a Ponzi scheme, and that climate change is an … Continue reading →

Posted in Climate Change, Election, Media Criticism, Social Security | Tagged , , , , | 41 Comments

Smog Rules and Hazy Reporting

Posted on 09/06/2011 by Peter Hart

The Obama White House made (yet another) move bound to disappoint progressive activists. But good luck trying to get corporate media to explain the impact. Here's how the September 3 New York Times piece by John Broder started off: WASHINGTON … Continue reading →

Posted in Economy, Environment, Media Criticism, New York Times | Tagged , | 9 Comments

Richard Cohen Is Sorry You and He Got It Wrong

Posted on 09/06/2011 by Peter Hart

Washington Post columnist Richard Cohen (9/5/11) takes the eve of the 10th anniversary of 9/11 to say that he's sorry: I went home on September 11 with my shoes dusted with the detritus of the World Trade Center. I felt … Continue reading →

Posted in Afghanistan, Iraq, Media Criticism, Washington Post | Tagged , | 28 Comments

Libya and Terrorist Signatures

Posted on 08/30/2011 by Peter Hart

Under the headline "Nations Hope Veil Lifts From Libya's History of Terrorism," John Burns writes in today's New York Times (8/30/11): Television footage of the only man convicted in the Lockerbie bombing lying in bed, purportedly comatose with advanced prostate … Continue reading →

Posted in Media Criticism, New York Times | Tagged , , , , | 7 Comments

Hurricanes and Climate Change? Close That Door!

Posted on 08/30/2011 by Peter Hart

In case you were wondering whether Irene sparked any discussions of climate change, here's a moment from the panel discussion on ABC's This Week (8/30/11): RON BROWNSTEIN (National Journal): Do we want to get into a global warming and a … Continue reading →

Posted in ABC, Climate Change, Media Criticism | Tagged , , , , , | 12 Comments

Why Is Israel Bombing Gaza?

Posted on 08/26/2011 by Peter Hart

The coverage of the Israeli attacks on Gaza is following some predictable patterns. The New York Times has a headline today (8/26/11), "Israeli Strikes in Retaliation Kill Nine Gazans." Readers should ask: Retaliation for what? It's widely understood that this … Continue reading →

Posted in Egypt, Israel/Palestine, Media Criticism, New York Times, NPR | Tagged | 15 Comments

Corporations Want to Create Jobs (and Other Myths)

Posted on 08/26/2011 by Peter Hart

New York Times reporter Jennifer Steinhauer takes a look (8/26/11) at U.S. trade deals with South Korea, Colombia and Panama that are currently languishing in Congress. The piece calls them "free-trade" agreements, which is generally misleading: Trade deals usually involve … Continue reading →

Posted in Media Criticism, New York Times | Tagged , , , | 11 Comments

Fairness Doctrine Dead: Misconceptions Live On

Posted on 08/22/2011 by Peter Hart

The FCC announced it was doing away with dozens of rules today, including the Fairness Doctrine–perhaps one of the most widely misunderstood media policy concepts of all time. As the Hollywood Reporter put it: Bound to get the most attention … Continue reading →

Posted in Media Criticism, Media policy | Tagged , | 25 Comments