Trailblazing media critic Reed Irvine dead at 82

[kcvl]

Trailblazing media critic Reed Irvine dead at 82: During more than three decades as chairman of Accuracy in Media, a citizens' watchdog organization that critiqued the errors and omissions of the mainstream press, Irvine challenged America's most powerful journalists and media companies to account for their errors -- and stick to the facts...

[Tall_Texan]

RIP Reed. You fought the good fight.

[kcvl]

Reed Irvine, chairman of Accuracy in Media (AIM)

[catfur]

Reed Irvine will always be one of my heroes!

God grant him rest.

[kcvl]

The legacy of Reed Irvine
Posted: November 17, 2004
1:00 a.m. Eastern

By Cliff Kincaid
© 2004 WorldNetDaily.com

The passing of Reed Irvine on Nov. 16, 2004, comes at a time when his war against the Big Media has achieved some notable successes. In the 35 years since he founded Accuracy in Media, the Big Media have lost much of their stature and do not seem so big anymore.

Their loss of credibility is a testament to Reed's successful efforts to tell the truth about so much of what we see, read and hear. Reed was David against the media Goliath. Reed's stone was the pen.

SNIP

In order to cover journalists, Reed became a journalist – and he was much better at it than those who had been formally trained. He himself covered hearings, attended and held news conferences, and – moving into his activist mode – participated in protests. He did not hesitate to confront the rich and powerful in the media when he thought they were wrong.

And while he was a staunch anti-communist with conservative beliefs and views on most issues, he did not let the conservative movement or its personalities off the hook when he found them failing to relentlessly pursue the truth. Reed's purpose in life wasn't just to get along and pass the time. He was determined to make a difference, and he did. He tackled controversial issues and scandals that both sides of the political spectrum wanted to be left alone.

A man in his position, monitoring others for misconduct and misdeeds, has to be able to withstand scrutiny as well. And he did. He practiced the conduct he expected of others. He lived up to and surpassed the standards he set for the media.

SNIP

His service continues through AIM. The cause lives.

[Luke21]

The passing of a great American. Reed Irvine was one of the first to call the media on their lies and chicanery.

[Lancey Howard]

One of the pioneers in identifying the liberal "mainstream" media for the toilet it is.
RIP

[kcvl]

One of Irvine's projects was the "Can Dan" campaign he launched against CBS' Dan Rather some 16 years ago. This year, the quest to get Rather off the air picked up steam when the longtime network newsman used bogus documents as a basis for a story questioning President Bush's National Guard service. In September, AIM sponsored a rally in front of the CBS News offices in Washington, D.C., calling for the network to fire Rather.

Don Irvine, Reed's son, now serves as chairman of AIM.

A volunteer for AIM, Charles Rozier, was asked in 2002 why he donated his time to the organization. He said simply, "The mainstream media are biased and Reed Irvine conscientiously searches for the truth."

Judi McLeod, founding editor of Canada Free Press, wrote a tribute to Irvine's "Can Dan" campaign recently, saying some 35 years ago he kick-started what eventually led to September's rally.

"That's when a never-say-die Reed Irvine began what were to become his ongoing efforts to hold the media accountable for dishonest, fraudulent reporting.

"While in 2004 his spryness may have been set back by a debilitating stroke, the spirit of Reed Irvine lives on. No one has done more to keep the media honest than the plucky Reed … who in everyday life, was always ahead of his time.

"Irvine leaves a legacy that is unique, and is one that paved the way to Internet bloggers being better at the job of news reporting than many of those celebrated by a powerful mainline media.

"In 2004, Irvine's son, Don, and editor Cliff Kincaid carry on the Reed Irvine tradition, promising it will never die.

"Thank you, Reed, for a legacy that continues to give the free world a chance."

http://worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=41498

[kcvl]

Noted Media Critic Near Death
Written by Dale Wong
Tuesday, November 16, 2004

Note: The following was a press release on Monday, November 15, from the noted conservative organizatons, Accuracy in Media and Accuracy in Academic:

Washington, D.C.--Reed Irvine, noted journalist, media critic, and national authority on media bias, is reported to be near death, according to family members familiar with the situation. The 82-year-old Irvine, founder and chairman of Accuracy in Media and Accuracy in Academia, has been in declining health for nearly a year after suffering a massive stroke on December 30, 2003. During the past several days, his health has deteriorated dramatically, and the consensus now is that his death is imminent.

An economist, Fulbright scholar and former Federal Reserve official, Mr. Irvine embarked on the mission that would become his legacy, in 1969 when he launched Accuracy in Media (AIM), a citizens' media watchdog organization that critiqued the errors and omissions of the mainstream press. During more than three decades as chairman of AIM and editor of the AIM Report newsletter, Mr. Irvine challenged America's most powerful journalists and media companies to account for their errors--and stick to the facts.

He became nothing short of a hero to his many thousands of supporters for his steadfast positions and conscientious pursuit of factual information. Irvine's pioneering efforts to hold the media accountable for misreported stories, while raising consumer awareness about the sins of the press, are believed to be major factors contributing to the increasingly high level of skepticism and mistrust in media coverage expressed by the American public.


http://www.chronwatch.com/content/contentDisplay.asp?aid=11171

[kcvl]

Reed Irvine

Reed Irvine is a conservative economist who founded Accuracy in Media in 1969 while working for the U.S. Federal Reserve Board. Board member of Council for the Defense of Freedom, and columnist for the Washington Times. Irvine is Chairman Emeritus of AIM.

According to a biographical note "he holds degree from the University of Utah, where he was elected to Phi Beta Kappa, and from Oxford, where he was a Fulbright scholar. He is publisher of the AIM Report, and has previously written a syndicated column, and done a daily radio commentary, Media Monitor, with Cliff Kincaid. He is also Chairman of Accuracy In Academia, which he founded in 1985. Mr. Irvine is a popular lecturer, and has frequently appeared on radio and TV programs including Crossfire, MacNeil/Lehrer News Hour, Nightline, Nightwatch, Good Morning America, Viewpoint, and The Larry King Show." [1]

"After more than 30 years of publicizing the media's irresponsible behavior, Mr. Irvine has become the nation's foremost media critic and authority on media bias," his biographical note states.

On December 30, 2003, Irvive suffered what AIM described as "a serious stroke" and in an update to supporters reported that he had been tranferred in mid-January 2004 to "a sub-acute rehabilitation facility near his home in Silver Spring, Maryland". "He is scheduled to undergo several months of intensive therapy that should enable him to regain a considerable degree of mobility and speech," the note stated.

[Leisler]

One of the great ones. RIP.

[leadpenny]

I had the privilege of meeting Mr. Irvine during the tour of Ft. Marcy Park in Jan 2001. He was a kind and gentle sort of man.
RIP Reed.

Maybe some others have a list of who was there the day after the Inauguration?

[BigSkyFreeper]

Reed may have passed on, but his spirit remains alive at AIM.

[RippleFire]

bump

[Just mythoughts]

Sad news, a very remarkable man that served us well.

[Khurkris]

Rest in Peace Mr. Irvine.

And...Thank You.

[TNCMAXQ]

God bless him. He did a wonderful service to his country, and the conservative movement through his work. He was quite an influence on me as a college student back in the late 70s and early 80s, as I was forming my political philosophy. I guess you could say he helped turn me into a conservative.

[AppyPappy]

His newsletter was the first conservative letter I ever ordered. RIP.

[tgslTakoma]

I met Reed Irvine on two occasions at events in DC. He was a brilliant and charming man. Indeed he was a trailblazer, and will no doubt be missed by his family and friends, and the many fans of his good works. Rest in peace, Mr. Irvine.