Free Republic

The U.S. news media covered the war in Iraq the same way they cover the Olympics—with red, white, and blue trappings, human interest stories, bombastic theme music, and an almost total focus on American accomplishments at the expense of any international context. Around the clock coverage gave the illusion of telling and showing everything and made us forget how little we actually knew. From watching television, few in the United States could, for example, tell you why the French opposed military action in the Middle East (other than because they are French) or discuss intelligently the political disagreements among the...

At the Rally for America last Friday outside city hall, some 8,000 souls braved bone-chilling temperatures and freezing sleet to send a message of friendship to the American people. It hit its target bang on, and probably did more to repair Canada's image in the U.S. than all the apologies and explanations from politicians. That's because it reached a huge swath of Americans. It was picked up by CNN, Fox News, the NBC affiliate in Buffalo, and the Chicago Tribune, among others. It was sent out on the UPI and AP wire services. Media hits were recorded in Kansas City,...

Study: Americans harbor disbelief about news, BBC reporter rips own network for distortionsThe question of accuracy in the reporting of Operation Iraqi Freedom is coming to a head with a forthcoming study showing Americans doubting the integrity of news reports, and at least one reporter blasting his own network for downplaying the success of allied forces. Fox News Channel leads cable ratings in Iraq war WorldNetDaily has learned that the survey being released tomorrow indicates a strong sense of distrust among viewers as well as a perceived "liberal" slant. The study by BBI Systems and Emerging Interest, a New York-based...

Latest Capital News 9 article (Albany): Articles report dismissed charges Updated: 1/20/2003 12:36 PM By: Capital News 9 web staffAccording to newspaper reports this weekend, former UN weapons inspector and Delmar native Scott Ritter was arrested for a Class B misdemeanor.The Daily Gazette and Daily News said the incident happened back in June 2001. All records in the case, including the nature of the arrest have since been sealed.A veteran Albany County Assistant District Attorney was fired as a result of how the case was handled.District Attorney Paul Clyne has an office policy to always be informed when cases of...

DOWNGRADING OF LILI WREAKS DAMAGE IN THE MILLIONS FOR CNN, MSNBCViewers Flee Wall-to-wall Coverage of Boring Non-disasterThe ratings of the cable news networks suffered a savage blow today as Lili was downgraded to a Category 2 hurricane, rendering their wall-to-wall coverage of the non-emergency disastrously tedious. CNN and MSNBC were both expected to suffer losses in the millions as a result of hurricane Lili’s abject failure to produce footage of houses, cars, and other personal property being blown away or smushed. Fox News, which largely avoided Lili coverage and instead featured footage of conservative pundits shouting at liberals, avoided the...

Third of three partsThe U.S and Western European media covered the Jenin "Massacre That Wasn't" in radically different ways over the past month. The American media came out way on top and the European media, especially state-run broadcasting outlets, came out by far the losers. This was not an anticipated outcome on either side of the Atlantic. It was, in fact, a further humiliation for Western European governments and left-leaning media leaders. They were already reeling from the humiliations of seeing a virtual fascist make the last two in France's presidential election and the assassination of radical political leader Pim...

Second of three partsMost of the major press and broadcasting outlets in Western Europe uncritically gobbled up the Jenin Massacre Myth with self-indulgent abandon. Their record contrasted particularly unfavorably -- and even, it might be argued, contemptibly -- with the remarkable balance and restraint the U.S. broadcast and print media showed after Sept. 11. The mega-terrorist attacks that destroyed the World Trade Center towers and mauled the Pentagon killed around 3,000 Americans in New York City and Washington. Yet U.S. media coverage and reaction was remarkable for its balance and restraint. There was no effort to scapegoat the Muslim population...

First of three partsThe U.S. and Western European media coverage of the Battle of Jenin last month raises troubling and far-reaching questions about the reliability of the modern mass media and press in conflict situations. And the answers to them are both complex and surprising. After the Israeli Army attacked the West Bank Palestinian city of Jenin on April 2, the Western European media fell for the "Massacre Myth" in Jenin in a big way. Even though the final Palestinian Authority figure acknowledged only 56 dead in Jenin, media coverage in major Western European nations gave credence to early claims...