Media Under Intense Scrutiny During Campaign

The media is taking a real beating today from... the media. Below are two reports.

The Wall Street Journal reports on the increased scrutiny towards major media outlets in this campaign season:

For the second time this week, Fox News Channel was driven to respond to criticism over on-air statements about Barack Obama, in this case for screen text that described the Democratic presidential candidate's wife as "Obama's baby mama." The term is often applied pejoratively to unwed mothers.

Television news organizations, facing unprecedented scrutiny, have often expressed contrition for poorly chosen words during this election season.

The New York Times is running an article called "Media Charged With Sexism in Clinton Coverage:"

Angered by what they consider sexist news coverage of Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton's bid for the Democratic presidential nomination, many women and erstwhile Clinton supporters are proposing boycotts of the cable networks, putting up videos on a "Media Hall of Shame," starting a national conversation about sexism and pushing Mrs. Clinton's rival, Senator Barack Obama, to address the matter.

But many in the news media -- with a few exceptions, including Katie Couric, the anchor of the "CBS Evening News" -- see little need for reconsidering their coverage or changing their approach going forward. Rather, they say, as the Clinton campaign fell behind, it exploited a few glaring examples of sexist coverage to whip up a backlash and to try to create momentum for Mrs. Clinton.

Read more about Fox News here. And for your complete media fix go to HuffPost's media page.

Comments

[certainot]

we don't have red states and blue dog democrats. the last twenty years they have been talk radio states and talk radio dems.

the coordinated uncontested repetition from the GOP talk radio monopoly does more to determine what is acceptable news than any other single medium. but without searchable transcripts the media analysts and haven't been able to document the migration of GOP talk radio talking points and lies to the lazy celebrity media circuit. they like taking the prechewed bushit off the talk radio bandwagon (reinforced in faxes and emails) because they know it's already been pounded into the ears of tens of millions by the end of the day or week. doesn't matter how false or absurd it is, they feel like they're on a red velvet GOP bandwagon.

meanwhile progressives completely ignore talk radio because it hurts their ears and they strategize in a vacuum, looking for explanations, and excepting explanations that falsely and tragically attribute Dem failures and GOP gains to social movements instead of the coordinated mass repetition by raving blowhards on the talk radio monopoly that largely determines the political and media flavor of America.

and increasingly, progressive media activists cede the talk radio monopoly to the right thinking they're passing them with the internet. a big mistake. the internet seems progressive since it is still somewhat democratic and reflects real America- it may inform people who search for information but it is not a monster coordinated propaganda outlet reaching 50-70 MIL.

[kassandrasduplex]

Ironic really, Dan Rather got booted for essentially telling the truth but without thotoughly confirming his sources. (BTW, the allegedly "forged" Bush memos were never proven to be forgeries.) But this primary cycle we had TV pundits openly referring to Clinton as a bitch and suggesting her daughter was a prostitute being "pimped out" by her mother's campaign, etc.
Dan Rather appears absolutely STELLAR by comparison to what the media have become.

[DontBeFoolish]

Ladies, I am a man. However, just let me know when and what to boycott on FOX and it is done. In fact, pick a few of their big money makers, and don't count on the sponsers to help you. Again, just let me know.

[Underthematrix]

The best way to get back at FOX is to go to any of their TV forums and post something like: "Dang. I love this show but me and my friends are boycotting Fox because of their racist coverage of the presidential candidates. I will so glad when the election is over so I can get back to watching my fav FOX shows"

Actually I boycott all shows on FOX except one. Soon, the FOX lineup will be out - probably July. Go to their website lineup and post message saying that you'd really like to watch so and so show but you're boycotting racist networks until the lection is over.

[eden4barack08]

Me 2.

[northcan]

As a Tim Russert fan, having coffee with him every Sunday morning for twenty years, his death is a 'stunning' reminder of the Gold Standard for a journalist. He is top in his field. I'm sure their must be other's with his qualities, but I'm unsure who they may be. With Tim, it was a given from day one. I hope I can enjoy that same respect from other journalist's also, it would be a shame if I didn't.

[KyotoProto]

Twenty years? really? Must be about when I stopped watching. The "spin cycle" on that show promoted our "squeaky clean" Democracy, not the best one that money can buy that we actually live in. The voters are disenfranchised under the banner of reform, while elections go stolen, and legislation goes ignored. Signing statements negate the will of the people and the Constitution is dragged through mud.

All during your beloved Tim's watch.

Fourth Estate? Not even 1/4. Hollywood scripted snoozecasts from bloviated sycophants like Russert, shilling for an illegitimate administration.

S N A F U

[PatrickforO]

You know, it isn't just f o x. They're over the top and so their racism and blatant lies are obvious. It is the other M S M that is far more subtle. To me, the so-called fourth estate has abrogated the task the founders set for it, and that is to reveal truth and lay the real issues out for all to see, and decide for themselves. Even m s n b c is part of this, because they are partisan. The fact they are partisan for us is beside the point. The trouble is, the m s m, and its partisan offshoots do not lay out the facts for us to decide - they parse words and take snippets out of context to generate controversy, because controversy sells, and they're trying to get at better ratings, not better truth. Truly, the Internet has become the world's bastion of truth, but most of our people have not the skills not to allow themselves to be ensnared in falsehood (because it can happen here on the Internet, too). It is only those of us who have the courage to speak to our families, friends and neighbors about the truth who will carry the day.

[Blutus]

Bingo. We don't have reporters anymore. We have rock stars.

Every single profession in America has been tainted by the advent of television.

Judges, doctors, lawyers, reality TV, reporters with multi-million dollar book deals.

Dr. Phil, Judge Judy. Anchors making millions to "read" the news in that special way.

Vapid garbage.

[Amomma]

Blutus, I am worried we will not even have a President, but a skillfully crafted Rock Star for "Change"

[letsmakesense]

Want proof media is crooked> Mike Reagan tells his 4 million people audience to go out and shoot people who are exercising their first amendment rifgts and they he will buy the ammo. The blogs are going wild yet there has been no reports on MSN including our Huffpo go to youtube to see this for yourself Reagon committs felonies and he is still walking on the street. listen to his show today

[northcan]

Fox News does need to reap the seeds he sows, by declination of viewership people. I know, I'm as guilty as you, but I do it because of the outrageousness of their statements and 'incitement' of hate, race. It is truly awful, this man "Shaun Hannity", had a show tonite, this America is the greatest nation ever given to man from God". Is he for real?

Yes, it's a great nation; but his nation is different than what he does to citizen's, politician's in his country. The abuser telling Police...".oh! Officer it's Ok, she looks better with black and blue marks on her face". He slanders everyone on opposite political side's, but everyone knows how much of a Catholic Christian he is. Isn't this called hypocrisy?

I find CNN had their favorite lefty, MSNBC had theirs, but, Fox had the 1st Black Candidate and his wife in his sight's now for over a year and he is relentless. He has 'incited' so much hatred for this good man and his wife, from trivial remarks.

Most media is very responsible and have been relatively fair to all candidate's. It is a different game since the Clinton's are now out of the News. That was a Corporation and media paid dearly if it offended the Clinton's.

s
s

[eden4barack08]

northcan,
as far as Hannity's last night, I think I know what the sub-plot is , picture this:

Hannity: " America's great, the best, no place like it, the greatest, all possible...patriotism, love this country, so perfect....bla bla bla (if u watched last night u know what I mean), and on and on"

He's going to be hammering this into the more challenged part of his audience, over and over and over for a while now, as his strong point is repetition.

Then, once he feels he's brainwashed enough,then.. .wait for this...TA Daaaaaa:

Hannity: " Now why does Obama want to 'CHANGE', this beautiful, perfect, great, best, loving for all, etc., etc, country??????ALL the people I've met across this PERFECT country are soo happy, they all know, nowhere else like the USA! Why, why oh why, is that exotic elitist wanting to CHANGE anything?"

And he'll go on and on and on and on with that.

Can you see it ? It's soooo Hannity, and soo predictable.
Mark my words, I bet this his plan!

[northcan]

You are absolutely right. He'll come right back to Michelle O's word's. But, there is a defense for her words. She has every right to feel that, think that.....many people in America voice this opinion, whether she meant it or not. America's leader's, not the citizen's have totally ruined your image around the World. The horrendous things kept mum are overwhelming....we would be back to 1968, if people rally knew what the lawmaker's and administration was doing to their own citizen's and other country's around the world.

Hannity comes from the 'white side of the tracks', found a network that enjoys, allows, permits their anchor's to have an orgasm of hate, on air, waving arms, interrupting guests, screaming.....he looks like a jerk, walks like a jerk, ....is a total jackass jerk.

On Hannity's America, he has religious mini-doc's, showing different belief's, his Catholic faith, Exorcism, blah, blah, blah.... he's the one that the Clinton Camp contacted over a year ago about Jeremiah Wright.... he got tape's (probably from HRC) and that is the start of Obama's pastor. Why should he have to deny him? Look at Hannity??

Fact: Bill and Hillary Clinton sat in Rev. Wright's pews 1/2 dozen times, since 1994 or so, Rev. Wright counselled the Clinton's, invited to WH many times, but not mentioned at all, by Fox, or mainstream media??? Should be vetted by all media sources for General Election, in case Republican's use it.

[schicklett3]

Fox News should be under attack for their racist, biased, hate filled, hate mongering, completely over the top, news show (if you want to call it a news show).
Disgusting!

[Shootingsparks]

notice how everyone who confronts the Z.O.G. comes under savage attack?
we need to speak on behalf of our truth tellers in these times of zero think "political correctness"

[PatrickforO]

Zeitgeist of God??? What's ZOG?

[indypete]

Hey, Mods... You scrubbed my trolls! I got a couple of good shots in at them and was just coming back from the car with a tire iron and they were gone! Leave the trolls alone... we can handle them!

[FilthyPerson]

"I got a couple of good shots in at them ... we can handle them!
No you didn't and you can't.

They're fraidy-scared here.

Pretty bad when they scrub based on a name.

You should see what they scrubbed before it even hit the screen. They REALLY hate it when someone crticizes Obama by name.

[indypete]

By the way...

"No you didn't and you can't"?

"fraidy-scared"?

What's next? "My dad can beat up your dad"? "I'll tell my mommy"?

If you're seven years old, please let me know... I wouldn't want to be picking on a child.

[indypete]

That's what I'm getting at... they sometimes scrub me too and I'm one of the good guys... y'know, a liberal and an atheist, believing in honesty, good sportsmanship, helping those less fortunate than myself, kindness for its own sake... values taught by that rather remarkable rabbi 2000 years ago. The guy the right-wing claim as their own while trampling on any and all of his teachings. I say, let the trolls in... Filthy, come in, have a cup of tea! And bring KBAR, he's my favorite!

[KaluMa]

Most of the media that we see is owned by News Corporation. They own the Fox Broadcasting, Channels and Companies the New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Dow Jones, Harper Collins, among thousands of others worldwide. This guy Rupert Murdoch is the owner and the corporation is in Austrailia. That means that a guy from Austraila is shaping world and US opinion on a massive scale. America has got to take its power back. It is one thing to have Republicans not agreeing with Democrates and all are American. It is another thing entirely to have a foreign company instigating conflict and shaping American opinions.

[Donnat]

I thought Murdoch became an American citizen several years ago. doesn't matter, he's still an @sshole.

[sharonh]

Americans don't even own much of American soil or real estate anymore. Abu Dhabi just bought the Chrysler bldg.

[Vermontah]

Please, ladies and gentlemen, call Fox sponsors and advertisers on the phone, and tell them that you have had it with Fox News and you will be boycotting whatever products and services any advertiser is selling.

For a full list go to: http://www.decidemyvote.com/blog/2008/01/boycott-fox-news-advertisers-for.html or just google fox news advertisers.

It WORKS. I just called a company, won't name it here, and talked to the secretary of the CEO and President. She was very receptive. She said "What has Fox News done now?" I explained that the recent attacks on Obama's wife, the laughing joke about assassinating him, the Baby Mama, were too much and I had to take action, for the love of my country. She said she would talk with him about it immediately and took my number; let's see if he calls back.

Of course I've never patronized this company anyway, so no big deal really, but it is GOOD to get them thinking. If my phone call results in Fox losing advertisers, I will be exceptionally proud.

Try it folks, it has more of an impact than you realize.

[ohmercy]

OK,
If you will do the same for MSNBC

[Ariadne]

It is heartbreaking watching Tim Russerts colleagues trying not to cry while they talk about him. This is very sad and I will truly miss Tim. My cousins all grew up in Buffalo and he always reminded me of them.

[UnknownSoldier]

It is terrible that Tim Russet died. Hopefully he went to heaven.

[TomR]

Tim Russert died of a heart attack.

http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/

- Tom

[miracleman]

I am absolutely in a state of shock!

Tim Russert was the one of the last of true men and women of inteligence in modern television media! Not only was he well read and truly informed about the world scene, but he was able to bring us back to a time when political reporting actually was done with a bit of integrity.

He will surely be missed.

[PoliJunkie]

V, I thought you were joking...Tim Russert really did DIE from a heart attack!