Media
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News on Venezuela–but Where Is It Coming From? By Jim Naureckas
The fact that FAIR was writing about Toro’s reporting more than 10 years ago points to the fact that this is not a new story; since Hugo Chavez’s first election in 1998, Venezuela’s government has faced intense opposition, and despite this opposition, the government has repeatedly won elections that have been deemed free and fair… Continue reading
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Linking to free stuff is not piracy, EU rules
Managing a site with links to freely available copyrighted content does not amount to online piracy, an EU court has ruled. The justices advised their Swedish colleagues, who are reviewing a journalists’ lawsuit against a link-hosting website. Continue reading
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Venezuela coup? Gunfire, clashes as 3 dead in violent Caracas protest (PHOTOS, VIDEO)
At least three people have died in violent protests in the Venezuelan capital, officials have confirmed. President Nicolas Maduro has condemned the unrest as an attempt at a coup d’état orchestrated by extremist members of the political opposition. Continue reading
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Against Censorship, in Any Media The Dieudonné Affair By Serge Halimi
France’s Minister Valls: a mediocre, ambitious opportunist now dictating the ethics of speech. And all in what passes for a socialist regime. As we see in the UK, it’s amazing how quickly “Western democracies” move toward authoritarianism when it suits the ruling circles. Continue reading
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New York Times and Washington Post intensify Snowden smear campaign By Eric London
In the face of ongoing revelations by whistleblower Edward Snowden, the political establishment is growing increasingly nervous about the popular opposition the leaks are engendering. In response, the organs of the political elite continue to mount a smear campaign against Snowden. Continue reading
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The accessories to war crimes are those paid to keep the record straight By John Pilger
The BBC’s Today programme is enjoying high ratings, and the Mail and the Telegraph are, as usual, attacking the corporation as left-wing. Last month, a single edition of Today was edited by the artist and musician P.J. Harvey. What happened was illuminating. There were weeks of absurd negotiation at Broadcasting House about ways of “countering”… Continue reading
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US threats mount against journalists, Snowden By Patrick Martin
Congressional leaders and representatives of the US military-intelligence apparatus have stepped up their threats against Edward Snowden and the journalists who have worked with him to expose massive illegal spying by the National Security Agency (NSA). Continue reading
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Domestic Terror Story Gets Media Cold Shoulder–Guess Why By Steve Rendall
Despite its compelling–not to say bizarre–details, there’s been little coverage of the story outside the Albany region. The New York Times, published 150 miles away, ran a single story (6/20/13) about the plot after the arraignments last June–on page 24. It’s hard not to be think back on previous undercovered terrorism stories and conclude that… Continue reading
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FAIR TV: Snowden on Sunday TV, New Pundits, USA Today on Fracking’s Riches
25 January 2014 — FAIR Blog This week on FAIR TV: Everyone seems to agree that Edward Snowden started an important debate over NSA surveillance. But on the Sunday chat shows, debate isn’t what you’re likely to see. And CNN and CBS add new contributors–but are they opening up or closing the discussion? Plus:USA Today cheers on the fracking boom in… Continue reading
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FAIR TV: Snowden on Sunday TV, New Pundits, USA Today on Fracking's Riches
25 January 2014 — FAIR Blog This week on FAIR TV: Everyone seems to agree that Edward Snowden started an important debate over NSA surveillance. But on the Sunday chat shows, debate isn’t what you’re likely to see. And CNN and CBS add new contributors–but are they opening up or closing the discussion? Plus:USA Today cheers on the fracking boom in… Continue reading
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Privatizing the Internet: US telecoms seek to make internet enhanced form of cable TV’
On Tuesday, January 14, the DC Court of Appeals struck down the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) “net neutrality” rules. This is one of the fundamental principles of the internet, meaning equal access to everything online. The initiative was pushed by Verizon, the largest mobile phone operator among telecom providers, which demanded that high-speed broadband providers… Continue reading
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“Fakethrough!” New Report Shows How Easily Media Was Duped by Claims of GMO “Breakthroughs”
In an article entitled “Fakethrough! GMOs and the Capitulation of Science Journalism,” Latham describes how GMOs lauded in the media as “breakthroughs” are often just PR boosts for genetically engineered varieties or traits that either aren’t new, are untested, or fail (and the failures are too often not reported). Often, GMO reporting also ignores or… Continue reading
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How the Big Papers Remember Ariel Sharon By Peter Hart
Reading the pieces in the Sunday editions of the New York Times and the Washington Post (3/12/14) about the death of former Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, one gets the sense that reporters were aware of some of Sharon’s bloodiest history–but mostly kept that out of their accounts of his life. Continue reading
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Why Did the US Invade Iraq? The Answer in 2014 By Peter Hart
So at the 10-year mark, some reporters recall Fallujah as a place where US forces “redeemed the possibility of peaceful Iraq,” and the Iraq War as a noble effort to “plant democracy.” It boggles the mind what they’ll be telling us about the Iraq War in 2024. Continue reading
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U.S. Human Radiation Experiments Covered up by Public Broadcasting By William Boardman
When the military scientists of an advanced technological nation deliberately explode their largest nuclear bomb (and 66 others) over Pacific islands and use the opportunities to study the effects of radiation on nearby native people, which group is best described as “savage”? And what should you call the people who prevent a documentary about these… Continue reading
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O’Reilly’s Marijuana/Texting/Videogame Theory Destroyed by Guest By Steve Rendall
It happened as O’Reilly was explaining his latest crackpot theory about why young people are so horrible. According to the Fox News host, texting, marijuana use and videogames are leading the young down an escapist path to destruction. Continue reading
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BBC Caught Fabricating Videos to Push Libya and Syria War Agendas By Martin Iqbal
Many find it difficult to believe the sheer boldness of the lies peddled by the British Broadcasting Corporation – the world’s largest and most respected broadcasting organisation. Nevertheless, the BBC’s nefarious agenda has come to the fore during the wars on Libya and Syria, where it has taken every opportunity to justify foreign military intervention… Continue reading
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Media Lean Left, Say Journalists Who Don't Really Say That By Peter Hart
The end of a story in Politico (12/18/13), about a Politico media roundtable featuring CNN’s Jake Tapper, NBC’s Kelly O’Donnell, and Peter Baker and Mark Leibovich of the New York Times, caught my eye: Continue reading
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The Washington Post and Amazon are “Doing Business with the CIA” By Norman Solomon
News media should illuminate conflicts of interest, not embody them. But the owner of the Washington Post is now doing big business with the Central Intelligence Agency, while readers of the newspaper’s CIA coverage are left in the dark. Continue reading
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CIA and Mandela: Can the Story Be Told Now? Agency's role in Mandela capture still mostly not news
Back in 1990, FAIR (Extra!, 3/90) noted that the media coverage of Nelson Mandela’s release from prison failed to mention there was strong evidence that the CIA had tipped off South African authorities to Mandela’s location in 1962, resulting in his arrest. So with coverage of Mandela’s death dominating the media now, can the story… Continue reading
The New Dark Age 