the Observer
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Why is the ‘liberal’ media peddling the vilest genocide apologism?
I can’t put this strongly enough. Howard Jacobson’s article in today’s Observer newspaper may be one the vilest pieces of journalism published in Britain in living memory, arguing that any reporting of Israel’s documented slaughter of many thousands of Palestinian children in Gaza is a “blood libel” and antisemitic. It is pure genocide apologism. Continue reading
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‘That Is Actually Bollocks’: 20 Propaganda Horrors From 20 Years of Media Lens – Part 1
After 20 years of Media Lens, it seems only natural that we should look back in gratitude at the support we’ve received. In response to one of our early pieces, a kindly columnist at the Observer commented: Continue reading
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“The Bride of death?” By William Bowles
Purporting to be an explanation of why a young Palestinian woman (sister to the two young men murdered by the Israelis) should become a ‘martyr’ – itself a word loaded with significance for the Western ear, as opposed even to your common or garden ‘terrorist’, or God forbid, soldier or guerrilla – the piece presents… Continue reading
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UK council leaders warn of social unrest By Robert Stevens
The leaders of three Labour Party-controlled city councils wrote a letter to the Observer, published December 29, warning that the scale of the Conservative/Liberal Democrat austerity agenda could lead to “the break-up of civil society”. Continue reading
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SYRIA: TEXT OF LEAKED ARAB LEAGUE MISSION REPORT Report Reveals Media Lies Regarding Syria
The report acknowledges the existence of “an armed entity” involved in the killings of civilians and police as well as the conduct of terrorist acts, which contributed to triggering actions by government forces. The Report refers to “armed opposition groups” as well as to the “Free Syrian Army”, both of which, according to the AL… Continue reading
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Media Lens: To Avert A Bloodbath – Libya And The Press – Part 1
Naturally it is the role of the enlightened West to steer Libya towards democracy. Editors working for the media conglomerate at the heart of the phone hacking police/political corruption scandal – a major attack on democracy and civil rights – presumably perceived no irony in their preaching of ‘democracy, and legal freedoms’. Words that should… Continue reading
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Media Lens: 'Extreme Dishonesty’ – The Guardian, Noam Chomsky and Venezuela
Noam Chomsky was once famously described by the New York Times as ‘arguably the most important intellectual alive’. And yet, as mentioned earlier, the Guardian is normally happy to ignore him and his views. But when Chomsky expresses criticism of an official enemy of the West, he suddenly does exist and matter for the Guardian. Continue reading
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Ibrahim Hewitt – The Observer, Israel and the language of war
Resistance against military occupation is, of course, entirely legitimate, and yet the Observer refers to such resistance as “terrorism”, following the Sharon doctrine in its entirety. For it was Ariel Sharon who in an act of opportunism said in the wake of 9/11: “Now the American people know what we [in Israel] have been going… Continue reading
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Media Lens: The Cockroach Test
News that philosopher Alain de Botton had been hired as Heathrow’s “writer in residence” generated minor ripples across the media pond, including occasional murmurs of disapproval. Journalists momentarily failed to repress their awareness that truth into corporate profit-maximising does not go, although without perceiving the implications for themselves. Continue reading
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Media Lens: ‘Living Our Values’: Guardian News & Media And The Climate – Part 2
Earlier this month, the Observer smeared climate activists by highlighting police warnings of a “growing threat of eco-terrorism”. The alleged threat is presented by a group called Earth First!, which the paper claimed “has supporters who believe that reducing the Earth’s population by four-fifths will help to protect the planet”. Continue reading
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Media Lens: ‘Living Our Values’: Guardian News & Media And The Climate – Part 1
MEDIA LENS: Correcting for the distorted vision of the corporate media November 25, 2008 PART 1 – IN THEORY Last week, Guardian News & Media (GNM) published ‘Living Our Values’, an independently audited account of the company’s annual performance on sustainability issues. GNM, which encompasses the Guardian, the Observer and guardian.co.uk, claims to have strong Continue reading
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MEDIA LENS ALERT: FLEXIBLE FRIENDS – THE OBSERVER, THE INDEPENDENT, AND THE MYTH OF A MEDIA SPECTRUM
On reflection, it seems incredibly naïve to imagine that free speech will flourish under corporate capitalism. It is true that we do not face the kind of physical threats offered by a totalitarian system – but so what? For most people, the threat of serious damage to a lucrative, high status career is enough to… Continue reading
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Media Lens: A Superb Demolition – Part 3 – Squeaky Spleen – Beaumont Strikes Back
Media Lens, it seems, produces “nasty emails”, is “run by a couple of acolytes of Noam Chomsky, and serviced by a couple of dozen die-hard supporters”. We are an “irritating site” given to “hyper-ventilating” about this and that, targeting journalists and “anyone else who needs an email kicking”. In short, we are e-hooligans stalking the… Continue reading
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Media Lens: A Superb Demolition – Part 2
23 June 2006 — Media Lens The Observer’s Foreign Affairs Editor Peter Beaumont Reviews Noam Chomsky’s Failed States Beaumont continues of Chomsky: “In attempting to create a consistent argument for America as murderous bully, going back to the Seminole Wars, he edits out anything that could be put on the other side of the balance Continue reading
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Coitus Interruptus By William Bowles
“US officials knew in May Iraq possessed no WMD”. So goes the headline in the Observer(01/02/04) but the reality is that the US government knew in 1991 that Iraq possessed no WMD as did the UK government. So what’s the argument all about? Why is it so important that a ‘battle royale’ is being conducted… Continue reading
The New Dark Age 