Are you on the
Media Matters email list? If not,
get on it now. You'll see what I've been reading about since I joined - aside from the expected media misinformation by easily dismissable right wing talking heads, there are plenty of "reputable" news and media sources that spout outright untruths.
The most amazing thing: aside from Media Matters emails, they never get called out on it. Never mind the mainstream media - I don't see many people here talking about it either.
Let me say that again: prominent media figures are spreading untruths, and we're not doing anything about it.
That has got to change.
Take a look at an example
here:
On several occasions, guests on Hardball have wrongly asserted that former ambassador Joseph C. Wilson IV claimed that Vice President Dick Cheney sent him to Niger to investigate the veracity of reports that Iraq had attempted to purchase yellowcake uranium there. But as Media Matters has documented, this claim echoes a false RNC talking point that misrepresented Wilson's July 6, 2003, New York Times op-ed and his August 3, 2003, interview on CNN's Late Edition. Wilson did not claim that the vice president sent him to Niger; rather, Wilson stated that the CIA sent him to Niger to answer the vice president's office's questions regarding the purported Iraq-Niger uranium deal. Claiming that Wilson stated or insinuated that Cheney's office sent him to Niger lends false justification to the argument articulated by defenders of the Bush administration that, in outing Plame, administration officials were merely setting the record straight by disclosing that Plame -- not Cheney -- had authorized the trip.
Several guests have advanced this claim, including:
- Tucker Eskew, deputy assistant to the president for communications, on the July 12 edition of Hardball.
- Ken Mehlman, Republican National Committee (RNC) chairman, on the July 13 edition of Hardball.
- Andrea Mitchell, chief foreign affairs correspondent for NBC, on the October 13 edition of Hardball. Additionally, on the October 18 edition of Hardball, Mitchell claimed: "Joe Wilson went on television with us and in interviews and said he had been dispatched by the vice president," apparently referring to Wilson's appearance on NBC's Meet the Press on July 6, 2003, which Mitchell guest-hosted. Mitchell added: "He led people to believe, he said publicly, that he had been dispatched by the vice president. And that was clearly not the case by every bit of reporting that I have been able to do." But Media Matters could find no example of Wilson claiming that Cheney sent him to Niger. In the July 6, 2003, interview, Wilson alluded to the origins of his trip: "[T]he question [of Iraq seeking uranium from Niger] was asked of the CIA by the office of the vice president."
- Mike Allen, then a Washington Post staff writer, on the July 27 edition of Hardball.
Now, I'm resigned to that fact that I'll never see a MSM article titled "RNC head makes untrue comments about Joe Wilson" or something like that. The head of the political party in control of our nation misleading about nation security? That's not newsworthy. Tell me again about that runaway bride, though!
But, in light of 2004's 60 Minutes episode, why isn't the media (or even the blogoshpere) for that matter doing anything about the misinformation of major news and media figures? Anyone going to ask NBC or Andrea Mitchell what the hell she's talking about? Let me highlight the worst part again:
"He led people to believe, he said publicly, that he had been dispatched by the vice president. And that was clearly not the case by every bit of reporting that I have been able to do."
She falsely claims that Wilson lied about the reason for the trip underlying Treason-gate, giving tacit approval to an incorrect GOP talking point, and not a stir anywhere. And this is a falsehood going to the heart of Fitzmas and all that - the most highly charged blog topic ever. I'd hate to see the response to untruths about lesser topics.
Where were the hours and hours of media coverage on Andrea's mistake? Okay, that's wishful dreaming, but how about indignant blogs screaming for a retraction? We've gotta start somewhere.
I know there may be so many media untruths that we can't handle them all. But we need to demand truth from the so-called objective journalists. Make examples of an Andrea Mitchel here, a Chris Matthews there, and make them understand that they are held to a basic standard of truthfulness. Mistakes need correcting, not forgetting. And definitely not repeating.
Forget O'Reilly and his ilk -- they're hopeless and on the RNC take -- but there are plenty of those out there that deserve ... need ... our attention.
I'll admit right here: I haven't done much either before this blog ... but that changes now. So, I ask a serious question: are you with me? I'm talking about the type of coordinated blogosphere response that brought down Dan Rather. Diaries, blogs, calls and emails to the offending parties, pressuring the rest of the media to report on their misleading colleagues.
I can't take the unchecked misleading anymore, and Media Matters deserves our help.
Update [2005-10-23 9:32:55 by VirginiaDem]: This kind of diary is a great example of what we need to do. But we need to take this to the next level and start calling the offenders out by name.
Update [2005-10-23 15:3:2 by VirginiaDem]:Someone misunderstood the point of this diary, so here's my explanation to make things more clear (from below): My point wasn't to chastise you or anyone about a lack of "outrage" (in spite of the vague title). I'm apologize if I gave that impression - that wasn't my intent. In fact, I point out that I myself haven't done anything but read Media Matters emails (which I've been getting since they opened up shop) and shake my head. I know there is general anger about such things (I've been a dailykos regular about two years and I can read) but not the same sort of coordinated outrage that led to the demise of Dan Rather and Jeff Gannon. My point is that we need to get outraged enough to do something more about it. Blogging repeatedly about specific actions of untruth like my Andrea Mitchell example until we get the media to report on it or get her to apologize, correct herself, that sort of thing. And before you say it's not possible - again, see Dan Rather and Jeff Gannon. We bloggers have the power.
So, having explained, I see the interest here and will start with the Andrea Mitchell episode this week. Get ready.