The Miller Minderbinder war
Critic: Media at fault for war
Writer says White House, New York Times reporter failed public
By Matthew Raiche, CORRESPONDENT
SAN FRANCISCO — The New York Times and its reporter Judith Miller are as responsible for the war in Iraq as the president and vice president, says a founder of Free Press, a non-partisan organization dedicated to improving journalism.
John Nichols says he isn't entirely pessimistic about the media. He still holds hope that public advocacy for better journalism and the growing arena of independent journalism and journalists will step up to the challenge of keeping the public informed.
Still, the media watchdog feels the New York Times and its reporter failed the public.
"Judith Miller did more to start the war in Iraq than Bush or Cheney," Nichols told a small audience at the First Unitarian Universalist Church on Thursday night.
Nichols is best known as the co-author with University of Illinois professor Robert McChesney of "Tragedy and Farce: How the American Media Sell Wars, Spin Elections and Destroy Democracy." Nichols also co-authored "Jews for Buchanan" and writes for The Nation magazine.
Miller is the former New York Times White House correspondent who went to jail for withholding the identity of her source in the outing of CIA operative Valerie Plame.
Nichols criticized Miller's lack of depth in her coverage of White House officials for the Times in the months leading up to the war on Iraq, referring to her as a "stenographer" rather than a reporter.
He said her shallow reporting deprived the public of a critical voice before the war, a voice they should have been able to get from the newspaper.
"When the opposition fails, the whole system falls apart," Nichols said.
McChesney said he does not believe journalists are to blame for the problems with the media, but cited two "attacks" on journalism today: the corporate attack, which causes news media to sacrifice quality for profitability, and the right wing attack, which McChesney said works to intimidate the media to keep strong criticisms of the right wing agenda out of the news.
McChesney said these attacks are "limiting the ability of journalists to be independent," and an independent press is crucial to keep the public informed.
"(The Bush administration) can't get away with these corrupt policies if the public knows about them," McChesney said.
Nichols and McChesney agreed to speak at the event to support Media Alliance, a Bay Area-based media advocacy group. Proceeds from the night's book sales went to the organization.
Although problems with the media are complicated and solutions elusive, Nichols and McChesney have confidence in the advocacy groups and independent publications that are working to improve news coverage.
"You can win these fights," McChesney said. "There are a lot of reasons to be optimistic."
Writer says White House, New York Times reporter failed public
By Matthew Raiche, CORRESPONDENT
SAN FRANCISCO — The New York Times and its reporter Judith Miller are as responsible for the war in Iraq as the president and vice president, says a founder of Free Press, a non-partisan organization dedicated to improving journalism.
John Nichols says he isn't entirely pessimistic about the media. He still holds hope that public advocacy for better journalism and the growing arena of independent journalism and journalists will step up to the challenge of keeping the public informed.
Still, the media watchdog feels the New York Times and its reporter failed the public.
"Judith Miller did more to start the war in Iraq than Bush or Cheney," Nichols told a small audience at the First Unitarian Universalist Church on Thursday night.
Nichols is best known as the co-author with University of Illinois professor Robert McChesney of "Tragedy and Farce: How the American Media Sell Wars, Spin Elections and Destroy Democracy." Nichols also co-authored "Jews for Buchanan" and writes for The Nation magazine.
Miller is the former New York Times White House correspondent who went to jail for withholding the identity of her source in the outing of CIA operative Valerie Plame.
Nichols criticized Miller's lack of depth in her coverage of White House officials for the Times in the months leading up to the war on Iraq, referring to her as a "stenographer" rather than a reporter.
He said her shallow reporting deprived the public of a critical voice before the war, a voice they should have been able to get from the newspaper.
"When the opposition fails, the whole system falls apart," Nichols said.
McChesney said he does not believe journalists are to blame for the problems with the media, but cited two "attacks" on journalism today: the corporate attack, which causes news media to sacrifice quality for profitability, and the right wing attack, which McChesney said works to intimidate the media to keep strong criticisms of the right wing agenda out of the news.
McChesney said these attacks are "limiting the ability of journalists to be independent," and an independent press is crucial to keep the public informed.
"(The Bush administration) can't get away with these corrupt policies if the public knows about them," McChesney said.
Nichols and McChesney agreed to speak at the event to support Media Alliance, a Bay Area-based media advocacy group. Proceeds from the night's book sales went to the organization.
Although problems with the media are complicated and solutions elusive, Nichols and McChesney have confidence in the advocacy groups and independent publications that are working to improve news coverage.
"You can win these fights," McChesney said. "There are a lot of reasons to be optimistic."
posted by professor rat at 10:02 PM
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