News and Document archive source
copyrighted material disclaimer at bottom of page

NewsMinepropogandacorporatemedia — Viewing Item


Media owned republicans { September 26 2003 }

Original Source Link: (May no longer be active)
   http://www.yankton.net/stories/092603/com_20030926028.shtml

http://www.yankton.net/stories/092603/com_20030926028.shtml

Web posted Friday, September 26, 2003


Neuharth Panel Asks: ŒIs Media Fair?'
BY RANDY DOCKENDORF
P&D Regional Editor

VERMILLION -- Are the media fair and accurate?

Well, fairness, like beauty, becomes pretty subjective, a panel of the nation's top journalists said Thursday night at the University of South Dakota.

The event, titled "Is the Free Press A Fair Press?," concluded a two-day celebration of the $5 million renovation of the Al Neuharth Media Center on the USD campus. Neuharth was on hand for the event, which was broadcast live on South Dakota Public Television.

Neuharth, a 1950 USD graduate, founded USA TODAY, the nation's largest daily newspaper. He also founded the Freedom Forum, dedicated to free speech, press and spirit.

USD President Jim Abbott, who welcomed the audience, jokingly referred to the frenzy of activities surrounding Neuharth's return to campus.

"I am president of the University of South Dakota, but after today's festivities, it could be called the University of Neuharth," Abbott said.

Thursday's panelists featured the following past Neuharth Award winners: Louis Boccardi, the former chief executive officer, and Tom Curley, the chief executive officer, of the Associated Press; Robert MacNeil, former host of "The MacNeil/Lehrer NewsHour"; John Siegenthaler, founder of the First Amendment Center; and Judy Woodruff, anchor for the Cable News Network.

In keeping with the symposium's theme, the panelists were asked about the perception -- particularly among politicians -- that the media are unfair.

"Fairness is in the eye of the beholder and whose ox is gored," MacNeil said.

Politicians often feel the media are unfair because of the adversarial relationship between the two sides, Boccardi said. "The media casts a skeptical eye on government, and neither side is completely happy," he said.

Reporting also becomes a creature of the times, Woodruff said, noting the extraordinary events polarizing the nation.

"We had the presidential election of 2000, where we agonized for 38 days over the recount. There was disagreement over how it was reported," she said. "Then after 9/11, we pulled together in the aftermath. Now, we see the country pulling apart on Iraq."

News organizations also need to do a better job explaining what they do and make corrections when needed, Woodruff said. "I think you gain credibility when you tell people that you made a mistake," she said.

But even with a reporter's best efforts, both sides often won't be satisfied with controversial stories, Siegenthaler said. "The perception becomes so deep, so hostile, that there's no way to make it fair," he said.

The debate over media bias is reflected in the Fox News channel's motto of "fair and balanced," the panel said.

MacNeil criticized the motto as misleading. "The Fox claim is a con on the public ... The network is blatantly unbalanced," he said, adding that the network has used patriotism to promote the right wing and Bush administration.

Woodruff added that the motto should be unnecessary for any news organization. "Fox is concerned about its news reputation. At CNN, we don't need to use those terms," she said.

While journalists are often accused of having a liberal bias, "most media are owned by Republican conservatives, so there is a healthy balance and tension" within the news operation, Curley said.

Woodruff added that the public often perceives the media of unfairly "piling on" political figures.

"We are like a dog with a bone and won't let go," she said. "It's better for the country if we sit back, take a breath and see what we are doing in a more rational approach."

Curley pointed to the "massive competition" which has intensified the demand to get the story first. The media also struggles with giving depth to many issues, he said.

An audience member said the media has unfairly invaded the personal lives of politicians, driving many people away from public service.

"We're not going to turn the clock back. The tough questions have to be asked of political figures," Woodruff said. Public officials are scrutinized not only by media but by disclosure laws, confirmation hearings and other aspects of the political arena, she said.

But the media also creates a feeding frenzy, MacNeil said. He pointed to the mixture of horror and titillation found in coverage of President Clinton's lying and sexual activity.

"The media enjoyed it like it was the greatest plunge into depravity that ever happened," MacNeil said.

Sen. George McGovern, who was in the audience, asked the panelists about the definition of "patriotism" and the increasing unpopularity of those who spoke out against the Iraq war.

The current national fervor has fueled the national divide, Woodruff said, noting the "deep attacks" felt by Sen. Tom Daschle, D-S.D., when he criticized President Bush heading into the Iraq war.

The panel talked about the emphasis on corporate profits and reaching niche markets, particularly a younger audience.

In his closing remarks, Neuharth said the symposium marked a historic evening.

"I doubt ever before that we have had this many nationally-distinguished journalists on one campus at one time to share their thoughts," he said.

Neuharth said he hoped the building which bears his name will likewise turn out such outstanding journalists in the future.

"I hope and expect, with the new facilities and programs, that more well-trained journalists in both print and broadcast will leave USD," he said.



britney
cnn-early-oribuary
fcc-consolidation
howard-stern
limbaugh
murdoch
superbowl-janet-breast
60 minutes blind sided by clark book viacom ties { April 11 2004 }
American idol delay deployment { January 26 2003 }
Amy goodman giving voice to silenced majority { April 21 2004 }
Aniston bares more [jpg]
Antiwar group says ad is rejected { July 12 2004 }
Ashcroft calls on news to brainwash { June 20 2003 }
Bank australia hbo takeover
Bill oreilly flips out and edits show { June 30 2004 }
British news favors israeli position { June 22 2004 }
Cbs fires producer over arafat special report
Cbs refuses anti bush ad { January 31 2004 }
Clear channel conglomerate { January 30 2003 }
Clear channel deregulation mess
Clear channel hearing
Clear channel mexico san diego { October 4 2002 }
Clear channel organizes pro war rallies { March 26 2003 }
Cnn intimidated by bush
Cnn planted question at debate
Cnn regrets planting debate questions { November 11 2003 }
Cnn vs cnn international different pictures { April 11 2003 }
Comcast makes unsolicited bid for disney
Corporate ads aired as real news
Corruption in the business { September 15 2003 }
Cross ownership { April 20 2001 }
Decline in public trust of media
Defense contractor buys movie theater chain loews { June 22 2004 }
Discovery empire
Disney prevents release of michael moore film { May 5 2004 }
Drawing up press battle lines { February 2 2003 }
Elton john says stars are scared to speak out { July 17 2004 }
Fcc easing television caps save viacom { May 11 2003 }
Fcc questions stations on fake news { August 15 2006 }
Financial times beats new york times as best paper
Fired radio host sues clear channel { July 7 2003 }
Head that could roll at bskyb
Hitler rise to power series canceled { May 15 2003 }
Idol calls in marine
Isaacson resigns cnn
Longer war more money { February 27 2003 }
Mccain feingold stop consolidation
Mccain questions clear channel dixie chicks { July 8 2003 }
Media big fish
Media cross ownership rule { April 29 2003 }
Media empire born { September 2 2003 }
Media giant shows anti kerry film before election
Media is mouthpiece for whatever administration in power { August 12 2004 }
Media mergers { May 14 2002 }
Media owned republicans { September 26 2003 }
Media ownership
Media sells war { February 18 2003 }
Moore reveals carlyle holdings 17 percent disney { July 28 2004 }
Msnbc ceo dismissed { December 21 2002 }
Msnbc future { August 18 2002 }
Msnbc hits bottom
Msnbc savage show canceled { July 7 2003 }
Mtv censors lyrics free mumia
Murdock to control directv { April 10 2003 }
Nbc postpones world dating show
Nbc pres to sony
NBC reports arabs blame US for tsunami { January 7 2005 }
Nbc shakeup
Neil young sings patriot 911 songs
Network executives pressured to support bush { May 28 2008 }
New york times criticizes own war coverage { May 26 2004 }
News ownership chart [gif]
News reporters ordered not to investigate 911
Newspapers cutting foreign correspondents { February 18 2007 }
Npr commercial { April 11 2002 }
Npr gets big money from mcdonalds { November 6 2003 }
Nytimes reporter faces fraud inquiry
Nytimes tensions shakeups
Oreilly attacks son of 911 victim jeremy glick { February 4 2003 }
Pacifica radio moves to berkley { June 24 2003 }
Powell concern media concentration
Powell cut off during interview { May 17 2004 }
Protest music died { February 20 2003 }
Refusal to air iraqi dead criticized { March 19 2003 }
Rep sanders
Rep sanders2
Rick braggs nytimes problem
Salon pacifica { June 20 2002 }
Saudi owned upi massive debt { April 24 1999 }
Sinclair broadcast fires chief for criticizing political ad { October 18 2004 }
Speaker at press corps dinner chides press for doing nothing
Stern tears into fcc { April 18 2003 }
Stories pushed aside in march to war
Ted turned says network news focus is on the pervert of the day
Ted turner lost 85 percent
Ted turner says government protects big media { July 8 2004 }
Thomas friedman calls 911 holy day for war { October 26 2001 }
Time warner joins bidding for MGM { July 2 2004 }
Un newspapers failed to challenge government claim about wmd { March 11 2004 }
Viacom extends mtv reach in china { September 23 2004 }
Viacom president quits { June 2 2004 }
War patriotic music radio { February 24 2003 }
Washington post says iraq coverage was flawed
Washington post to have shorter stories more photos { November 19 2004 }

Files Listed: 97



Correction/submissions

CIA FOIA Archive

National Security
Archives
Support one-state solution for Israel and Palestine Tea Party bumper stickers JFK for Dummies, The Assassination made simple