November 21 Edition
Meet The New News. Same As The Old News
While U.S. television news has gotten more serious since September 11, the networks may have simply found a new hot topic, rather than a transformed approach to journalism, according to a new study. From Project for Excellence in Journalism, November 19
The Bombing Of Al-Jazeera
Bombing radio and TV stations is a war crime. But the United States seems to keep doing it, reports Laura Flanders. PLUS: Was Al-Jazeera a target? From WorkingForChange.com (Working Assets), November 14
War Reporters, Murdered
Four foreign journalists were murdered in Afghanistan just a week after the death of three other war correspondents; witnesses report the brutal story. PLUS: David Ben-Aryeah sees this as proof of the need for UN peacekeeping forces as he bids farewell to his colleagues. From Reporters sans frontières, November 20
Support? What Support?
The media have interpreted almost every poll to indicate popular support for the war, when in fact most people in the world oppose the U.S. and UK actions in Afghanistan.
From David Miller, Stirling Media Research Institute, November 21
Antiterrorism Equals Anti-Journalism?
Indian journalists have covered terrorism for 20 years, but the government's new antiterrorism law could effectively make any coverage of insurgency or militancy illegal, warns Sevanti Ninan. From Media Foundation
Your Government Is Not Your Editor
Especially in wartime, editorial decisions and readers' evaluations are the agonizing efforts from which truth emerges. Therefore, governments must not put truth in jeopardy, insists this editorial from Africa. From NDIMA
Resolving The Press-Vs.-Pentagon Predicament
Journalist and former State Department spokesman John Hughes suggests ways the military and the media can cooperate in war reporting while still doing their jobs properly. From The Christian Science Monitor Online, November 14
Selling The War
The Defense Department hired TRG, a Washington-based PR firm, to try to convince overseas audiences that the war in Afghanistan is targeting terrorism, not Islam. Judging by past campaigns, this one is unlikely to succeed. From The Nation magazine, November 7
Media In Wartime — Was It Ever Free?
A historical look at two centuries of how war has affected press freedom in the United States.
From History News Network, October 12
The Government Line In Uzbekistan
It may not be the constant media propaganda that has Uzbeks accepting their government's support for the U.S. war on terrorism, but rather cynicism and a fear of backlash against dissent. From Eurasianet (Open Society Institute), November 15
Critiques From Cairo
Egypt's state-owned press has joined the opposition in bitterly criticizing the war's effect on the country's economy, the fight on terrorism and the U.S. approach to Palestinian statehood. From World Press Review, November 13
Pakistan Press Perspectives
This review of Pakistan's Urdu press finds that coverage and editorial opinions vary but most newspapers share concerns over refugees, U.S. government and media biases, violence against Muslims and the "true" identity of the September 11 attackers. From DAWN, November 15
War Of Words: Indian Vs. Pakistani Sites
You can perceive the dynamics of the Indian subcontinent through the online news coverage from India and Pakistan since September 11. An analysis of news and views. From Online Journalism Review, October 31
Anthrax Hits Home
An NBC Nightly News producer — whose specialty is, ironically, terrorism — writes about being part of an anthrax attack, with its mingling of fear and outrage, personal and professional issues. From Columbia Journalism Review
Dead, Visibly
How would you like it if that were your son or daughter? A photo editor explains how and when newspapers decide to run graphic photos of dead bodies. From Guardian Unlimited, November 19
Networks Must Not Ignore Bush
Three out of four of the top U.S. TV networks decided not to broadcast President Bush's November 8 speech. They were wrong, writes Godfrey Sperling. From The Christian Science Monitor Online, November 20
Tragedy Online
Within minutes of the September 11 attacks, first-person accounts were being posted on the Web. Was this personal journalism a breakthrough for Internet use? From Online Journalism Review, November 13
November 14 Edition
Journalism, Revitalized And Urgent
We need to understand this time of profound transformation, and journalists, in making sense of it all, can lead the way to a better world, suggests William E. Porter. From World Association of Newspapers, November 12
Airing Extremism
Are U.S. journalists fanning the flames by overstating extremist Islamic views? Is the problem a lack of prominent Muslim voices condemning bin Laden? Journalists and scholars discuss. PLUS: CNN anchor Judy Woodruff defends the
U.S. media's handling of this unprecedented story. From The WorldPaper, November 7
U.S. Censorship After September 11: An online index. From National Coalition Against Censorship, ongoing
Where Are The Women?
Afghanistan's women, the greatest victims of that country's crises, were conspicuously, appallingly absent from the recent gathering of Afghan leaders to determine the new political order. Why didn't the world's media notice? From Media Foundation
News Dissector: Media Management Now In Effect
The Bush administration is doing an effective job in managing mainstream media coverage of the conflict, says News Dissector Danny Schechter, but the message is not playing overseas. From MediaChannel.org, November 14
U.S. Media Afraid Of Antiwar Views?
As right-wing pressure groups and fears of conservative backlash keep the press from covering antiwar views, many Americans are turning to international sources for more balance, writes Laura Flanders. From WorkingForChange.com (Working Assets), November 9
America's Op-Ed Militants
Extremist calls for mass destruction, rallying cries for the war to spread, disdain for the U.S. government: Al Qaeda? No, the Washington Post Op-Ed page. From The Nation magazine, November 26
Dissin' Bin Laden
Corporate radio and corporate hip hop are joining the battle to convince young Americans of color to support the war. From WorkingForChange.com (Working Assets), November 13
Hollywood Goes To War
The stepped-up U.S. propaganda campaign, enlisting Hollywood in the war effort, is less about winning over Muslims worldwide than pacifying dissent at home, says Ali Asadullah. From Globalvision News Network, November 12
Indian Journalists Banned From Pakistan
The Pakistan government may be denying visas to Indian journalists to avoid biased reporting, but barring journalists only feeds hatred and mistrust, warns Kavita Menon. From Globalvision News Network
The Patriotism Problem
Although branded "unpatriotic" by some officials for his reporting in the Gulf War and Bosnia, Canadian journalist Steven Ward argues that "the primary duty of journalists is not to the state, but to the public." From Thunderbird Journalism Review, October 25
The Impatient Press
Some reports claim U.S. support for the war is slipping, but Godfrey Sperling thinks it's the media losing patience with the war effort, not the public. From The Christian Science Monitor Online, November 13
Europe Is Listening — To Everything
The Council of Europe's new Convention on Cybercrime may finally allow Britain the mass surveillance it's been pushing for. Rohan Jayasekera fears this plan to "bug them all and let Echelon sort them out." From Index on Censorship, November 8
Don't Closet Gay Heroes
Among those who died September 11 were a NYC Fire Department chaplain, a passenger who helped thwart hijackers and a veteran pilot — all openly gay. Journalists owe it to them to report this, urges the National Lesbian and Gay Journalists Association. From National Lesbian & Gay Journalists Association, October 22
November 7 Edition
Bad News Indonesia
Did Indonesian and foreign media go over the top in their coverage of recent anti-American sentiment? Yes, and the economy and the country's image are likely to suffer, reports Vincent Lingga. From Globalvision News Network, November 1
Pariah Nation
Anti-Americanism is spreading beyond the Muslim world, even in countries once captivated by the "American Dream." U.S. media are making it worse, says the former South Asia Bureau Chief of CNN. From Globalvision News Network, November 7
Hoax Or Horror: Why We Need Pranks
Malicious hoaxers are making all pranksters the enemy, but, as "sociopolitical satirist" Joey Skaggs insists, we must not forget that culture-jamming can educate, inspire and provoke for justice. From Joey Skaggs, November 6
How To Report Without Taking Sides
A Yugoslav journalist who analyzed how news transformed into propaganda during the worst violence in Kosovo offers advice to reporters who may be losing their neutrality. (In text and audio) From TomPaine.com, November 2
Free Press Can Undermine Hate
To clear the "poisoned" air and bring peace and democracy to the Arab world, the West must force Arab countries to open their airways and liberate information, says Palestinian journalist Daoud Kuttab. From EurasiaNet.org, October 31
Preventing Terrorism, Preventing Journalism
If it passes, India's new Prevention of Terrorism Ordinance has the potential to constantly harass and intimidate journalists. The government says publicity helps terrorists and that the media shouldn't participate. From Tehelka.com, October 29
Truth In Poetry
A Palestinian-New Yorker presents her "first writing since." (In text and video; video requires Quicktime player).
PLUS: More September 11-inspired art from popCULT.
Cartoon: War journalism, then and now
(requires Flash) From Motherjones.com
Journalism, Abandoned
It's no surprise that the Pentagon's media policy is making a mockery of "free press," but John MacArthur is shocked by how willingly the press has submitted. Note his cautionary tale about media in wartime. From The Nation
The Questioning Minority
For those Americans who don't "seek emotional solace in blind and unquestioning obedience," George Lewandowski mines media reports for "finger foods for free thinkers." From Yellow Times, October 30
Cartoon: Why networks love the war
(see the odd story behind this comic) From Access News
Up In The Boondocks
Aaron McGruder, creator of the controversial comic strip "The Boondocks," discusses the politics of having his comic pulled from newspapers and his plans for TV. From AlterNet/Independent Media Institute, October 5
The Noble Profession
Now that "the role of journalism may seem to be at odds with the national purpose," the Society of Professional Journalists reminds us that their education and advocacy is more important than ever. PLUS:
"Terrorism: Is Your Newsroom Ready?"--an online video forum with Journalists, public health professionals and emergency experts (including the U.S. Surgeon General). (Watch video. Read more.)
From Society of Professional Journalists
Reason: Blasting Left, Right And The Taliban
"We don't question authority," reads an ad for Reason, the libertarian monthly. "We interrogate it, impugn it, tear it down, dismember it, bury it, and, when the mood strikes us, dance on its
grave." From The Village Voice, October 31
Al Qaeda's Hidden Messages?
Reporters and lawmakers have suggested that terrorists could be hiding secret files in Internet images. Reviewing the history of "steganography," Andy Carvin says they could be, but there's no proof at all. From Communications Policy & Practice - Benton Foundation, October 31
Media Hawks Fly High
Bush not hawkish enough for you? You'll be happy to know a lot of the conservative media are pressing hard for bigger, escalating, maximum force. From TomPaine.com, November 2
Gangsters At War
Any art that draws its energy from violence may lose its appeal after September 11. How will this affect the world of rap? From The Black World Today, October 31
October 31 Edition
Fear, Fury And Secrets: War Infects The Press
With media the battleground of an information war, journalists must challenge censorship and move beyond the propaganda, speculation and alarmism that feed anger, mistrust and hatred. An introduction by Senior Editor Aliza Dichter.
Cartoon: The Fear News Network!
From MotherJones
Censorship By Consent
The U.S. and U.K. media may be all too willing to accept government control, burying important questions and inflaming hatred. From The Center For Public Integrity
ACTION ALERT: Call on U.S. TV Networks To Resist Censorship Pressure
Dissecting The War: Week Seven
The News Dissector clarifies the news in this weekly digest of his daily column.
Secrecy U.S.A.
As civil liberties, human rights and other organizations demand disclosure on the hundreds of civilians detained in connection with terrorist attacks, Attorney General John Ashcroft is turning the Freedom of Information Act into
an Official Secrets Act.
From The Nation magazine, October 31
