For most of Bush's presidency, and especially since 9-11, the majority of Americans have been eager to believe in the President, and in his stated reasons for invading Iraq. And after those reasons were shown to be largely groundless, most people have continued to cling to them. Bob speaks with Andrew Kohut of the Pew Research Center for the People and the Press about how certain ideas persist in the collective consciousness, irrespective of any evidence to support them.
It's been a tough week for the Beeb. After months of investigation, Lord Hutton concluded that the BBC was at fault last year for broadcasting a report accusing the British government of "sexing up" intelligence about the Iraqi threat. The decision was followed by the resignations of two top BBC executives, which in turn triggered massive protests by BBC employees. Bob talks to WBUR's London-based reporter Michael Goldfarb about the fallout from the Hutton report.
Some time ago, we reported on a strange vigil that was taking place in Rome. The Pope was suffering from Parkinson's Disease, and showing signs of fatigue. Many of his fellow Vatican residents have recognized the opportunity to profit from the morbid media spotlight on the Pope, and were providing journalists with hours of commentary and prime real estate within camera view of St. Peter's. More than a year later, not much has changed. Megan Williams filed this report on how the media prepare for a Papal death.
Bob and Brooke read from listeners' letters.
After their embarrassing mistakes on Election Night 2000, the big three news networks swore that they'd be extra careful - and responsible - when reporting election returns in the future. This week in New Hampshire, they had their first opportunity to demonstrate their mended ways. One of their cardinal rules is not to call the election until after the polls are closed. But Andrew Tyndall, who monitors newscasts for the Tyndall Report, tells Bob how attentive viewers can discern the results as early as half past six.
At last, Americans can use their cell phones to register their choice of presidential candidate! Not for the heated contests being held in South Carolina, Arizona, and New Mexico… but rather for Showtime's very own 10-episode primary. On "American Candidate," political polemics meets reality TV meets the American dream, and anyone can become the next President. Bob chats with R.J. Cutler, the creator and Executive Producer of the new show.
When the U.S. government withholds information for national security reasons, it often invokes what's known as the "State Secrets Privilege." The legal precedent was established in 1948, when the Supreme Court ruled that the military didn't have to release documents relating to an Air Force plane crash in Georgia. Now, children of the crash victims have been able to review those documents, and what they've found suggests that the "State Secrets Privilege" was predicated on a fraud. Brooke discusses the case with George Washington University law professor Jonathan Turley.
This week, one of television's formative personalities passed away. During his reign at the helm of the Tonight Show between 1957 and 1962, Jack Paar chatted with rising stars and established ones. In the process, he showed America the human side of some of the world's most famous and powerful people. Brooke reflects on the career of Jack Paar.
Highlights from Past Shows
After the votes were tallied this week, pundits continued to debate how much the Iowa caucuses really matter. But if there's any lesson we take away from Iowa, it's that the media love a winner, and love to hate a loser. And according to National Journal media critic Bill Powers, the theatrical coverage of the rise and fall of candidates follows the same predictable stages as celebrity tales of triumph over adversity. Bob parses the coverage with Powers.
With just a couple of days left before the Iowa caucuses, the airwaves in the all-important 29th state are awash with campaign ads both for and against the Democratic candidates. But how is a poor undecided Iowan to weed out the substantive wheat from the false and misleading chaff? Enter factcheck.org, a new website sponsored by the Annenberg Public Policy Center. Veteran journalist Brooks Jackson is the project's director, and joins Bob to discuss it.
On the Media is funded by The Bydale Foundation, The Ford Foundation, The John S. and James L. Knight Foundation and the Overbrook Foundation.
