On The Media is produced by:
Fighting in the Iraqi city of Najaf appeared to be reaching a resolution on Friday, after a tense standoff between U.S. forces and followers of the Shiite cleric Moqtada Al-Sadr. But two week's worth of headline coverage hardly made a dent in the prevailing image of Al-Sadr here at home - a renegade fanatic with motives unclear. Iraq expert Juan Cole speaks with OTM guest host Mike Pesca about the questions that aren't being asked by the Western press.
Take the world's best amateur athletes, put them together for two weeks of healthy competition, throw in some good old-fashioned jingoism, and what do you get? A sporting event that many American sports fans couldn't care less about. Mike Pesca looks at how NBC is packaging the Olympics for an audience of non-sports fans, while other media outlets are left in the lurch.
A judge found five reporters in contempt of court this week for refusing to divulge their sources for information besmirching the reputation of Chinese-American scientist Wen Ho Lee. And journalists were slapped with yet more subpoenas in the investigation into the outing of former CIA agent Valerie Plame. Media reps are outraged, but what think people on the other side of the leaking equation? Mike gets an answer from preeminent leaker Daniel Ellsberg.
Fifteen years ago this summer, American journalism lost one of its greatest practitioners. I.F. Stone worked for many newspapers, but always refused to play by the rules of the Washington press corps. Still, Izzy Stone was ahead on covering McCarthyism, the Civil Rights Movement, and the Vietnam War. OTM producer Megan Ryan reflects on Stone's career.
Americans nationwide reacted with shock last week when New Jersey governor James McGreevey came out of the closet on live TV. But there was little surprise on the part of the state's press corps. Rumors about McGreevey's sexuality and his "special relationship" with advisor Golan Cipel had been circulating for years. So why did it take so long for the story to break? Mike talks to WNYC New Jersey correspondent Bob Hennelly.
George W. Bush may be the first president since Hoover to preside over a net job loss, but one industry has boomed under his watch - political truth-squadding. In the last three-and-a-half years, Bryan Keefer, for one, has become a veteran vetter. The co-author of All the President's Spin tells Mike how the presidential hopefuls have mastered the art of misleading without lying.
The media issues at stake in the presidential campaign have thus far mostly centered on which candidate reads more newspapers. But recently John Kerry hinted that he also has big plans for shaking up the FCC. Mike talks to Editor & Publisher reporter Mark Fitzgerald about what national media policies would look like under President Kerry.
In recent years, Pakistani film stars, musicians, and directors have been relocating to Bombay, the center of India's film industry. Some are motivated by improving relations between the nuclear neighbors. But others are simply fleeing a dying industry. OTM's Miranda Kennedy reports from Lahore - otherwise known as "Lollywood" - on the travails of Pakistani cinema.
Highlights from Past ShowsSeptember has been dubbed National Preparedness Month, and features a slate of events intended to raise public awareness about what to do in the case of a terrorist attack. Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge will inaugurate the month will an official announcement on…September 9th? Blogger Bob Harris tells Brooke that the timing of Ridge's kick-off makes it obvious that National Preparedness Week is really all about election season shenanigans.
The security situation in Iraq has deteriorated to such an extent that many European news bureaus are packing up and heading home. American news outlets have yet to follow their lead, but reporters mostly stay holed up in hotels, relying on freelancers. What's the effect of bunker journalism on the story that's getting out? It turns out that the time devoted to Iraq on the network nightly news is shrinking as the attacks become more frequent. Newsday correspondent Matt McAllester gives Brooke the view from Baghdad.
On the Media is funded by The Bydale Foundation, The Ford Foundation, The John S. and James L. Knight Foundation and the Overbrook Foundation.
