mediacrit.com » Journalism

Why Does Anyone Take Andrew Breitbart Seriously?

Christopher Martin — Sat, 24 Jul 2010 04:08:42 +0000

Andrew Breitbart has a job to do and he does it well. Breitbart’s job is to lie and distort the truth in order to advance a right-wing agenda, embarrass liberals, and undermine the Obama administration. Breitbart is not a journalist, researcher, or pundit. He is a propagandist. Read the entire post by Peter Dreier and Christopher [...]

Links to News Reports on ACORN Study

Christopher Martin — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 04:52:31 +0000

Harold Meyerson, “For ACORN, Truth Lost Amid the Din,” Washington Post, September 23, 2009. University of Northern Iowa, “Profs: Why ACORN was in the news in ‘07-’08, and what the media got wrong,” Romenesko, September 23, 2009. Alicia Shepard, “The ACORN Videos: Did NPR Ignore Them?” NPR, September 23, 2009. Michael Calderone, “Study: Media’s been wrong on ACORN,” [...]

ACORN Study co-author Dreier on Rachel Maddow Show, 9-24-2009

Christopher Martin — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 04:38:48 +0000

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

Manipulating the Public Agenda: Why ACORN Was in the News, and What the News Got Wrong

Christopher Martin — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 16:18:58 +0000

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE A study by Christopher R. Martin, Ph.D. and Peter Dreier, Ph.D. Using the controversy over ACORN as a case study, this report illustrates the way the media help set the agenda for public debate, and frame the way that debate is shaped. It describes how “opinion entrepreneurs” (primarily business and conservative groups and individuals) [...]

Mourning in America

Christopher Martin — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 17:22:30 +0000

Tim Russert, the host of NBC’s Meet the Press for 17 years who died suddenly on June 13, seemed like a thoroughly decent guy to me. In the following days, Washington journalists, politicians, and his viewing public lauded him as a fine political analyst, a straight shooter, and a great family man. In fact, we [...]

Iowa’s News Heroes

Christopher Martin — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 05:10:54 +0000

Iowa journalists deserve a lot of credit and time to catch their breath. They have been covering, almost nonstop, the tragic weather we’ve been having since the monster F5 tornado swept through Parkersburg, New Hartford, and Dunkerton on May 25. Then came the floods. This has been a bad several weeks for sleep if you [...]

Greenwashing Dirty Coal

Christopher Martin — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 18:50:29 +0000

It happened again. The Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier had a special "green" tabloid section in their Sunday, April 20 newspaper, with big full-page ad by LS Power. After doing the same thing last year, it appears that Courier is operating in an irony-free zone where "green" and "coal-fired power plant" can mean the same thing.

WE SURVIVED THE STRIKE! Of course we did.

Christopher Martin — Wed, 13 Feb 2008 19:24:09 +0000

Back around November 5, when the Writers Guild of America first called a strike against the major entertainment studios, there were almost hysterical reports in the news media -- what are we going to do without new episodes of our favorite TV programs? Like, Omigosh! The January 25 Entertainment Weekly even had a special "Strike Survival Guide" issue with cover of a bearded Conan O'Brien (who, along with David Letterman, used the time off the screen to watch his facial hair grow) that boasted "67 tips to beat the entertainment dry spell."

It’s Time for Change — In the Caucuses, Too

Christopher Martin — Mon, 14 Jan 2008 06:26:48 +0000

Before Iowans savor the successes of this year's caucuses, perhaps we should be thinking about "change," too, because the drumbeat to take away Iowa's lead position in the nominating process is much louder than in previous years.

The News Media’s Low Standards for the High Office

Christopher Martin — Fri, 09 Nov 2007 22:10:45 +0000

It's at times frustrating to watch the national news media cover the caucus campaigning in Iowa -- as if we're all about ethanol, hogs, and loose-meat sandwiches.