Attack the messenger : how politicians turn you against the media / Craig Crawford.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Crawford, Craig, 1956-

Series:

American political challenges

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Mass media--Political aspects--United States.

Mass media.

Mass media--Political aspects.

United States.

Physical Description:

ix, 181 pages ; 24 cm.

Place of Publication:

Lanham, Md. : Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc., [2006]

Summary:

Politicians and the media are natural enemies, but in recent times, the relationship has exploded into all-out war. Craig Crawford has seen it all up close and personal, and he is disturbed by what he sees. When politicians turn the public against the media, everyone loses-especially unbiased and courageous news reporting. When veteran White House correspondent Helen Thomas is banished from her front-row post-as she has been in the current administration-the American public is denied the chance to consider her pointed questions, even if they go unanswered. Worse, when traditional reporters and media are displaced, the pundits and alternative media take over. Rush Limbaugh, The O'Reilly Factor, Comedy Central's Jon Stewart, and the bloggers have their place in American politics, and the 2004 elections showed the incredible power of the Internet. These media, however, are a different breed, as Crawford points out-they serve a purpose, but at a cost. They become "opinion merchants," bartering outrageous assertions for audience appeal with little attention to the truth. These days, the truth is hard to find. If the press is not believed-or believable-because politicians have turned the public against it, then the press is not free, but under the thumbs of politicians. Without a free press, there is no democracy. That, says Crawford, is where we find ourselves today. If you don't like the news, attack the messenger, and it will go away. Going, going, gone.

Contents:

Chapter 1 Turning the Tables 1

The Setup 3

The Sting 4

The Fallout 10

Media on the Run 11

Chapter 2 Blame the Messenger 15

The Downside of the Media's Fall 17

Bring Back Believable Reporting 19

Arrogance Is a Blinding Weakness 22

Media Wimps 23

Standing Up to Power 25

Chapter 3 A President Lies 29

Parse That Sentence 30

Choosing to Lie 32

That Other West Wing Affair 33

"I Did Not Have Sexual Relations..." 37

Chapter 4 Spinning Lies 43

Gambling with the Truth 44

The Rewards of Lying 47

The History of Propaganda 49

Spinning the Drug War 50

The Spin Room 52

Chapter 5 A War Story 59

A Press Subdued 61

Jefferson and Lincoln against the Press 62

The White House Briefing as Performance Art 64

The TV Generals 65

Chapter 6 Who Will Tell the Truth? 73

Losing Public Faith 74

Dropping the Ball 75

Media Glory Days 76

Drawing Conclusions 79

The "Dover Test" 81

Chapter 7 The End of an Era 87

Rather Moments 90

Chilling Effect 90

Vietnam Redux 91

The Son Rises 96

Chapter 8 Winners and Losers 97

Old Media versus New Media 99

A "Huge Assumption" 101

At the Mercy of Spin 102

Fear in the Newsroom 105

The Politicians Win 107

Chapter 9 Media Culpa 109

Struggling to Matter 111

My Hate Mail 113

Getting It Wrong 117

Why I Don't Vote 117

Explaining Ourselves 118

Chapter 10 How to Get the Real Story 121

C-SPAN 121

The Associated Press 122

Public Broadcasting 125

Don Imus 126

The Gray Ladies 127

Ombudsmen and Critics 128

The National Networks 128

Opinion as News 129

Shouting the News 131

Cable Watch 132

The Internet 134

Old Media's Comeback Trail 137

Chapter 11 What Now? 141

Taking the Lead 142

Acknowledging Bias 144

Politicians on the Loose 145

Let Us Be Rude Again 146

Keep It between the Ditches 148

Appendix 1 Poll Watch: Public Confidence in the Press 149

Appendix 2 Media Resource Guide 155.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references (pages 163-172) and index.

ISBN:

0742538168

OCLC:

57506756