Titanic Post

by Ken Nicholson

We had another murder in Alamogordo yesterday. The Alamogordo Daily News covered the story with a photograph of the victim and another of a blood spattered suspect. The reaction of some people in Otero County was displeasure directed against ADN for printing the photos. The following is my reply:

Yes, it is unpleasant to view death and so much more pleasant to sweep reality under the carpet. The US media is all too happy to pander to our tender sensibilities by not publishing news that is “too real” and that could possibly spoil our appetite for shopping. (more…)

Published on Sunday, May 4, 2008 by PBS.org

by Bill Moyers

I once asked a reporter back from Vietnam, “Who’s telling the truth over there?” “Everyone, he said. “Everyone sees what’s happening through the lens of their own experience.” That’s how people see Jeremiah Wright. In my conversation with him on this broadcast a week ago and in his dramatic public appearances since, he revealed himself to be far more complex than the sound bites that propelled him onto the public stage. Over 2000 of you have written me about him, and your opinions vary widely. Some sting: “Jeremiah Wright is nothing more than a race-hustling, American hating radical,” one viewer wrote. A “nut case,” said another. Others were far more were sympathetic to him.

Many of you have asked for some rational explanation for Wright’s transition from reasonable conversation to shocking anger at the National Press Club. A psychologist might pull back some of the layers and see this complicated man more clearly, but I’m not a psychologist. Many black preachers I’ve known - scholarly, smart, and gentle in person - uncorked fire and brimstone in the pulpit. Of course I’ve known many white preachers like that, too. (more…)

In Defense of Rev. Jeremiah Wright & the Best of Prophetic Tradition in the Black Church

See also letter from Kansas City AME Bishop

Social Action Commission
African Methodist Episcopal Church
Los Angeles, CA

Several months ago, early in the Democratic race for the nomination to run for president, conservative radio pundits began attacking Senator Barak Obama by playing sound bites of sermons by his pastor, Rev. Jeremiah Wright. These right wing extremist shrilly declared that Rev. Wright’s prophetic preaching style speaking truth to power and calling white racism by name was in fact “reverse racism”. At a time when Senator Obama’s run seemed in the words of former President Bill Clinton a “fairy tail,” few news media outside of the right wing so-called conservative extremist media gave significant attention to these sound bites. Then a little over a week ago, less than six weeks before the last major primary in Pennsylvania, and as Senator Obama’s campaign has developed a commanding and seemingly insurmountable lead in both popular votes and delegates against Senator Hillary Rodham-Clinton, major news media have refocused on Rev. Jeremiah Wright, Trinity United Church of Christ and Senator Obama’s membership at Trinity. (more…)

“Today’s Decision Would Make George Orwell Proud”—FCC Commissioner Michael Copps on the FCC’s Vote to Rewrite the Nation’s Media Ownership Rules

The Federal Communications Commission voted three to two on party lines last week to approve a measure that would increase media consolidation. The new rule pushed through by FCC Chairman Kevin Martin lifts a 30-year old ban on companies seeking to own both a newspaper and television or radio station in the same city. Michael Copps was one of two FCC Commissioners to vote against the rule.

Democracy Now, December 26, 2007

The national media is rigging the 2008 election. That it doesn’t realize this makes as little difference as the unconsciousness of a drunk driver or the upbringing of a prejudiced individual. Intent may explain or mitigate an offense; it does not, however, alter the effect. And the practice should be regarded as disreputable as any form of negligence that contributes to great harm.

The main forces driving this manipulation are the cultural isolation of the national media, its incestuous relationship with those in power, its immersion in political mythology and the general collapse of skeptical and investigative journalism.
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While America obsessed about Brittany’s shaved head, Bush offered a budget that offers $32.7 billion in tax cuts to the Wal-Mart family alone, while cutting $28 billion from Medicaid.

Matt Taibbi, Rolling Stone