Rep. John Conyers' Forum on Media Bias

[paineinthearse]

God bless John Conyers for not only holding this hearing, but blogging it FIRST HAND! This man deserves roses!

http://www.conyersblog.us/

Forum on Media Bias
Clips To Come Later Tonight
On ConyersBlog First (or Second)

My forum on media bias today was eye opening to say the least and there was a lot of ground to cover. Perhaps the atmosphere was best summarized by Eric Alterman, who began his remarks by saying, with perfect comic timing, (my recollection, not a quote): "There is so much media bias. I don't even know where to start."

I should start by expressing my gratitude to all of the panelists, but to Air America Radio and the Al Franken Show in particular. Al Franken has often said there are many kinds of media bias, among these biases of ratings and profit. As the host on the anchor show of a fledging and critical progressive talk radio network, Al Franken and Air America are no doubt doing everything they can to ensure that the Al Franken show is successful. There is no doubt that my forum was not the most entertaining programming Air America and Al Franken have carried. It takes guts to devote two hours of your show to a panel such as this. Without a doubt, airing this panel was a public service, not something done with an eye for the bottom line. Simply put, Franken put his money where his mouth is, and I believe that should tell you something about Air America and Al Franken.

Randi Rhodes is part of the Air America family and moved her show to D.C. for the day to participate in the forum. I am very grateful to her. Whenever I hear Randi Rhodes, I am struck by her humble sincerity. Randi laid out specific policy proposals that will, without a doubt, be the foundation of future legislation.

Now, a programming note. C-Span was there and taped the entire hearing. Their first obligation is always to broadcast the proceedings on the floor of the House and Senate live, so they ccould not broadcast this forum live. I do not know when they will air the hearing, but I know they will. Keep and eye on their schedule on their website (c-span.org), and check back often, I am told they change it frequently. If my volunteers, hear a time certain it will be broadcast, I will post it here.

In the meantime, a capable amateur videographer captured the proceedings and my web administrator will post clips here in bits and pieces starting tonight. I encourage you to download these clips and distribute them as you wish.

Blogged by JC on 05.24.05 @ 10:17 PM ET

I will edit/apend as more information becomes available.

[paineinthearse]

1. Conyers' congressional panel says media drifting toward tabloid coverage

http://www.freep.com/news/statewire/sw116241_20050524.htm

Conyers' congressional panel says media drifting toward tabloid coverage

May 24, 2005, 5:38 PM

WASHINGTON (AP) -- The American media has drifted toward tabloid journalism and has been cowtailed by the Bush administration over its coverage of events such as the war in Iraq, a congressional panel organized by Michigan Rep. John Conyers said Tuesday. "The vast majority of the mainstream media is not only unwilling to accurately report on the failings of the administration, but the few who do have fallen victim to scapegoating and retribution," said Conyers, a Democrat. "We have turned from breaking stories like Watergate and the Iran-Contra scandal to celebrity journalism."

Conyers organized the hearing in the aftermath of Newsweek's retraction of a report that claimed investigators had found evidence the Quran was desecrated by interrogators at the U.S. naval prison at Guantanamo Bay. He recently led 88 members in Congress in writing President Bush to demand information about reports in the British media that the United States and Great Britain secretly agreed to invade Iraq in the summer of 2002. The Downing Street memo, as the report has been called, was cited by panelists as an example of important news that has failed to receive adequate attention from U.S. news outlets.

Conyers released an analysis by Congressional Research Service that found the Downing Street memo received no coverage from evening news shows on major cable TV outlets in the days after its publishing in Great Britain. But stories on runaway bride Jennifer Wilbanks and the Michael Jackson trial were covered extensively. White House spokesman Trent Duffy said the White House is not a media critic. "The president is a strong supporter, as is the White House, of a free, vigorous and aggressive press in America like we are in emerging democracies overseas," Duffy said.

Al Franken, a comedian and the host of a liberal radio show, cited a study conducted by a research group at the University of Maryland that found prior to the war, many Bush voters believed Iraq had weapons of mass destruction or a program to develop them. He said the attitudes were created by "the right-wing media in league with the Bush administration and corporate-funded think tanks and abetted by an intimidated mainstream media scared of its own shadow." Randi Rhodes, a talk show host based in Florida, said ratings for top cable television news outlets have declined because viewers are turned off by coverage. "People have decided the news has been canceled and so they do no watch. Nor do they trust the news to report the most important stories of the day," Rhodes said.

[ChiciB1]

16. I Listened On Air America....

I just wish they would show it on C-Span before Saturday Night. I have to be OUT OF TOWN!!!

It's Memorial Day week-end, fine time to be showing it!!!

[paineinthearse]

34. self delete

[paineinthearse]

2. Midnight update - list of clips to be added later tonight....

http://www.conyersblog.us/default.htm

<snip>

In the meantime, a capable amateur videographer captured the proceedings and my web administrator will post clips here in bits and pieces starting tonight. I encourage you to download these clips and distribute them as you wish.


Congressman John Conyers, Jr., Opening Statement
Al Franken, Air America Radio host
David Brock, Media Matters for America
Randi Rhodes, Air America Radio host
Joe Madison, Talk Radio Host
Justin Webb, Senior Washington Correspondent, BBC News
Eric Alterman, Senior Fellow at the Center for American Progress
Steve Rendall, Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting
John Aravosis, America Blog
Mark Lloyd, Senior Fellow at the Center for American Progress
Ben Wikler, Producer, Air America Radio
Q and A ]

[paineinthearse]

4. "UPDATE: Clips will not be posted until Wednesday, technical problems"

Sorry, standing by......

[senseandsensibility]

3. Go, Conyers!

I got to hear some of this live on Air America. The British guy was fantastic, and very funny!! :)

[burrowowl]

5. KICK! eom

[Nothing Without Hope]

6. Fantastic forum - looking forward to the CSPAN broadcast.

Conyers' blog comments tonight are also posted in this thread
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=132&topic_id=1806515

In this reply:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=1806515&mesg_id=1807843

In this thread the issue of starting a Conyers group is raised again. Each time, a few more people show interest. I think we're well on our way to the ten we need.

[paineinthearse]

7. :>

Even without looking at the "handle" in the blog responses, I could tell who authored it.

;)

[LeahD]

8. Thank you, Rep. Conyers!

I heard bits and pieces of the broadcast today as I was driving around town running errands. Randi was awesome. I believe it was Barney Frank who said that media bias is one of the most serious issues we face today.

I agree, because without dissemination of accurate information, we are uninformed, and there cannot be true discussion/debate about what's going on in our world. If we're fed propaganda, it's "garbage in, garbage out."

[paineinthearse]

9. Just checked the Conyers blog

No active links later, I will monitor every couple hours.

[ChiciB1]

17. Thanks... I NEED To Download Them.... n/t

[Nothing Without Hope]

10. There are AUDIO CLIPS from Al Franken & Randi Rhodes posted in this

thread in Reply #18:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=132&topic_id=1806515#1806581
Thread title: "BRAD BLOG: Conyers at Media Bias Forum: 'Independent Press Under Assault'"

Video clips will be posted later today.

[Viva_La_Revolution]

11. waiting for video....

and the CSPAN broadcast (not on their schedule yet either)

:headbang:

[paineinthearse]

12. Video of JC's opening statement is now available

http://www.conyersblog.us/archives/conyersstatementlow.mov

Just the first of many segments to come!

Congressman John Conyers, Jr., Opening Statement
Al Franken, Air America Radio host
David Brock, Media Matters for America
Randi Rhodes, Air America Radio host
Joe Madison, Talk Radio Host
Justin Webb, Senior Washington Correspondent, BBC News
Eric Alterman, Senior Fellow at the Center for American Progress
Steve Rendall, Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting
John Aravosis, America Blog
Mark Lloyd, Senior Fellow at the Center for American Progress
Ben Wikler, Producer, Air America Radio
Q and A

[paineinthearse]

19. Transcript: Congressman John Conyers, Jr., Opening Statement

http://www.bradblog.com/archives/00001414.htm

Rep. Conyers Says Independent Press Under Assault
Urges Media To Challenge Authority At Congressional Forum

Washington, DC; Congressman John Conyers, Jr., Ranking Member of the House Judiciary Committee, delivered the following statement today at a Congressional forum examining media bias and the future of a free press:

"There are few institutions in our nation today that are capable of operating as a check on the abuses of one party rule - one is the filibuster; another is an independent judiciary; a third is a free and unbiased press. All three of these institutions are under assault today.

Last night the Republicans came within an inch of obliterating more than two centuries of precedent supporting the minority's right of debate. The triggering of the 'nuclear option' may have been delayed for the time being; but the message has been clearly delivered by the Majority - in the future, you exercise your rights at your own peril.

Anyone who witnessed the shameful Terri Schiavo debate knows that the Judiciary is under attack in this country. With Tom DeLay threatening to 'hold judges accountable' and Senator Cornyn rationalizing violence against what he calls unaccountable judges, there can be little doubt the Congressional Majority can and will use their authority to discipline judges who stand in the way of their extreme right wing agenda.

As for freedom of the press - the subject of today's forum - all you need to do is turn on the television, open up the paper, or listen to the radio to appreciate the extent our so-called fourth estate has fallen. The vast majority of the mainstream media is not only unwilling to accurately report on the failings of the Administration, but the few who do have fallen victim to scapegoating and retribution.

We have turned from breaking stories like Watergate and the Iran-Contra scandal to celebrity journalism. As the Congressional Research Report I am releasing today proves, major events that shape our democracy and impact our lives routinely receive scant and belated coverage, while the most trivial matters that were once the last stories on Inside Edition or A Current Affair now dominate the airwaves.

In the lead up to the Iraq war, every minor leak supporting the Administration's contention that Iraq possessed weapons of mass destruction was trumpeted on page one. Stories challenging these assertions and discussing the final reports of weapons inspectors concluding there were no such weapons, however, were banished to a few paragraphs in the middle of dailies. Such incidents have become the rule, not the exception, during the Bush Administration, particularly after 9/11 and in the face of a massive consolidation in media ownership.

Can you imagine the media uproar ten years ago if the Clinton White House had given a fake journalist operating under a fake name unlimited access to the White House? Does anyone think for a minute that the Washington Times would have ignored stories about paid propaganda coming out of the Clinton Education Department, or if a Democratic Secretary of State had turned tens of thousands of Republicans away at the polls in a critical swing state?

Would most of the major papers have buried stories detailing secret agreements to invade Iraq, billions of dollars in missing reconstruction funds, or fantasy war stories spun by the Defense Department if a Democrat were responsible? Consider what Bob Novak or Bill O'Reilly would have said if Mike McCurry had browbeaten them about their use of anonymous sources, or the Secretary of Defense had warned the press to 'be careful what you say' as Donald Rumsfeld had done. You know the answer as well as I do.

There are a few alternative sources willing to speak truth to power. I first learned about the now infamous Downing Street Memo on Daily Kos. Bradblog, Raw Story and Air America have been at the forefront of our ongoing national election scandal. But these voices are too few and too diffuse to overcome the blatant biases of our cable channels and the negligence and neglect of our major newspapers.

Thomas Jefferson wrote 'our liberty depends on the freedom of the press, and that cannot be limited without being lost.' Let me remind those in the media, by failing to exercise your rights and duties to challenge authority, you risk losing not only your integrity, but the nation's trust and respect. And to those in the Administration who would blame the press for their misdeeds and the media for their failings, I would ask you to be careful what you say. You cannot preach democracy abroad if you don't respect the constitution and freedom of the press in our own country."

[paineinthearse]

13. JC's latest

http://www.conyersblog.us/

Forum on Media Bias and the Future of Freedom of the Press
From the Newsweek Controversy to the Downing Street Memo

I am advised that the processing of video clips is proceeding a bit slower than I anticipated, so here is a little bit more play by play than my prior entry. Keep looking for clips below.

The event was well covered. It was aired live on Air America. It was also covered by C-SPAN on a tape delayed basis (I will let you know when the forum is scheduled for airing). The forum was also covered by the AP (story in scores of papers including the Washington Post) and the Detroit Free Press.

I opened with a statement summing up the problem of a media that generally fails to report on the failings of the Administration, and that when it does, faces threats of retribution and repercussion as Newsweek recently learned. I also referenced a Congressional Research Service Study I released today which found that sensational stories like the “runaway bride” were receiving wall to wall network coverage, while important policy stories like the “Downing Street Memo” were all but ignored. Bradblog has the full text of my statement.

The panelists covered a wide variety of ground. Let me briefly summarize:

Al Franken noted that the media contributed to an environment where most Americans were convinced that Saddam Hussein was responsible for 9/11 and that he supported Al Quaeda – neither of which is true. He also reminded us of many of Rush Limbaugh’s misstatements, including a statement that Abu Ghraib was good because it showed that Americans knew how to humiliate Arabs.

David Brock of Media Matters reported that their web site contains more than 2000 incidents of falsehoods by the conservative media. He also noted studies showing that Fox News viewers tended to be the most misinformed, while NPR and PBS listeners were the most informed. Perhaps that is why the Administration is trying to muzzle them?

Randi Rhodes made a strong push for corrective legislation. Among other things, the Fairness Doctrine may require reinstatement if we are to ever hope to have a true “fair and balanced” presentation by the media.

My good friend Joe Madison emphasized the need to “speak truth to power” and said many Democrats were playing a form of “touch football” while the GOP was playing “tackle” when it came to media dealings.

Eric Alterman continued the sports analogy and said that for more than 40 years Republicans have been “working the refs” trying to convince the public of a liberal media bias which does not exist.

We also received excellent statements from Justin Webb of the BBC (noting the British press is far less deferential than the U.S.); Steven Rendall of Fairness and Accuracy in Media Reporting (detailing media bias and urging a return of the fairness doctrine); John Aravosis of AmericaBlog (the GOP reminds him of a team that uses its most expendable player to attack the Democrats’ best candidate); Mark Lloyd of Center for American Progress (excellent historical perspective and reminder that aside from partisan biases, the mainstream media has a distinctively pro-corporate bias); and Ben Wikler of Air America (noting the right wing discounted the huge increase in the youth vote in the last election, which was the only vote to strongly tilt Democratic).

My congressional colleagues closed with a number of good points. Debbie Wasserman Shultz expressed her frustration with a misinformed media that reported falsehoods as truth during the Schiavo controversy. Bernie Sanders complained about corporate control. Sheila Jackson Lee supports a federal shield law to protect confidential sources. Lynne Woolsey said we need to repeat our selves until the press covered us. Jim McDermott said that after he went on “This Week” on ABC several years ago and said Bush lied about the War, he was never invited back to a major talk show. Bobby Scott and Linda Sanchez also participated.

Today’s forum was a momentous event, and I don’t intend to let the issue drop.

Let me know your thoughts and ideas after you review this and the related links, and listen to and watch the forum first hand.

[dzika]

14. C-Span to broadcast media forum Saturday at 8 PM

According to an update on Conyers blog:

UPDATE: CURRENT C-SPAN SCHEDULE SAYS IT IS ON 8PM SATURDAY NIGHT. PLEASE CHECK BACK AT C-SPAN SITE, AS THEY MAY SCHEDULE IT EARLIER IN THE WEEK AND/OR MAY CHANGE THIS TIME

[paineinthearse]

18. Thanks, dzika

Beats going to the movies!

[Nothing Without Hope]

23. Great news, dzika. I'll be looking forward to watching it.! n/t

[wryter2000]

28. Fan-damn-tastic!

I must remember to tape this.

Conyers is the best!

[Griffy]

15. WATCH! I went to this.. I think you will all be pleased when you hear..

the truth being spoken and the notion that we need to go on the offense.. to march down to the Washington Post office and demand coverage.. if needed.. I am focused on media, its the key to this all.. we got the memo.. we got the facts and all we need is the media to report it!

[paineinthearse]

20. AP: Public, Press Attitudes Differ on Accuracy

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/05/24/AR2005052401150.html

Public, Press Attitudes Differ on Accuracy

By WILL LESTER
The Associated Press
Tuesday, May 24, 2005; 5:40 PM

WASHINGTON --

<snip>

A congressman who organized a panel to examine the role played by the media said Tuesday that news organizations have drifted toward tabloid journalism and have been intimidated from reporting about the war in Iraq.

"The vast majority of the mainstream media is not only unwilling to accurately report on the failings of the administration, but the few who do have fallen victim to scapegoating and retribution," said Rep. John Conyers, D-Mich. "We have turned from breaking stories like Watergate and the Iran-Contra scandal to celebrity journalism."

The congressman released an analysis by Congressional Research Service which found that reports in the British media about the United States and Great Britain secretly agreeing to invade Iraq received very little coverage on major cable TV outlets in the days after it was published in Britain.

___

On the Net:

Annenberg Public Policy Center: http://www.annenbergpublicpolicycenter.org

___

Associated Press writer Ken Thomas contributed to this story.

[Pacifist Patriot]

21. I don't know how often I can say "I love him!"

[Sick_of_Rethuggery]

22. C-SPAN said Conyers' forum to air this weekend (tentatively sch!)

I called them earlier today and they said they are shooting for this weekend, but that they cannot say for certain when.

(I looked at their calendar and it says Saturday at 8 pm, FWIW.)

[paineinthearse]

24. Raw Story's "day of event" exclusive interview

http://rawstory.com/exclusives/alexandrovna/transcript_conyers_dictatorial_flavor_525

Please support lalarawraw's DU post at http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x3729372

[paineinthearse]

25. 95% OF THE CLIPS ARE UP!!!!!!!!!!

Go to http://www.conyersblog.us/

Video Clips from Media Forum

QUICKTIME CLIPS (low res)

Congressman John Conyers, Jr. (still processing)
Al Franken, Air America Radio
David Brock, Media Matters for America
Randi Rhodes, Air America Radio
Joe Madison, Radio One
Justin Webb, BBC
Eric Alterman, Center for American Progress
Steve Rendall, FAIR
John Aravosis, Americablog
Mark Lloyd, Center for American Progress (video still being processed)
Ben Wikler, Producer, Air America Radio
Question and Answer (segment one)
Question and Answer (segment two)
Question and Answer (segment three)
Question and Answer (segment two)

[Nothing Without Hope]

26. VIDEO CLIPS from the Media Bias Forum are up at Conyers' blog site:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x1809622
Thread title: "VIDEO CLIPS ARE UP FOR THE CONYERS FORUM on Media Bias from Tues."

[paineinthearse]

27. thanks

I think

[katinmn]

29. Kick! Thanks for tracking this. I look forward to reading &

listening. Everything JC does is good by me.

:kick:

[paineinthearse]

30. 100% of the clips are available

http://www.conyersblog.us/

JC, you rock!

:yourock:

[Rainscents]

31. Thank you very much for posting this!!! I want you to know, how much

I appreciate all the work you've done to put this together... Thanks again!!! :toast: :thumbsup:

[paineinthearse]

32. Midnight kick for those who haven't seen the streaming video

All are available now. Scroll up for the link, or go to www.johnconyers.com, blog area.

[paineinthearse]

33. RADICALS FOR 'MEDIA REFORM'

Received by email from Danny Schecter.

Media critic Brent Bozell has advice for PBS: When you are under attack for being a nest of left-wingers, it might not be the best strategy to let your most identifiable left-wing stars go to radical-left conferences and attack conservatives as evil.
(Media Research Center)
http://www.mediachannel.org/views/dissector/affalert383.shtml
Also see:
** LITTLE DARLINGS OF THE MEDIA
http://www.spectator.org/dsp_article.asp?art_id=8215
** OBJECTIVITY IS DEAD! LONG LIVE OBJECTIVITY!
http://mediamassage.typepad.com/mediamassage/2005/05/objectivity_is_.html
Discussion:
** IS THE LEFT AFRAID OF MEDIA BALANCE?
http://www.roryoconnor.org/blog/index.php?p=129#comments

[paineinthearse]

35. REMINDER!!! CSPAN, 8PM SATURDAY

Get your recorders ready!

[AirAmFan]

36. Reminder kick

[AirAmFan]

37. 15-minute kick

[paineinthearse]

38. .

:kick: