Memo to the News Networks

[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable, AUTHOR: Danny Schechter]
[Commentary] On March 15, the anti-war movement will be making the media coverage of the war an issue, with protests at media outlets that have offered more selling than telling, more jingoism than journalism. These groups are the same ones that helped turn out 30 million people worldwide Feb. 15, 2003, in the greatest one-day protest in history to try to stop a war. You may not know them because most protests are marginalized when covered at all. Protesters charged the public was being deceived. They were right. Perhaps it’s time for broadcast and cable networks to do what The New York Times and The Washington Post have done: acknowledge that you made a lot of mistakes. What else can you do? Admit that “mili-tainment” passing for news is disgraceful. Seek more-diverse sources. Challenge bogus administration claims. Apologize for collusion and complicity. Report casualties. The key to credibility is truth. Flag-waving is not journalism. Lastly, try asking yourselves: How would a state-run media system cover the war differently?
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6315287?display=Opinion&refer...
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