Four-Star Elephant in the (News)room:
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The Four-Star Elephant in the (News)room: Demand the networks address the military analyst scandal and fulfill their obligation to the American people.
Dear Friend:
We rely on the media for much of what we know about the situations in Iraq and Afghanistan, and our national security, but according to an explosive New York Times investigative report, many of the military analysts major media outlets relied on have been involved in an elaborate Pentagon program designed to bring the Bush administration's talking points to the public's airwaves. The Times story exposes what until now was a hidden relationship between the Pentagon and these analysts, many of whom also represent defense contractors.
This week, Media Matters for America released an exclusive accounting of the media military analysts identified in the Times exposé and their more than 4,500 appearances and quotations on network, cable, and radio news outlets since January 1, 2002. These numbers show in startling detail just how far and wide the Pentagon program may have reached.
>> Sign the petition: Demand these news outlets fulfill their obligation to the public
In the three weeks since the story by Times investigative reporter David Barstow first appeared on the front page of that paper's Sunday edition, members of the media have remained largely silent on the subject. It seems the press would rather cover teen sensation Hannah Montana than an issue that reflects so poorly on their own judgment and credibility.
In the face of a largely silent media, members of Congress - including Sens. John Kerry (D-MA), Carl Levin (D-MI), Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ), Hillary Clinton (D-NY), and Russ Feingold (D-WI), and Reps. Paul Hodes (D-NH), Rosa DeLauro (D-CT), Ike Skelton (D-MO), Peter DeFazio (D-OR) and John Dingell (D-MI) - have taken prompt action by calling for congressional hearings and investigations by the Department of Defense, the Government Accountability Office, and the Federal Communications Commission.
>> Sign the petition: Demand these news outlets fulfill their obligation to the public
Not only have the media largely ignored this story, both Fox News and CNN have continued to host analysts named in the Times report without asking them about their connection to the controversial Pentagon program: David L. Grange has appeared twice on CNN, and Robert H. Scales Jr. has also appeared at least twice on Fox News since the article's April 20 publication.
It is time to stand up and make your voice heard. Viewers have the right to know if the expert analysis they're receiving is little more than Pentagon talking points; the war in Iraq, our national security, and our foreign policy are far too important. When we see military experts on the news, we expect them to be credible, independent analysts; we shouldn't have to ask if they are mouthpieces for Bush administration policies.
>> Sign the petition: Demand these news outlets fulfill their obligation to the public
Thank you for your continued support.
Eric Burns
Chief of Staff
Media Matters for America
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Take Action!
Tell the networks to ensure that future analysts are independent in their commentary and are free of conflicts of interest
Call the networks and tell them that you expect future analysts to be independent in their analysis and free of conflicts of interest. When they are on air, they should disclose their ties each and every time they speak as an expert.
ABC
ABC News
ABCNews
7 W. 66th St.
New York, NY 10023
David Westin
President,
ABC News
77 West 66th Street,
New York, NY 10023
Tel: (212) 456-7777
E-mail: david.westin@abc.com
CBS
E-mail: E-mail form
Nina Tassler
President, CBS Entertainment,
CBS Television
51 West 52 Street,
New York, NY 10019
Tel: (212) 975-4321
CNBC
CNBC
Mark Hoffman
President, CNBC
900 Sylvan Avenue,
Englewood Cliffs, NJ 07632
Tel: (201) 735-2622
E-mail: mark.hoffman@nbc.com
CNN
CNN
One CNN Center, Box 105366, Atlanta, GA 30303-5366
Phone: 404-827-1500
Fax: 404-827-1906
Johnathan Klein
President, CNN/U.S.,
CNN
One CNN Center, Atlanta, GA 30303
Tel: (404) 827-1500
Fax: (404) 827-1784 (Public Relations)
E-mail: jon.klein@turner.com
CNN Headline News
CNN Headline News
Bill Galvin
Vice President, Headline News Programming and Production,
CNN Headline News
One CNN Center, Atlanta, GA 30348-5366
Tel: (404) 878-5633
Fax: (404) 827-1758
E-mail: bill.galvin@turner.com
Fox News Channel
FOX News Channel
1-888-369-4762
Comments@foxnews.com
1211 Avenue of the Americas
New York, NY 10036
Roger Ailes
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer,
FOX News Channel
1211 Avenue of the Americas,
New York, NY 10036
Tel: (212) 301-3000
Fax: (212) 301-4229 (Newsroom)
E-mail: roger.ailes@foxnews.com
MSNBC
letters@msnbc.com
MSNBC/Microsoft-NBC
30 Rockefeller Plz
3rd Fl
New York, NY 10112
(212) 664-4444
NBC
NBC News
NBC News
30 Rockefeller Plaza
New York, N.Y. 10112
Steve Capus
President, NBC News,
NBC News
30 Rockefeller Plaza,
New York, NY 10112
Tel: (212) 664-4444
Fax: (212) 664-4426
E-mail: steve.capus@nbc.com
NPR
NPR
NPR
635 Massachusetts Ave., NW
Washington, D.C. 20001
(202) 513-2000
Kevin Klose
President, National Public Radio
635 Massachusetts Avenue, NW,
Washington, DC 20001-3753
Tel: (202) 513-2000
Fax: (202) 513-3329
E-mail: kklose@npr.org
When contacting the media, please be polite and professional. Express your specific concerns regarding that particular news report or commentary, and be sure to indicate exactly what you would like the media outlet to do differently in the future.
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