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HERE IS OUR PROBLEM! What can be done about it?

Who We Are

Media Matters for America is a Web-based, not-for-profit progressive research and information center dedicated to comprehensively monitoring, analyzing, and correcting conservative misinformation in the U.S. media.

Conservative misinformation is defined as news or commentary presented in the media that is not accurate, reliable, or credible and that forwards the conservative agenda.

For the first time, Media Matters for America has put in place a system to monitor the media for conservative misinformation – every day, in real time -- in 2004 and beyond.

Media Matters for America’s website — www.mediamatters.org — is the principal vehicle for disseminating research and information through a range of initiatives:

Media Monitoring: Comprehensively monitor a cross section of print, broadcast, cable, radio, and Internet media outlets to identify conservative misinformation.

Media Analysis: Analyze the monitoring data, including broader trends in media coverage of politics and public policy, and post reports detailing the ways in which conservative misinformation is disseminated through media. Reports will include:

Rapid-response items documenting conservative misinformation in each news cycle, posted to the website in real time.

Longer research and analytic reports, appearing several times per week.

Occasional reports of a broader scope, delving deeper than daily and weekly material. Inaugural Projects:

Democracy Project. Track and swiftly correct conservative media misinformation on major current political issues, with the goal of discouraging responsible news outlets from giving it credence.

Radio Project. Comprehensively monitor, analyze, and correct targeted political talk radio shows. Columnist Project. Monitor to ensure that dozens of syndicated columnists -- and the newspapers that publish them -- maintain journalistic standards in their opinion columns.

Activism Project. In the planning stages, the Activism Project will spur progressive activism based on standards and accountability in media.

Editorial Operations

Katie Barge brings a wealth of research experience to Media Matters for America from the range of research positions she has held on presidential, gubernatorial, and senatorial campaigns. Most recently she worked in the research department on Senator John Edwards' presidential campaign. Barge is a graduate of Wesleyan University and is the Research Director at Media Matters for America.

David S. Bennahum is an author, journalist, and leading new media thinker. He was one of the founding writers with Wired magazine and is a frequent television and radio commentator on issues relating to technology and society. His writing has appeared in Slate, The Economist, New York magazine, and The New York Times; his next book, titled Fair Play (Gotham Books), traces the evolution of the concept of team sports in modern society. Bennahum is a Senior Fellow at Media Matters for America and assists in guiding online communications and technology strategy.

Duncan B. Black holds a PhD in economics from Brown University. He has held teaching and research positions at the London School of Economics; the Université catholique de Louvain; the University of California, Irvine; and, recently, Bryn Mawr College. He also has been involved with grassroots political activism. Black is a Senior Fellow at Media Matters for America.

David Brock is the author of four political books, including the forthcoming The Republican Noise Machine: Right-Wing Media and How It Corrupts Democracy (to be released this month by Crown). His preceding book, Blinded by the Right: The Conscience of an Ex-Conservative, was a 2002 New York Times best-selling political memoir in which he chronicled his years as a conservative media insider. Brock serves on the advisory board of Democracy Radio Inc. and is the recipient of the New Democrat Network’s first award for political entrepreneurship. He is the President and CEO of Media Matters for America.

Nicole Casta has worked in government relations for the National Organization for Women (NOW) and The National Partnership for Women and Families, monitoring and analyzing a range of policy issues including: civil rights, educational equity, reproductive rights, women’s health, and workplace fairness. Casta, a graduate of Wellesley College, is a member of the Research Department at Media Matters for America.

Jeremy Cluchey has conducted education policy research for the Albert Shanker Institute and has worked on federal workforce issues as a fellow with the Partnership for Public Service. Originally from Maine, he studied English and government at Wesleyan University and spent a semester in India, Nepal, and Tibet studying regional politics and history. Cluchey is a member of the Research Department at Media Matters for America.

Amanda Fazzone was assistant managing editor of The New Republic and has contributed to Salon, Slate, Spin, TimeOut, Washington City Paper, and two anthologies of contemporary American writing. Her articles for The New Republic have been covered by The New York Times, The Washington Post, and NPR, and she has worked as an editor on two books. Fazzone is Web Editor at Media Matters for America.

Jamison Foser has extensive experience in progressive research, communications, and strategy, having worked for nearly a decade in national politics. Most recently he served as Research Director at the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) for the 2002 cycle. He is Senior Adviser at Media Matters for America.

Michelle Jeung is an intern at Media Matters for America.

Terry Krepel has worked for newspapers for more than 17 years as a reporter, designer, and editor. He is the creator and editor of ConWebWatch, which monitors conservative news websites. He holds a master's degree in multimedia journalism from Arkansas Tech University. Krepel is Web Editor at Media Matters for America.

Marcia Kuntz most recently ran the Alliance for Justice’s Judicial Selection Project, where she had primary responsibility for all reports, op-eds, and other written materials produced by the project. Previously, she served as minority counsel for the housing subcommittee of the House Committee on Banking and Financial Services and as legislative counsel to Representative Barney Frank (D-MA). Kuntz is a graduate of Princeton University and the University of Chicago Law School. She is the Editorial Director at Media Matters for America.

Shant Mesrobian most recently worked at Congressional Quarterly, where he covered House of Representatives legislation and was a contributing politics writer. His byline has appeared in The New Republic, The American Prospect, National Journal, and Campaigns & Elections. Mesrobian is a graduate of the University of Southern California. He is a member of the Research Department at Media Matters for America.

Jessica Moore has a broad range of experience in online journalism, most recently serving as Web Producer for PBS' nightly news program The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer. As Web Producer, Moore produced award-winning websites for NewsHour, PBS, and MacNeil/Lehrer Productions. She is a recipient of a 2004 South Asian Journalists Association Award for coverage of Afghanistan's rebuilding. Moore holds a bachelor of arts in English from Penn State University and is earning a master's degree in Liberal Studies from Georgetown University. Moore is Web Editor at Media Matters for America.

Kevin Nix has worked as a research analyst on Capitol Hill, as well as a policy researcher and writer for statewide and national public affairs campaigns. Nix received his bachelor's degree from Tulane University and his master’s in Government from Johns Hopkins University. He is a member of the Communications Department at Media Matters for America.

Carlyn Reichel is a summer 2004 intern at Media Matters for America.

Melissa Salmanowitz has developed both editorial and political press experience through internships at U.S. News & World Report and the press departments of U.S. Representatives Carolyn McCarthy and Richard E. Neal. Salmanowitz, a graduate of the University of Massachusetts, is a member of the Communications Department at Media Matters for America.

Andrew Seifter has experience organizing, advocating and fundraising for several progressive not-for-profit groups, including the Sierra Club, Greenpeace, and the State PIRGs. He holds a bachelor of arts from the University of Michigan and a master of science from the London School of Economics. Seifter served as a research assistant for a Member of the British Parliament. He is a member of the Research Department at Media Matters for America.

Naomi Seligman has worked extensively as a communications professional developing and managing media strategies for campaigns, elected officials, and not-for-profit organizations. Most recently, Seligman was the communications director for the Violence Policy Center (VPC). She has also served as a press secretary in both the Senate and the House of Representatives and has functioned as director of outreach on the Small Business Committee. Seligman is leading the Communications Department at Media Matters for America.

Brian Szymanski is a technologist and independent media activist. He has been actively involved in computer recycling, independent radio, Free software, and anti-war and human rights activism. Szymanski attended Cornell University and is a member of the Technology and Online Community Department at Media Matters for America.

Gabriel Wildau most recently worked as a policy analyst for General (Ret.) Wesley K. Clark’s presidential campaign. Wildau also has interned at The American Prospect. He graduated Magna Cum Laude from Brown University in 2003 and is a member of the Research Department at Media Matters for America.

Oliver Willis has worked as a Web developer and information architect on several media-related Web projects. He also boasts extensive experience in political blogging and authors his own site, which has been profiled in The Boston Globe, in Baseline magazine, and on PBS. Willis attended Florida Atlantic University and is a member of the Technology and Online Community Department at Media Matters for America.

Avi Zollman most recently worked as a foreign policy researcher for former Vermont governor Howard Dean's presidential campaign. Prior to the campaign, he graduated from Marlboro College and was an intern with the House International Relations Committee. Zollman is a member of the Research Department at Media Matters for America.

LOL, This crap is David Brocks mess!