When the Press Goes Patriotic (Eric "Ed Anger Jr." Alterman Q&A)

Newsday ^ | March 23, 2003

[Timesink]

THE WAR IN IRAQ

When the Press Goes Patriotic

Eric Alterman, author of "What Liberal Media? The Truth About Bias and the News," analyzes how well the press is covering the war in Iraq:

Q: What do you think of the coverage so far?

A: I think it's been predictable. The press' instincts are to demonstrate its patriotism.

Q: Why would it feel it had to?

A: One, it really is patriotic. September 11 changed a lot of people's attitudes, and sort of made the whole reporting of foreign affairs a less objective enterprise.

Two, many people in the media are insecure about the way the country perceives them.

And three, Fox News is nakedly patriotic. I was watching it a little while yesterday, and it was all about "good news for our side" - as if you were in a locker room of the military itself. There was no separation whatsoever. And Fox has had an enormous impact on the rest of the media because it's been so successful.

[Timesink]

Blah blah blah. It's mercifully short.

[dawn53]

If Eric is so concerned about unbiased reporting, why didn't he volunteer to go over there and be an embedded journalist so he could show everyone how it should be done?

[The Raven]

The last war -- I watched CNN. There was no FOX and there was no choice.

Now, every day I can choose between PBS and Rush at lunch and FOX and ABC in the evening and it's wonderful.

If I had three wishes - Number one would be to install our original Constitution into every country on earth. Number two would be to transport the libs back in time to live under their hero- Stalin. Number three would be even more selfish!!

[an amused spectator]

Because the troops would frag him within 12 hours, and nobody would care. ;-)