Just received the following call for action, and thought it was worth it to share with everyone here:
Join United For Peace & Justice, MediaChannel.org and tens of thousands of Americans in calling on U.S. media outlets to do a better job of reporting on the war in Iraq and the anti-war movement protests against it.
Of course, I amended my letter to include the complaint I have that we never see or hear veterans groups represented on television. Where the hell are they, media organizations? Do they not deserve at least one seat at the debate table during a time of war?
Send your email today. And then make plans to participate on Wednesday, March 15th’s National Day of Media Action (protest already scheduled in NYC – details).
Here’s the letter that I sent (I’ve plugged in some of my own comments in the template MediaChannel provided):
I am joining United For Peace & Justice, MediaChannel.org and tens of thousands of Americans in calling on your media outlet and industry to do a better job of reporting on the war in Iraq.
During a time of war, when we have thousands of soldiers and marines returning from combat, where are their representatives found? Why do we never see any veterans groups — be they anti-war veterans groups or more traditional groups like the USO or American Legion? Why are they not given a seat at the table? And why is news of those who protest against the war in every community in America blacked out entirely?
As public opinion shifts from support for the war to calls for immediate withdrawal, the U.S. news media has an obligation to reflect on the role it has played in building a pro-war consensus with false and deceptive reporting, what TIME magazine calls “mili-tainment” and “group think” in the pervasive use of conservative pundits and “experts” led by current and former government officials, and virtually no coverage of extensive civilian casualties and the suffering of Iraqi society because of the U.S. occupation.
The coverage remains one-sided — “All about us” — and excludes veterans groups, anti-war voices from individual citizens, and anti-war groups all over the world. We need real journalism, not jingoism. Many media organizations have published “mea-culpas” admitting “mistakes” and “flawed reporting,” but the problem goes deeper and is ongoing.
Journalists are being killed without media companies even demanding investigations. Journalism itself is being compromised. We want you and your media colleagues to tell the truth about the war. We propose more coverage and better coverage including:
1. Inside-Out Reporting
Media companies are locked into “outside-in” stand-ups when what’s needed is “inside-out” coverage. Let’s hear more from the Iraqi people who are supposed to be our friends, who we supposedly went in to protect. Let’s hear from more diverse sources.
2. Reports That Question Official Claims
We need more aggressive reporting, not just official stenography.
3. Independent Assessments of Political Developments
Let’s hear from international experts, not just pro-war pundits. Let’s hear from veterans groups, not just the DOD.
4. Unembedded Photography
We need to see real images from the war zone. Why do we never even see the faces of our returning veterans? Are they not a valuable enough to report on once they come home?
5. Footage, Footage, Footage
Networks have footage they are not showing. This cover-up must be ended.
6. Follow-up on Corruption Investigations
There have been reports on billion-dollar financial scandals but little follow-up. How is our tax money being squandered? Tell us. Your role is Constitutionally protected; why don’t you use your power for what it is intended (last time I checked the Constitution, your role is not to make money, by the way — it’s to inform the public)?
7. Follow-up on Wounded Soldiers and Iraqis
Our Veteran hospitals are flooded with war casualties. Iraqi facilities and humanitarian support facilities are terribly under funded as resources are diverted away from reconstruction and services into “security” for U.S. forces.
These are just a few suggestions. Media professionals know what’s missing and many are ashamed by the performance of news organizations that have been bullied into backing the war and following right-wing agendas. Objectivity in Iraq coverage in most US media outlets is a joke, the laughingstock of the media world. How far you have fallen.
What are you prepared to do to restore your credibility and trust among your readers, listeners, and viewers? How will you show your integrity?
Oh, and yippee! I’ve already received the following warm response from MSNBC:
Thanks for dropping us an e-mail!
We appreciate your comments and questions. Every day, we receive hundreds of e-mails about the show. Unfortunately, we cannot answer them all personally. But we encourage you to keep watching and writing. Positive or negative, every opinion counts. We do our best to incorporate viewer feedback into the production of the show.
Oh, please do, MSNBC. Please share our emails with your viewers…