Media Matters for America: Difference between revisions
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{{For|other organizations|Media Matters (disambiguation)}} |
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{{Infobox website |
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|name = Media Matters for America |
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|screenshot = [[File:Mediamatters.png|Media Matters Home Page|280px|upright]]</div> |
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|collapsible = |
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|collapsetext = |
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|caption = Screenshot from Media Matters for America (April 14, 2009) |
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|url = {{URL|http://mediamatters.org/}} |
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|launch date = 2004 |
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}} |
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'''Media Matters for America''' ('''MMfA''') is a politically [[Progressivism in the United States|progressive]]<ref>Hogue, Ilyse (May 23, 2012). [http://www.cnn.com/2012/05/23/opinion/hogue-census/index.html "Getting rid of census survey is wasteful"]. [[CNN]].</ref> <!--repeated talk page discussions have determined "progressive" is the correct political label, do not change to "liberal" without proper discussion --> media watchdog group that says it is "dedicated to comprehensively monitoring, analyzing, and correcting conservative misinformation in the U.S. media".<ref>[http://mediamatters.org/about "About Us"]. Media Matters for America. Retrieved March 20, 2013.</ref> Set up as a [[501(c)(3)|tax-exempt]], nonprofit organization, MMfA was founded in 2004 by journalist and author [[David Brock]]<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/eric-e-burns/#blogger_bio | work=Huffington Post | title=Eric E. Burns | accessdate=2013-11-28}}</ref> and funded by [[George Soros]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.newsmax.com/Newsfront/dershowitz-media-matters-israel/2012/02/27/id/430618 |title=Dershowitz Declares War on Soros-Financed Media Matters Site |publisher=Newsmax.com |date= |accessdate=2013-11-28}}</ref> [[Eric E. Burns]] served as MMfA's president until 2011.<ref name="Media Matters President Departs, Launches New Firm">{{cite news| url=http://bullfightstrategies.com/press.htm | work=Bullfight Strategies| title=Former Media Matters President Responds to Beck's Fox News Departure| accessdate=2013-11-28}}</ref> |
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==Structure and work== |
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=== Research work === |
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{{Journalism}} |
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Media Matters for America defines "conservative misinformation" as "news or commentary presented in the media that is not accurate, reliable, or credible and that forwards the conservative agenda".<ref>{{cite web | url = http://mediamatters.org/about | title = About Media Matters | work = Media Matters for America | accessdate = November 29, 2005}}</ref> |
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Media Matters analyzes the dominant American news sources including [[NBC]], [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]], [[CBS]], [[Public Broadcasting Service|PBS]], [[CNN]], [[MSNBC]], [[CNBC]], and [[Fox News Channel]].<ref>[http://mediamatters.org/tags/networks Media Matters for America | Networks & Publications]{{dead link|date=November 2013}}</ref> Its techniques include [[content analysis]], fact checking, monitoring, and comparison of quotes or presentations from media figures to primary documents such as [[United States Department of Defense|Pentagon]] or [[Government Accountability Office]] reports.<ref>MMfA has used the [[Government Accountability Office]] in make fact-checking articles. For example, [http://mediamatters.org/research/2006/07/07/gma-cnn-print-media-fail-to-challenge-bushs-mis/136115 GMA, CNN, print media fail to challenge Bush's missile defense claim]. Pentagon reports have been used to debunk claims of WMD claims, such as [http://mediamatters.org/research/2006/07/07/hannity-criticized-media-bush-administration-fo/136114 Hannity criticized media, Bush administration...]</ref> |
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===Analysis of weekend television commentary=== |
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On February 14, 2006, the organization released a study of the guest appearances on ABC's ''[[This Week (ABC TV series)|This Week]]'', CBS' ''[[Face the Nation]]'', and NBC's ''[[Meet the Press]]'' from 1997 through 2005. This study examined over 7,000 guests as either Democrat, Republican, conservative, progressive, or neutral. Media Matters stated: "The conclusion is clear: Republicans and conservatives have been offered more opportunities to appear on the Sunday shows—in some cases, dramatically so."<ref name="Study1">{{cite news | url=http://mediamatters.org/research/2006/02/14/if-its-sunday-its-conservative-an-analysis-of-t/134868 | title=If It's Sunday, It's Conservative |publisher=Media Matters for America |date=February 14, 2006 | accessdate = November 4, 2006}}</ref> ''[[The American Spectator]]'' criticized the study's characterization of commentators such as [[Dan Rather]] as "neutral".<ref>{{cite web |url= http://spectator.org/blog/3029/garbage-garbage-out-continued |title=Garbage In, Garbage Out, Continued |accessdate=May 24, 2010 |last=Tabin |first=John |date=February 21, 2006 |work=AmSpec Blog |publisher=[[The American Spectator]]}}</ref> |
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A second analysis was released April 4, 2006 examining Sunday news programs from January through March 2006.<ref> |
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{{cite news | url=http://mediamatters.org/research/2006/04/04/if-its-sunday-its-still-conservative/135320 | title=If It's Sunday, It's Still Conservative |publisher=Media Matters for America |date=April 4, 2006 | first= | last= | accessdate = November 4, 2006}}</ref> Media Matters reported: "Republican and conservative dominance continued unabated, as those from the right outnumbered Democrats and their progressive compatriots." Besides the political stance of the guests, "the Sunday shows feature panel discussions comprising conservative journalists and opinion writers 'balanced' by reporters for mainstream news outlets—with no progressive journalist." |
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The third study was released July 20, 2006 concluding "Republicans and conservatives dominated on all three Sunday shows."<ref name="Study3">[http://mediamatters.org/research/2006/07/20/boyles-praised-anti-immigration-ad-failed-to-di/140253 Third time's not the charm: Sunday-morning talk shows still imbalanced]. ''Media Matters for America'', July 20, 2006</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.austinchronicle.com/gyrobase/Issue/column?oid=oid%3A458467 |first=Kevin |last=Brass |title=Media Watch: Sunday Morning Blues? |date=March 23, 2007 |newspaper=The Austin Chronicle |accessdate=September 26, 2007}}</ref> Media Matters stated, "Republicans and conservatives outnumbered Democrats and progressives in total guest appearances," more particularly ''Face the Nation'' "featured nearly twice as many Republicans and conservatives as Democrats and progressives during the second quarter".<ref name="Study3" /> |
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==== Analysis of syndicated editorial columns ==== |
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On September 12, 2007, Media Matters released its study of 1,377 U.S. newspapers and the 201 syndicated political columnists the papers carry on a regular basis. Media Matters said "in paper after paper, state after state, and region after region, conservative syndicated columnists get more space than their progressive counterparts."<ref name="Syndicated">{{cite news | url=http://mediamatters.org/research/oped/ | title=Black and White and Re(a)d All Over: The Conservative Advantage in Syndicated Op-Ed Columnists |publisher=Media Matters for America |date=September 12, 2006 | first= | last= | accessdate = November 4, 2007}}</ref> |
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John Diaz, editorial page editor of the ''San Francisco Chronicle'', said by over-factoring conservative columns in smaller newspapers, Media Matters' study had overestimated how many conservative columns appeared in daily newspapers. Diaz also said Media Matters had obscured the nuanced ideological positions of some columnists classified in the study as conservative.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.sfgate.com/politics/article/Beyond-the-right-left-labels-2537719.php | work=The San Francisco Chronicle | title=John Diaz An Editor's Note / Beyond the right-left labels | date=September 30, 2007}}</ref> |
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====Misinformer of the Year==== |
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An annual feature on the Media Matters website is the title of "Misinformer of the Year", which is awarded to the journalist, commentator, and/or network that, in the opinion of Media Matters, was responsible for the most numerous and/or grievous factual errors and claims made.<ref name="misinformer">{{cite news | url=http://mediamatters.org/research/2004/12/23/misinformer-of-the-year/132497 | title=Misinformer of the Year: Bill O'Reilly of Fox News Channel |publisher=Media Matters for America | date=December 23, 2004 | accessdate = August 14, 2007 }}</ref> They have been awarded almost every year since Media Matters started in 2004. |
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The recipients of this award have included: |
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* Fox News Channel's [[Bill O'Reilly (commentator)|Bill O'Reilly]] (2004) |
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* [[MSNBC]]'s [[Chris Matthews]] (2005) |
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* [[American Broadcasting Company]] (2006) |
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* Fox News Channel's [[Sean Hannity]] (2008) |
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* Fox News Channel's [[Glenn Beck]] (2009) |
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* Fox News Channel's [[Sarah Palin]] (2010) |
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* [[Rupert Murdoch]] and [[News Corporation]] (2011) |
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* Talk radio host [[Rush Limbaugh]] (2012) |
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=== Benefactors and staff === |
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MMfA started with the help of $2 million in donations from liberal philanthropists connected to the Democratic party. According to Byron York, additional funding came from [[MoveOn.org]] and the [[New Democrat Network]].<ref>{{cite news | first=Jim | last=Rutenberg | page=A21 | title=New Internet Site Turns Critical Eyes and Ears to the Right |url=http://www.nytimes.com/2004/05/03/business/media/03BROC.html |date=May 3, 2004| newspaper=The New York Times }}</ref><ref name=NYTProfile>{{cite news | title = An All-Out Attack on 'Conservative Misinformation' | url = http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/01/washington/01media.html| accessdate = April 17, 2010| last = Steinberg| first = Jacques| date = October 31, 2008| newspaper = The New York Times |page=A15}}</ref><ref name=NationalReviewYork>{{cite web| url = http://old.nationalreview.com/york/york200405281333.asp| title = David Brock is Buzzing Again| accessdate = April 17, 2010| last = York| first = Byron| date = May 28, 2004| publisher = [[National Review]]}}</ref> |
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In 2004 MMfA received the endorsement of the [[Democracy Alliance]], a partnership of wealthy and politically active donors. The Alliance itself does not fund any of its endorsees, but many wealthy Alliance members acted on the endorsement and donated directly to MMfA.<ref>{{cite news | url = http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/washingtonpost/doc/410000040.html | title = A New Alliance of Democrats Spreads Funding; But Some in Party Bristle at Secrecy and Liberal Tilt | date = July 17, 2006 |newspaper = The Washington Post | first1=Jim | last1=VandeHei | first2=Chris | last2=Cillizza | page=A1 | accessdate=May 3, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Wash. Times op-ed expanded on O'Reilly's false attacks on Soros and Media Matters |url=http://mediamatters.org/research/2007/05/09/dobbs-refused-to-correct-debunked-leprosy-stati/141071|publisher=Media Matters for America |date=May 9, 2007 |accessdate=March 27, 2011}}</ref><ref>[http://www.hudson.org/files/pdf_upload/Transcript_2006_11_30.pdf#page=21 How Vast The Left Wing Conspiracy?]. [[Hudson Institute]], November 30, 2006</ref> Media Matters as a matter of course has a policy of not comprehensively listing donors. Six years after the Alliance endorsed MMfA, financier [[George Soros]]—a founding and continuing member of the Alliance—announced in 2010 that he was donating $1 million to MMfA. Soros said: "Despite repeated assertions to the contrary by various Fox News commentators, I have not to date been a funder of Media Matters." Soros said concern over "recent evidence suggesting that the incendiary rhetoric of Fox News hosts may incite violence" had moved him to donate to MMfA, which thanked Soros for announcing his donation "quickly and transparently".<ref>{{cite web|last=Smith |first=Ben |url=http://www.politico.com/blogs/bensmith/1010/Soros_gives_to_Media_Matters_publicly.html |title=Soros gives to Media Matters, publicly – Ben Smith – |publisher=Politico.com |date=2010-10-20 |accessdate=2013-11-28}}</ref> |
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Former chief of staff to president Bill Clinton [[John Podesta]] provided office space for Media Matters early in its formation at the [[Center for American Progress]], a Democratic think tank that he had created in 2002.<ref name=Newsday-Switching-Allegiances>{{cite news |title = Switching allegiances |last = Thrush |first = Glenn |url=http://www.newsday.com/news/switching-allegiances-1.690641 |date = September 6, 2006 | newspaper=[[Newsday]]}}</ref> [[Hillary Clinton]] advised Media Matters in its early stages out of a belief that progressives should follow conservatives in forming think tanks and advocacy groups to support their political goals.<ref name=Newsday-Switching-Allegiances /><ref>{{cite news| url = http://firstread.nbcnews.com/_news/2007/11/15/4429164-calling-out-media-matters-bias| title = Calling Out Media Matters' Bias| accessdate = May 13, 2010| last = Todd| first = Chuck| date = November 15, 2007| publisher = [[MSNBC]]}}</ref> |
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Media Matters hired numerous political professionals who had worked for Democratic politicians and for other progressive groups.<ref name=NationalReviewYork /><ref>{{cite news| url = http://thehill.com/capital-living/24113-fighting-ire-with-fire| title = Fighting ire with fire| accessdate = May 17, 2010| last = Rothstein| first = Betsy| date = November 3, 2008| newspaper = [[The Hill (newspaper)|The Hill]]}}</ref> In 2004 article on Media Matters the ''[[National Review]]'' referred to MMfA staffers who had recently worked on the presidential campaigns of [[John Edwards]] and [[Wesley Clark]], for Congressman [[Barney Frank]], and for the [[Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee]].<ref name="NationalReviewYork" /> |
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===Progressive Talent Initiative=== |
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Established to "incubate a new generation of liberal pundits", the Progressive Talent Initiative trains potential pundits in media skills.<ref name="NYMagBrock" /><ref>{{cite news |last=Horowitz |first=Jason |title=Media Matters boot camp readies liberal policy wonks for the camera's close-up |url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/media-matters-boot-camp-readies-liberal-policy-wonks-for-the-cameras-close-up/2011/03/15/AB4TI9EB_print.html |accessdate=June 11, 2011 |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=March 22, 2011}}</ref> |
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===Media Matters Action Network=== |
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[[David Brock]] established Media Matters Action Network to track conservative politicians and organizations.<ref name=Luo20101123>{{cite news |last=Luo |first=Michael |title=Effort to Set Up Liberal Counterweight to G.O.P. Groups Begins |url=http://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/23/us/23money.html |accessdate=May 28, 2011 |newspaper=The New York Times |date=November 23, 2010}}</ref> Organized as a 501(c)(4) nonprofit group,<ref name=Luo20101123/> the organization can lobby and engage in political campaign work.<ref>{{cite news |last=Clark |first=Charles |title=Media Matters Stakes Claim As High-Volume Watchdog |url=http://www.nationaljournal.com/njmagazine/lb_20100904_1223.php |accessdate=May 28, 2011 |newspaper=National Journal |date=September 4, 2010}}{{rs|is this really be best source for this statement? there is one parenthetical phrase in the article about this|date=June 2013}}</ref> ''The New York Times'' reports that it is "set to take on an expanded role in the 2012 elections, including potentially running television ads".<ref name=Luo20101123/> |
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===Radio show=== |
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'''''Media Matters Radio''''', an hour-long radio show, is aired on [[Sirius XM Left]] and hosted by Ari Rabin-Havt and Bradley Herring. |
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=== Offshoot websites === |
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In 2009 Media Matters Action Network launched the Conservative Transparency website, aimed at tracking the funding of conservative activist organizations.<ref>{{cite news |last=Eggen |first=Dan |title=Liberal group eyes conservatives' connections |url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/11/03/AR2009110300372_pf.html|accessdate=June 19, 2011 |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=November 3, 2009}}</ref> Media Matters Action Network established the Political Correction project with the goal of holding conservative politicians and advocacy groups accountable.<ref>{{cite news |last=Terris |first=Ben |title=Outside Conservative Ads Overwhelming the Midterm Campaigns |publisher=National Journal |date=October 28, 2010}}</ref> |
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In December 2010 Media Matters Action Network started [[Equality Matters|EqualityMatters.org]], a site "in support of gay equality". At launch the site fully incorporated Media Matters's content on LGBT issues.<ref>{{cite news |url = http://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/20/us/politics/20marriage.html |title = One Battle Won, Activists Shift Sights |author = Sheryl Gay Stolberg |newspaper = The New York Times |date = December 19, 2010}}</ref> Designed to provide talking points for liberal activists and politicians, David Brock set up the Message Matters project.<ref name="NYMagBrock">{{cite news | url=http://nymag.com/print/?/news/media/david-brock-media-matters-2011-5/index4.html | title=If I Take Down Fox, Is All Forgiven? | work=[[New York (magazine)|''New York'' magazine]] | date=May 22, 2011 | accessdate=June 11, 2011 | last=Zengerie | first=Jason}}</ref> Media Matters runs the website DropFox.com and works to get advertisers to boycott the [[Fox News Channel]]. One target, [[Orbitz]], initially referred to Media Matters' efforts as a "smear campaign", then on June 9, 2011 agreed to "review the policies and process used to evaluate where advertising is placed".<ref>{{cite web|author=The Miami Herald |url=http://miamiherald.typepad.com/gaysouthflorida/2011/06/orbitz-agrees-to-review-advertising-policy-on-fox-news-channel-following-campaign-by-lgbt-groups.html |title=Orbitz agrees to review advertising policies following campaign by LGBT groups |publisher=Miamiherald.typepad.com |date= |accessdate=2013-11-28}}</ref><ref name=Bond>{{cite news |last=Bond |first=Paul |title=Orbitz Backs Fox News Channel Amid Media Matters' 'Smear Campaign' |url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/orbitz-backs-fox-news-channel-190372 |accessdate=May 28, 2011 |newspaper=The Hollywood Reporter |date=May 19, 2011}}</ref> |
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==Reception and controversies== |
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===General reception=== |
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In 2008 [[Jacques Steinberg]] of ''[[The New York Times]]'' reported on how Media Matters is viewed. David Folkenflik of National Public Radio told him that though Media Matters looked "at every dangling participle, every dependent clause, every semicolon, every quotation" for the benefit of "a cause, a party, a candidate, that they may have some feelings for", they were still a useful source for leads, partly due to the "breadth of their research". Conversely, political analyst and columnist [[Stuart Rothenberg]] told Steinberg that he did not pay attention to them, as he had no confidence in "ideological stuff". In Steinberg's view, Media Matters was a new weapon for the Democratic party employing "rapid-fire, technologically sophisticated means to call out what it considers 'conservative misinformation' on air or in print, then feed it to a Rolodex of reporters, cable channels and bloggers hungry for grist".<ref name=NYTProfile /> According to an ''[[The Economist|Economist]]'' blog posting, "because it is dedicated to critiquing distortions by conservatives, its critiques carry no weight with conservatives."<ref>{{cite news |author=M.S. |title=Epistemic closure and political disinformation |newspaper=[[The Economist]] |date=May 5, 2010 |url=http://www.economist.com/blogs/democracyinamerica/2010/05/health-care_reform |accessdate=July 20, 2011}}</ref> |
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Some news organizations have cited Media Matters reports and credited it for bringing attention to issues including the story of [[Jeff Gannon|James Guckert]], formerly a reporter for the web-based [[Talon News]]. During [[George W. Bush| George W. Bush's]] administration, Guckert gained White House press access using the pseudonym Jeff Gannon and attended 155 White House press briefings. It was revealed that he had also worked as a prostitute soliciting male clientele on the internet with photos of himself fully naked.<ref name="urlWeb-Houston Chronicle">{{cite web |url=http://www.chron.com/business/technology/article/Web-CEO-in-midst-of-political-scandal-1926513.php |title=Web CEO in midst of political scandal | Technology News | Chron.com – Houston Chronicle |accessdate=May 20, 2010}}</ref> Liberal [[op-ed]] writers such as [[Molly Ivins]] and [[Paul Krugman]] have cited Media Matters or identified it as a helpful source.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.cnn.com/2006/POLITICS/05/11/ivins.future.journalism/index.html | work=CNN | title=CNN.com – Molly Ivins: Developments in journalism's frontier – May 11, 2006}}</ref><ref>{{cite news| url=http://krugman.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/04/30/the-oil-spill-is-obamas-fault/ | work=The New York Times | title=The Oil Spill Is Obama's Fault | first=Paul | last=Krugman | date=April 30, 2010}}</ref> |
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===Don Imus controversy=== |
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On April 4, 2007, Media Matters posted a video clip of [[Don Imus]] calling the [[Rutgers University]] [[women's basketball]] team members "nappy-headed hoes" and made their discovery known in Media Matters' daily e-mailing to hundreds of journalists. The next day, according to ''[[The Wall Street Journal]]'', "top news outlets didn't mention the incident." But objections made to [[CBS Radio]] by the [[National Association of Black Journalists]] lead to an on-the-air apology from Imus. Nonetheless, MSNBC, while calling Imus's comments "racist" and "abhorrent", suspended the Imus's TV show, and within minutes CBS suspended Imus's radio show. ''[[The Wall Street Journal]]'' said Imus's apology "seemed to make matters worse, with critics latching on to Mr. Imus's use of the phrase 'you people.'" Included among those dissatisfied with Imus's apology and suspension were the coach of the Rutgers team and a group of MSNBC African-American employees. After [[Procter & Gamble]] pulled advertising from all of MSNBC's daytime schedule, and other advertisers, including [[General Motors]] and [[American Express]] requested CBS to cancel any upcoming advertising they had bought for "Imus in the Morning", MSNBC and CBS dropped Imus's show.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB117641076468168180 | title= Behind the Fall of Imus, A Digital Brush Fire|newspaper=The Wall Street Journal |date=April 13, 2007 | first= Brooks, et al.| last= Barnes| accessdate = September 9, 2007}}</ref> |
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===Rush Limbaugh "Phony soldiers" controversy=== |
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{{Main|Phony soldiers controversy}} |
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Media Matters' reported radio talk show host Rush Limbaugh in 2007 saying that [[Iraq war]] veterans opposed to the war as "the phony soldiers". Limbaugh later said that he was speaking of only one soldier, [[Jesse MacBeth]], who had falsely claimed to have been decorated for valor but, in fact, never saw combat. Limbaugh also said he was the victim of a "smear" by Media Matters, which had taken out of context and selectively edited his comments. After Limbaugh published what he said was the entire transcript of phony soldiers discussion, Media Matters noted that over a minute and 30 seconds was omitted without "notation or ellipsis to indicate that there is, in fact, a break in the transcript".<ref name="mmsmearrecast">{{cite web| title =Limbaugh falsely recasts "phony soldiers" smear| publisher =Media Matters| date=September 28, 2007| url =http://mediamatters.org/research/2007/09/28/limbaugh-falsely-recasts-phony-soldiers-smear/139980| accessdate = August 12, 2010 }}</ref><ref name="clipedit">{{cite web| title =Limbaugh selectively edited "phony soldiers" clip, claimed it was "the entire transcript"| publisher =Media Matters| date=September 28, 2007| url =http://mediamatters.org/research/2007/09/28/limbaugh-selectively-edited-phony-soldiers-clip/139979|accessdate = August 12, 2010 }}</ref> Limbaugh told the ''[[National Review]]'' that the gap between referring to "phony soldiers" and MacBeth was a delay due to his staff printing out an ABC news story that reported on what it also called "phony soldiers", and that his transcript and audio edits were "for space and relevance reasons, not to hide anything".<ref name="RLexplains">{{cite web| title =Limbaugh Makes His Case| publisher =The National Review Online|date=October 3, 2007| url =http://www.nationalreview.com/articles/222373/limbaugh-makes-his-case/byron-york| accessdate = August 16, 2010}}</ref> |
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The [[Associated Press]], [[CNN]] and [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]] reported on the controversy,<ref name="natpress">{{cite web| title =Rush Limbaugh Comments Spark Outrage| publisher =The National Review Online| date=October 3, 2007| url =http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/Vote2008/story?id=3683929&page=1| accessdate = August 16, 2010}}</ref> as [[political satire|political satirist]] and fictional pundit [[Stephen Colbert (character)|Stephen Colbert]] lampooned Limbaugh and his defenders saying: "Hey, Media Matters, you want to end offensive speech? Then stop recording it for people who would be offended."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://mediamatters.org/research/2007/10/09/reporting-on-allard-attending-visa-sponsored-ev/141446 |title=Colbert: "Hey, Media Matters, you want to end offensive speech? Then stop recording it for people who would be offended." |accessdate=January 9, 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.alternet.org/blogs/video/64879/ |title=Colbert on Why Media Matters Makes Life Hard for Limbaugh |last=Howard |first=Adam |date=September 10, 2007 |work=[[AlterNet]] |accessdate=August 28, 2008}}{{dead link|date=November 2013}}</ref> |
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===Bill O'Reilly Harlem restaurant controversy=== |
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In October 2007 television and radio host and commentator [[Bill O'Reilly (political commentator)|Bill O'Reilly]] said a Media Matters' headline declaring ''O'Reilly surprised "there was no difference" between Harlem restaurant and other New York restaurants'' took out of context comments he made regarding a pleasant dinner he shared with the [[Al Sharpton|Rev. Al Sharpton]] at a [[Harlem]] restaurant.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://mediamatters.org/research/2007/09/21/oreilly-surprised-there-was-no-difference-betwe/139893 |title=Media Matters: O'Reilly surprised "there was no difference" between Harlem restaurant and other New York restaurants |accessdate=August 1, 2010}}</ref><ref name="oreillywilliams">{{cite news| last =Bauder| first =David| title =Bill O'Reilly Says He's Being Smeared| agency =Associated Press| date =September 26, 2007| url =http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/life/people/2007-09-26-oreilly_N.htm| accessdate = September 26, 2007| work=USA Today}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.foxnews.com/story/2007/09/26/cnn-goes-over-to-dark-sid-1410350411/ |title=CNN Goes Over to the Dark Side |accessdate=October 4, 2007 | work=Fox News | date=September 26, 2007}}</ref> O'Reilly said Media Matters misleadingly took comments spoken five minutes apart and presented them as one.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.foxnews.com/story/2007/09/27/media-matters-and-corrupt-press-on-run/ |title=Media Matters and the Corrupt Press on the Run |accessdate=October 4, 2007 | work=Fox News | date=September 27, 2007}}</ref> In an appearance on NBC's ''[[Today (NBC program)|Today]]'' with Matt Lauer, Media Matters senior fellow Paul Waldman responded that they had included "the full audio, the full transcript, nothing was taken out of context".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://mediamatters.org/research/2007/09/26/commenting-on-ahmadinejad-speech-rosen-said-may/141420 |title=Media Matters' Waldman: "<nowiki>[I]</nowiki>f Bill O'Reilly got caught robbing a bank he would say he was taken out of context" |accessdate=September 26, 2007}}</ref> |
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===Dr. Laura Schlessinger's use of "Nigger" controversy=== |
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On August 12, 2010 Media Matters reported that radio host [[Laura Schlessinger]] said "nigger" eleven times during a discussion with an African-American woman, continuing to say it after the caller took offense at the word. Schlessinger told the woman she was too sensitive, and that a double standard determined who could say the word. Schlessinger also said that those "hypersensitive" about color should not "marry outside of their race". The caller had earlier in the discussion said her husband was white.<ref name="nytimes1">{{cite news| url=http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/19/arts/television/19laura.html | work=The New York Times | title='Dr. Laura' Retreats After Use of Epithet | first=Joseph | last=Plambeck | date=August 19, 2010}}</ref><ref>[http://mediamatters.org/blog/2010/08/12/full-audio-dr-laura-schlessingers-n-word-rant/169161 Full Audio: Dr. Laura Schlessinger's N-word rant]</ref> Schlessinger apologized for the epithet the day after the broadcast. A joint statement of Media Matters and other organizations noted that though Schlessinger "attempted to apologize for using the epithet, the racist diatribe on Tuesday's show extends far beyond the use of a single word" and urged advertisers to boycott Schlessinger's show.<ref>[http://mediamatters.org/press/releases/201008160036 UNITY Journalists of Color represents the following Member Associations: National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ), National Association of Hispanic Journalists (NAHJ), Asian-American Journalist Association (AAJA), Native American Journalist Association (NAJA).]{{dead link|date=November 2013}}</ref> After General Motors, [[OnStar]], and [[Motel 6]] pulled their advertising, Schlessinger said she would not renew her syndication contract set to expire December 2010.<ref name="nytimes1"/><ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.cnn.com/2010/SHOWBIZ/celebrity.news.gossip/08/17/doctor.laura.ends.show/ | work=CNN | title=Dr. Laura to end her radio show | date=August 20, 2010}}</ref> In January 2011 her show resumed on satellite radio.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://satelliteradioplayground.com/tag/laura-ingraham/ |title=Laura Ingraham |publisher=Satellite Radio Playground |date=2010-11-29 |accessdate=2013-11-28}}</ref> |
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Schlessinger held Media Matters responsible for the boycott, which she called a typical tactic of the group to fulfill its "sole purpose of silencing people". She also said the boycotts' "threat of attack on my advertisers and stations" had violated her First Amendment free speech rights.<ref>[http://mediamatters.org/video/2010/08/19/cnns-john-roberts-corrects-dr-laura-on-inaccura/169479 CNN's John Roberts* corrects Dr. Laura on inaccurate attack against Speaker Pelosi | Media Matters for America<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.newsmax.com/InsideCover/dr-laura-schlessinger-media-matters-imus-fox-nword/2010/08/18/id/367864 |title=Dr. Laura Fingers Media Matters |publisher=Newsmax.com |date= |accessdate=2013-11-28}}</ref><ref>{{cite news| url=http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/1008/17/lkl.01.html | work=CNN | title=CNN.com | accessdate=2013-11-28}}</ref> Media Matters said that since the boycott was not "government-sanctioned censorship", her First Amendment rights were untouched.<ref>[http://mediamatters.org/blog/2010/08/19/palin-ratchets-up-absurd-and-offensive-defense/169529 Palin ratchets up absurd and offensive defense of Dr. Laura, claims they've been "shackled" by critics | Media Matters for America<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> |
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=== "War on Fox" === |
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In 2010 MMfA declared a "War on Fox". Brock said MMfA would focus its efforts on Fox and select conservative websites in what Brock called an "all-out campaign of 'guerrilla warfare and sabotage'" against Fox News.<ref name=Politico20110326>{{cite web |url=http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0311/51949.html |title=Media Matters' war against Fox |first=Ben |last=Smith |publisher=Politico |date=March 26, 2011 |accessdate=March 27, 2011 |authorlink=Ben Smith (journalist)}}</ref> MMfA said the greater attention given to Fox was part of a campaign to educate the public about distortions of conservative media, and the greater attention given to Fox was in line with its prominence. MMfA said its Drop Fox campaign for advertisers to boycott Fox was also part of its educational mission. MMfA also said that changing Fox's behavior, not shutting it down, was its goal.<ref name="politico">{{cite web|url=http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0711/58468.html |title=Fox News takes on Media Matters |publisher=Politico.com |date= |accessdate=2013-11-28}}</ref> |
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===Tax-exempt status challenge=== |
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Saying that MMfA's War on Fox—as well as its partisan activities—was not primarily educational as MMfA had insisted, but was instead "unlawful conduct", former White House counsel for [[George H. W. Bush]] and Fox consultant [[C. Boyden Gray]] sent a letter to the IRS asking that MMfA's tax-exempt status be revoked.<ref name="foxbusiness">{{cite web|author=Elizabeth MacDonald |url=http://www.foxbusiness.com/markets/2011/08/04/former-white-house-counsel-to-irs-yank-media-matters-tax-exempt-status/ |title=Former White House Counsel to IRS: Pull Media Matters' Tax-Exempt Status |publisher=Foxbusiness.com |date=2011-08-04 |accessdate=2013-11-28}}</ref> |
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Prior to Gray's IRS petition Politico reported that Fox News had run "more than 30 segments calling for the nonprofit group to be stripped of its tax-exempt status".<ref name="politico" /> In another report Politico said Fox News and Fox Business campaigns held, "The non-profit status as an educator is violated by partisan attacks. That sentiment was first laid out by a piece written by Gray for ''The Washington Times'' in June."<ref name="politico_a">{{cite web|last=Everett |first=Burgess |url=http://www.politico.com/blogs/onmedia/0811/Former_WH_lawyer_to_IRS_Rescind_Media_Matterss_nonprofit_status.html |title=Former W.H. lawyer to IRS: Rescind Media Matters's non-profit status |publisher=Politico.com |date=2011-08-05 |accessdate=2013-11-28}}</ref> In an interview with Fox News Gray seemed to change his view of MMfA's conduct; he said "It's not unlawful. It's just not charitable."<ref name="washingtonpost">{{cite web|last=Wemple |first=Erik |url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/erik-wemple/post/gray-petitions-against-media-matters/2011/08/05/gIQAYRRbwI_blog.html |title=Gray petitions against Media Matters |publisher=Washingtonpost.com |date=2011-08-05 |accessdate=2013-11-28}}</ref> |
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MMfA vice-president Ari Rabin-Havt said "C. Boyden Gray is Koch-affiliated, former Fox News contributor whose flights of fancy have already been discredited by actual experts in tax law."<ref name="washingtonpost" /> Gray denied having been on Fox's payroll while he was a Fox consultant in 2005, though at that time Fox had said Gray was a contributor, adding: "We pay contributors for strong opinions."<ref name="politico_a" /><ref name="washingtonpost_a">{{cite web|url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/07/10/AR2005071001187.html |title=Ed Klein, Drowning in Ink and Gasping for Air |publisher=Washingtonpost.com |date=2005-07-11 |accessdate=2013-11-28}}</ref> |
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Marcus Owens, former director of the IRS's Exempt Organizations Division, told Politico that the law is on Media Matters's side.<ref name="politico_b">{{cite web|last=Hagey |first=Keach |url=http://dyn.politico.com/printstory.cfm?uuid=5ABF908B-38CF-4639-B0FD-CE99E09DA1FD |title=Fox News takes on Media Matters |publisher=Dyn.politico.com |date=2011-07-07 |accessdate=2013-11-28}}</ref> Owens told Fox Business that only an IRS probe could reveal if partisan activity takes up a substantial enough part of MMfA's operations to disallow its tax-free status; the IRS does allow limited political activity at nonprofits, so long as it does not take up a substantial amount of their operations.<ref name="foxbusiness_a">{{cite web|author=Elizabeth MacDonald |url=http://www.foxbusiness.com/markets/2011/08/04/former-white-house-counsel-to-irs-yank-media-matters-tax-exempt-status/?intcmp=related |title=Former White House Counsel to IRS: Pull Media Matters’ Tax-Exempt Status |publisher=Foxbusiness.com |date=2011-08-04 |accessdate=2013-11-28}}</ref> |
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With regard to the War on Fox, Politico reported:<ref name="politico_b">{{cite web|url=http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0711/58468_Page3.html |title=Fox News takes on Media Matters |publisher=Politico.com |date= |accessdate=2013-11-28}}</ref> <blockquote>Owens emphasized that there is nothing in the IRS rules that prohibits tax-exempt educational nonprofits from attacking specific companies or from zeroing in on one company—as long as there is no private benefit to that company's competitor—so Media Matters' increasing focus on Fox News over the past few years does not trigger a violation.</blockquote> |
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==See also== |
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* [[Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting]] |
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* [[Journalism ethics and standards]] |
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* [[Media bias]] |
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* [[Media bias in the United States]] |
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* [[People For the American Way]] |
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==References== |
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{{reflist|colwidth=30em}} |
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==External links== |
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* [http://www.mediamatters.org/ Official website] |
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Media Matters For America}} |
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[[Category:Media analysis websites]] |
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[[Category:Political advocacy groups in the United States]] |
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[[Category:Progressivism in the United States]] |
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[[Category:Non-profit organizations based in Washington, D.C.]] |
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[[Category:Organizations established in 2004]] |
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[[Category:Media analysis organizations]] |
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