U.S. Media Fails to Hold Government Accountable in War and During Electoral Campaigns

Interview with Robert McChesney, founder and president of the media reform group Free Press, conducted by Scott Harris

Over the past several years America has seen a growing public backlash against policies deregulating the ownership of U.S. broadcast outlets. Sweeping plans for further deregulation put forward by former Federal Communications Commission chair Michael Powell in 2002 - ignited a nationwide campaign to oppose the rules change, and succeeded in temporarily blocking the measure. The grassroots movement that rose up to oppose deregulation is also critical of the programming choices available to citizens - leading them to strongly advocate for an increase in diversity of viewpoints on the airwaves.

The fact that half or more Americans mistakenly still believe that Saddam Hussein possessed weapons of mass destruction and supported al Qaeda justifying the Bush administration's war in Iraq -- has led many observers to criticize the performance of the U.S. media. Critics say the lack of investigative and reliable reporting on these critical issues - both before the U.S. invasion of Iraq and during the 2004 presidential election campaign -- has significantly diminished political dialogue and debate in America.

Between The Lines' Scott Harris spoke with Robert McChesney, professor of communication at the University of Illinois and founder of the media reform group Free Press. McChesney discusses the White House practice of paying commentators to present the administration's views and why he believes American media and journalism is in crisis.

Visit Free Press' website at www.freepress.net.

Professor McChesney is an editor of the forthcoming book, "The Future of Media, Resistance and Reform in the 21st Century," published by Seven Stories Press.

Related links:

* www.robertmcchesney.com

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