Attack The Messenger: How Politicians Turn You Against The Media

by Crawford, Craig

• ISBN13: 9780742538160
• ISBN10: 0742538168
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2005-08-30
• Publisher: Natl Book Network

Summary

These days the truth is hard to find. If the press is not believed--or believable--because politicians have turned the public against it, then the press is not free, and without a free press, there is no democracy. Includes behind the scenes stories about reporters and politicians in conflict, an objective look at the ongoing debate over liberal and conservative bias in the news media, an engaging story of the Internet's positive and negative impact on the reliable flow of information, and a media resource guide to the best sources of objective reporting.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments	ix
Chapter 1 Turning the Tables	1	(14)
The Setup	3	(1)
The Sting	4	(6)
The Fallout	10	(1)
Media on the Run	11	(4)
Chapter 2 Blame the Messenger	15	(14)
The Downside of the Media's Fall	17	(2)
Bring Back Believable Reporting	19	(3)
Arrogance Is a Blinding Weakness	22	(1)
Media Wimps	23	(2)
Standing Up to Power	25	(4)
Chapter 3 A President Lies	29	(14)
Parse That Sentence	30	(2)
Choosing to Lie	32	(1)
That Other West Wing Affair	33	(4)
"I Did Not Have Sexual Relations..."	37	(6)
Chapter 4 Spinning Lies	43	(16)
Gambling with the Truth	44	(3)
The Rewards of Lying	47	(2)
The History of Propaganda	49	(1)
Spinning the Drug War	50	(2)
The Spin Room	52	(7)
Chapter 5 A War Story	59	(14)
A Press Subdued	61	(1)
Jefferson and Lincoln against the Press	62	(2)
The White House Briefing as Performance Art	64	(1)
The TV Generals	65	(8)
Chapter 6 Who Will Tell the Truth?	73	(14)
Losing Public Faith	74	(1)
Dropping the Ball	75	(1)
Media Glory Days	76	(3)
Drawing Conclusions	79	(2)
The "Dover Test"	81	(6)
Chapter 7 The End of an Era	87	(10)
Rather Moments	90	(1)
Chilling Effect	90	(1)
Vietnam Redux	91	(5)
The Son Rises	96	(1)
Chapter 8 Winners and Losers	97	(12)
Old Media versus New Media	99	(2)
A "Huge Assumption"	101	(1)
At the Mercy of Spin	102	(3)
Fear in the Newsroom	105	(2)
The Politicians Win	107	(2)
Chapter 9 Media Culpa	109	(12)
Struggling to Matter	111	(2)
My Hate Mail	113	(4)
Getting It Wrong	117	(1)
Why 'Don't Vote	117	(1)
Explaining Ourselves	118	(3)
Chapter 10 How to Get the Real Story	121	(20)
C-SPAN	121	(1)
The Associated Press	122	(3)
Public Broadcasting	125	(1)
Don Imus	126	(1)
The Gray Ladies	127	(1)
Ombudsmen and Critics	128	(1)
The National Networks	128	(1)
Opinion as News	129	(2)
Shouting the News	131	(1)
Cable Watch	132	(2)
The Internet	134	(3)
Old Media's Comeback Trail	137	(4)
Chapter 11 What Now?	141	(8)
Taking the Lead	142	(2)
Acknowledging Bias	144	(1)
Politicians on the Loose	145	(1)
Let Us Be Rude Again	146	(2)
Keep It between the Ditches	148	(1)
Appendix 1 Poll Watch: Public Confidence in the Press	149	(6)
Appendix 2 Media Resource Guide	155	(8)
Notes	163	(10)
Index	173	(8)
About the Author	181