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Media Matters for America

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Screenshot from Media Matters for America (Jan 6, 2006)

Media Matters for America (or MMfA) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization founded in 2004 by journalist and author David Brock. Media Matters for America describes itself as "a web-based, not-for-profit, progressive research and information center dedicated to comprehensively monitoring, analyzing, and correcting conservative misinformation in the U.S. media." 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."[1]

Media Matters scrutinizes news reporting and political commentary that it perceives to contain conservative distortions or falsehoods. Their targets include both news reporting and commentators such as Ann Coulter, Rush Limbaugh, and Bill O'Reilly.

Research Work

Media Matters uses a variety of techniques to demonstrate how it believes information is manipulated by right-wing media figures. Employing methods such as content analysis, fact checking, monitoring, and comparison of quotes or presentations from media figures to primary documents such as Pentagon or Government Accountability Office reports, MMfA provides daily analysis to its readers.[2]

Media Matters analyzes the dominant American news sources. Networks reviewed include NBC, ABC, CBS, PBS, CNN, MSNBC, CNBC, and FOX News Channel. Newspapers that are subject to scrutiny include The New York Times, The Washington Post, The New York Post, The Washington Times, The Wall Street Journal, and USA Today. Journalists and personalities investigated by Media Matters also include Brit Hume, Sean Hannity, Neil Cavuto, John Gibson, Shepard Smith, Chris Matthews, Joe Scarborough, Tucker Carlson, Wolf Blitzer, Lou Dobbs, Glenn Beck,Michael Savage, and Pat Robertson.

Media Matters also posts video clips. For example, they host clips of Keith Olbermann, from MSNBC's show "Countdown," criticizing Bill O'Reilly for allegedly making factual errors and gaffes in his reporting.[3][4]

On April 4, 2007, Media Matters for America monitored the Imus in the Morning broadcast when Don Imus referred to the Rutgers University women's basketball as "nappy-headed ho's." The organization posted this information and later a video clip on the Internet, and sent out a bulk emailing to individual journalists and to the National Association of Black Journalists, eventually resulting in CBS Radio and MSNBC canceling his program.[5]

Analysis of weekend television commentary

On February 14, 2006, the organization published a study of the guest appearances on ABC's 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."[6] The American Spectator later criticized this study for allegedly characterizing "progressive" commentators as "neutral" in its underlying methodogy.[7]

A second analysis was published April 4, 2006 examining Sunday news programs from January through March 2006.[8] 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."

The third study was released July 20, 2006 concluding "Republicans and conservatives dominated on all three Sunday shows."[9][10] Media Matters stated that "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."[9]

Misinformer of the Year

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 which, in the opinion of Media Matters, is responsible for the most numerous and/or grievous factual errors and claims. The complete list of awardees of "Misinformer of the Year" is as follows:

Affiliations

Chapters

In July 2006, Media Matters for America launched its first state chapter, Colorado Media Matters. Media Matters recruited Colorado natives to run Colorado Media Matters and to analyze the local state media using the original Media Matters' research techniques. Outlets being scutinized by Colorado Media Matters include the Rocky Mountain News, The Denver Post, The Colorado Springs Gazette, KCNC-TV (CBS -- Denver), KMGH-TV (ABC -- Denver), KUSA-TV (NBC -- Denver), KDVR-TV (FOX -- Denver), KREX-TV (CBS -- Grand Junction), KJCT-TV (ABC -- Grand Junction), KXRM-TV (FOX -- Colorado Springs), and KBDI-TV (PBS -- Denver).

Funding sources

In May 2004, the New York Times reported that Media Matters has received "more than $2 million in donations from wealthy liberals" and "was developed with help from the newly formed Center for American Progress".[14] Media Matters has received financial support from MoveOn.org,[15] Peter Lewis, George Soros,[16] and the New Democratic Network.[17]

Criticism

Bill O'Reilly, who is frequently a target of Media Matters' criticisms, has accused them of "specializing in distorting comments made by politicians, pundits, and media people" while "smearing" those who do not agree with "left wing politics" such as Senator Joseph Lieberman.[18] O'Reilly said that he believes Media Matters took his comments regarding a dinner with Al Sharpton in Harlem out of context.[19][20] Media Matters countered by saying that they posted a full transcript of his remarks and that O'Reilly did not explain what context was missing from their piece. O'Reilly claimed that the Media Matters piece put together at least two out of context comments that were initially spoken five minutes apart and presented them as one comment in an effort to mislead readers.[21] In an appearance on NBC's Today, a Media Matters representative said, "If Bill O'Reilly got caught robbing a bank, he would say he was taken out of context."[22]

Appearing on the 'O'Reilly Factor', Juan Williams of NPR and Fox News defended O' Reilly and criticized Media Matters, stating "It's so frustrating, they want to shut you up. They want to shut up anybody who has an honest discussion about race."[19]

In May 2007 Media Matters founder David Brock was sued for defamation and false light invasion of privacy by Illinois Republican/Internet Journalist Andy Martin.[23] The case was dismissed with prejudice in June 2007 with the court citing a Connecticut injunction prohibiting Mr. Martin from "filing new lawsuits, actions, proceedings, or matters in federal fora" without obtaining the court's permission.[24] Subsequent motions to remand, vacate, and recuse by Mr. Martin were denied and, in its ruling, the court held that the plaintiff "fails to state a claim for which relief may be granted" additionally noting that Martin’s complaints about Media Matters’ characterizations were without merit and Martin attempted to "abuse the courts". [25]

Footnotes

  1. ^ ""About Media Matters"". Media Matters for America. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |accessmonthday= ignored (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
  2. ^ MMfA has used the Government Accountability Office in make fact-checking articles. For example, 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 Hannity criticized media, Bush administration...
  3. ^ "Olbermann hosted authors of Sweet Jesus, I Hate Bill O'Reilly" (Press release). Media Matters for America. 2006-05-01. Retrieved 2006-06-06. {{cite press release}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  4. ^ "Olbermann named O'Reilly "Worst Person" for establishing "Hall of Shame" for media that "smear" him" (Press release). Media Matters for America. 2006-04-27. Retrieved 2006-06-06. {{cite press release}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  5. ^ Barnes, Brooks; et al. (April 13, 2007). "Behind the Fall of Imus, A Digital Brush Fire". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 2007-09-09. {{cite news}}: Explicit use of et al. in: |first= (help)
  6. ^ "If It's Sunday, It's Conservative". Media Matters for America. February 14, 2006. Retrieved 2006-11-04.
  7. ^ Tabin, John (2006-02-21). "Garbage In, Garbage Out, Continued". AmSpec Blog. The American Spectator. Retrieved 2007-01-30.
  8. ^ "If It's Sunday, It's Still Conservative". Media Matters for America. April 4, 2006. Retrieved 2006-11-04.
  9. ^ a b Third time's not the charm: Sunday-morning talk shows still imbalanced. Media Matters for America, July 20, 2006
  10. ^ "Media Watch: Sunday Morning Blues?". Retrieved 2007-09-26.
  11. ^ "Misinformer of the Year: Bill O'Reilly of FOX News Channel". Media Matters for America. December 23, 2004. Retrieved 2007-08-14.
  12. ^ "Misinformer of the Year: Chris Matthews of MSNBC". Media Matters for America. December 23, 2005. Retrieved 2007-08-14.
  13. ^ "Misinformer of the Year: ABC". Media Matters for America. December 22, 2006. Retrieved 2007-01-14.
  14. ^ Rutenberg, Jim (May 3, 2004). "New Internet Site Turns Critical Eyes and Ears to the Right". New York Times. p. A21. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  15. ^ "David Brock Group Backpedals on Soros Funding". Retrieved 2007-09-26.
  16. ^ "'Factor Investigation': George Soros". Retrieved 2007-09-26.
  17. ^ "David Brock Group Backpedals on Soros Funding". Retrieved 2007-09-26.
  18. ^ http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,268043,00.html
  19. ^ a b Bauder, David (2007-09-26). "Bill O'Reilly Says He's Being Smeared". AP. Retrieved 2007-09-26.
  20. ^ http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,298126,00.html
  21. ^ http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,298245,00.html
  22. ^ "Media Matters' Waldman: "[I]f Bill O'Reilly got caught robbing a bank he would say he was taken out of context"". Retrieved 2007-09-26.
  23. ^ Press release from Andy Martin, the person who lost the lawsuit: "Andy Martin takes action to stop David Brock and Media Matters for Americ". Andy Martin. May 11, 2007. Retrieved 2007-09-18.
  24. ^ "Andy Martin v. Media Matters for America" (PDF). Media Matters for America. May 11, 2007. Retrieved 2007-09-18.
  25. ^ "Case 1:07-cv-03154 Document 24 Filed 07/19/2007" (PDF). Media Matters for America. July 19, 2007. Retrieved 2007-09-18.

See also

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