Steve Hochstadt: The weakness of mainstream TV news is the obsession with scandal, the endless repetition of information, and the stretch into speculation in order to keep talking about one all-consuming story.
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William Pfaff: The Rare Pundit Who Hated War & Militarism
Murray Polner: Now that Putin’s Russia is habitually denounced for “meddling” in the 2016 election so many others intrusions, military and otherwise, are conveniently overlooked—”meddling” in countries such as Italy, Iran, Guatemala, Congo, Dominican Republic, Cuba, Vietnam, Grenada, Panama, Libya, Ukraine, etc. Have I missed any?
There’s Fake News on Your Television, Too
RJ Eskow: Sinclair is requiring all its news anchors to condemn the reporting of mainstream news outlets as “fake news.” Sinclair’s memos direct stations to air its pre-scripted attacks on journalism “using news time, not commercial time.”
Facebook and the Humanities: Pondering What Would Oedipus Do
Timothy Hampton: At the current moment in our political and technological history – as we are faced with mendacity and cynicism in Washington and the strange evasions of the tech sector – humanities education is more crucial than ever.
We’re Only Beginning to Grasp the Negative Effects of Social Media on Politics
Kate Harveston: Perhaps the most negative effect of social media on politics is its natural tendency to create an echo chamber for all Americans who use it.
Mo’Nique’s Boycott and Racial/Gender Wage Gaps
Janis Prince: Critics believe that her call for a Netflix boycott is just sour grapes. To some extent, they may be right, but more importantly her comments highlight an area of American life that is mostly ignored, except for among those who experience its reality.
Government of, by, and for Expensive Commercials
Larry Wines: The cable channels salivate when billionaire Tom Steyer comes to buy more air time. The ones with strong viewership that corresponds to Democratic Party registrants, anyway.
Next Stage of Net Neutrality Conflict Begins
Kevin Zeese and Margaret Flowers: Net neutrality proponents have been organizing for a Resolution of Disapproval under the CRA since the FCC announced its decision last December. There are already enough co-sponsors to ensure a vote in the Senate, but we are one vote away from victory.
Information Warfare—13 Russians Indicted: Is Social Media Also Implicated?
James Preston Allen: It is quite curious how the promise of digital communications created in this country to bring people together all over the world has now been weaponized to do great harm to our own democracy.
Pimping King
Rev. Irene Monroe: The exploitation of black talent and the objectification of black bodies and images to pad the pockets of profit-making corporations under the guise of helping underserved populations and communities is also not new.
“Fake News” Is Fake News
Bill Blum: The main problem with the media today, as earlier, is what is left out of articles dealing with controversial issues.
Russiagate? Evidence More Important Than Opinion
John Marciano: We need to be especially skeptical of the CIA, given its history of manipulating intelligence for political ends, such as the bogus “intelligence” in 2003 about Iraq’s Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD).
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