AlterNet.org: Media and Technology

Not News: National Broadcasters Want To Hide Their Political Ad Profits

Jay Costa, Maplight.org — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 15:00:01 PST

Commercial TV and radio lobby tries to thwart disclosure of income from political ads.

The Right-Wing Zombie Lie About Public Workers That Just Won't Die

Sarah Jaffe, AlterNet — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 14:00:01 PST

A new study on government employees' earnings has the Right buzzing -- and some progressive pundits repeating the myth that government workers are "overpaid."

Gasland Director Josh Fox: Obama's Support for Natural Gas Drilling 'A Painful Moment' for Communities Exposed to Fracking

Amy Goodman, Juan Gonzalez, Democracy Now! — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 13:00:01 PST

Fox talks with Democracy Now following his arrest Wednesday while trying to film a Congressional hearing.

1.25 Billion Chicken Wings? The Vast Amounts of Crappy Food Americans Consume on Super Bowl Sunday

Tara Lohan, AlterNet — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 12:00:01 PST

We've somehow turned watching a sport into eating (and drinking) like it's a sport.

Son of New York Police Commissioner Accused of Rape, Media Smears Alleged Victim

Mary Elizabeth Williams, Salon — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 21:00:01 PST

A prominent New York TV anchor is accused of rape -- but the tabloids smear the accuser. What's so dismaying about the coverage is how pathetically typical it is.

What Liberals are Still Missing About Inequality: Decades of Outsourcing and Union-Busting by the 1%

Roger Bybee, In These Times — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 07:00:01 PST

Many of Americaâ€™s most liberal mainstream pundits have narrowed the debate over inequality, perhaps out of a desire to shield Obama from pressure coming from his left.

How Fox News Is Destroying The Republican Party

Eric Boehlert, Media Matters for America — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 16:00:01 PST

It's becoming increasingly clear that Fox's programming and the radical, fear-based agenda it's setting for Republicans is now doing lasting damage to the Grand Old Party.

5 Dishonest Ad Campaigns Coming Your Way For Election 2012

Steven Rosenfeld, AlterNet — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 23:00:01 PST

These five themes will dominate the airwaves as the election season heats up.

The Dangerous Panic Over Painkillers

Maia Szalavitz, The Fix — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 16:00:01 PST

The media trumpets a crisis in Rx painkiller addiction, but only 1% of patients get hooked. The result? Doctors treat patients like addicts, while addicts escape responsibility.

Anti-Wolf Movie 'The Grey' Plays Up Misconceptions About Wolves -- At a Time When Wolves Are More At Risk Than Ever

Wayne Pacelle, AlterNet — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 11:00:01 PST

"The Grey" rivals "Jaws" for its sheer ignorance and folly in terms of natural history and the human-animal relationship.

Robert Greenwald and Reporter Michael Hastings Take on the Wild and Terrifying Inside Story of America's War Machine

Robert Greenwald, AlterNet — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 11:00:01 PST

Hastings, in his hard-hitting new book, discusses "politically correct imperialism," why the military is obsessed with its legacy, and why we're stuck in post-9/11 thinking.

'Letâ€™s Stay Together' -- Can Obamaâ€™s Charm Offensive Woo Back Disgruntled Progressives?

Sarah Seltzer, AlterNet — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 10:00:01 PST

How do we reconcile our need to hold the president accountable with our reaction to this renewed charm offensive?

Major Media Blackout to Protest the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA)

Amy Goodman, Democracy Now! — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 21:00:01 PST

Here's what you need to know about two controversial internet anti-piracy bills moving through Congress and the massive backlash against them.

Internet Access for All: 3 Ways the FCC is Trying to Close the Digital Divide

Jamilah King, ColorLines — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 23:00:01 PST

Here are a few of the FCCâ€™s efforts to deal with the digital divideâ€”the good and the bad of each.

Fired from MSNBC for Anti-War Views, Phil Donahue Speaks Out on Republicans and Journalism, While Campaigning for Norman Solomon in California

Dennis Bernstein, Consortium News — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 23:00:01 PST

The legendary talk show host, who lost his show because he opposed the Iraq war, discusses the wars, the presidential candidates, and more in an in-depth interview.

New York Times Public Editor Asks Whether Paper Should Fact-Check Politicians; Gets Resounding "Yes!"

Clay Shirky, Comment Is Free — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 23:00:01 PST

Times Public Editor Arthur Brisbane's question on reporters' duty to challenge misleading political speech has permanently altered readers' expectations.

Mr. Davidson's Planet: NPR/NYT Guru Adam Davidson's Discredited Economic Principles

Lynn Parramore, AlterNet — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 09:00:01 PST

Adam Davidson's economic principles are alien to a just and prosperous society.

4 Creepy Ways Big Pharma Peddles its Drugs

Martha Rosenberg, AlterNet — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 23:00:01 PST

Big Pharma uses ads that sow hypochondria, raise health fears and sell diseases to adults and their children.

American Exceptionalism and Worker-Bashing, Adam Davidson Style

Yves Smith, Naked Capitalism — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 23:00:01 PST

NYT/NPR economic guru Adam Davidson misrepresents the facts and appeals to American prejudices to sell worker-bashing.

Are Crackpot Liars Being Used to Tie Iran to 9/11?

Gareth Porter, TruthOut.org — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 11:00:01 PST

A court case resulting in a "finding of fact" that Iran assisted al Qaeda is a tapestry of recycled fabrications and distortions of fact from a bizarre cast of characters.