junk news

Feeding the Outrage Machine

Stevie Converse — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 08:56:48 -0400

Full article: Mother Jones
Kevin Drum
What happens when news organizations decide to quit covering the "boring" stuff and just follow the Politico model of "feeding the outrage machine" instead? Is this really a world any of us want to live in?

Junk News: Obama Birth Certificate Issue Still Won't Die ...

mthompson — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 06:57:14 -0400

Junk news outlets are still giving airtime to the phony issue of President Obama's birth certificate.

Infotainment Society: Junk Food News for 2008/2009

Stevie Converse — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 10:36:26 -0400

Full article: Daily Censored
Peter Phillips
From Jessica Simpson's weight and Brangelina's escapades, to Britney Spears' sister and the Obama's First Puppy, Americans are fed a steady "news" diet of useless information laden with personal anecdotes, scandals, and gossip, while important stories are missing from TV "news" programs. Project Censored has listed the Top Ten Junk Food News Stories for 2008 and 2009.

The Cable News "Fascist-Socialist" Apocalypse

mthompson — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 06:00:29 -0400

Amid economic crisis, is America drifting toward socialism? Or fascism? Or some "weirdo" hybrid of both?! Only cable McNews has the answer. If junk media fear-mongering is making you sick, help Stop Big Media in your community.

George Will Claims U.S. Economy Isn't "Going Down the Drain"

mthompson — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 06:20:49 -0500

From ThinkProgress.org: On ABC’s This Week roundtable, conservative columnist George Will claimed that the economy may be suffering only from a “financial problem” while the rest of the economy is performing “rather well.”

Pundits Scoffed at Accurate Predictions about the Economy

mthompson — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 06:16:53 -0500

In 2007 mainstream pundits laughed at analysts like Peter Schiff who accurately forecast America's current economic woes. And some pundits are still claiming that America's overall economy is "doing rather well.”

Junk News Serves up a Bailout "Screamathon"

mthompson — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 08:05:11 -0500

Fox News' Neil Cavuto and Ben Stein get into a "screamathon" over the government's economic bailout plans — just when Americans need real journalism and debate most. (Hat tip to CrooksandLiars.com)

Toxic Media & Radioactive Smears

mthompson — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 07:22:37 -0500

This week's Media Minutes podcast looks at shock jocks and toxic smears — like Michael Savage's recent claim that the Obama administration will conduct a "wholesale firing of competent white men" and "stir up a race war."

News Networks Chicken out over "Pig-Gate"

mthompson — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 10:48:45 -0400

Are commercial news outlets acting like piggies in the "junk news" trough? Are they too chicken to ask the tough questions?