Media Favors Creating Controversy To Covering Obstructionism–&–MEET THE PEOPLE SELLING CLIMATE DISFORMATION

Kevin — As the election fades from memory, we’re at risk of the press covering politics as usual. False balance, fake experts, and hyping controversy instead of covering substance are just some of the things we’re looking at this week – along with perhaps the most astounding 90 seconds in the history of Fox News.   John Whitehouse  Twitter: @existentialfish Media Favors Creating Controversy To Covering Obstructionism As speculation continues that President Obama will nominate Amb. Susan Rice as Sec. Hillary Clinton’s successor at the State Department, media are focusing on the Republican threats to block Rice from being appointed. But sadly, press are excluding the historic nature of Republican threats from their reporting. Eric Boehlert examines the record: http://mm4a.org/113pDR0 WHEN FOX’S WAR ON CHRISTMAS COMES HOME We see it every year. Fox News uses a manufactured “War on Christmas” to try to bully anyone with a different view. This year, Fox’s War On Christmas features an extra helpingof hypocrisy. Moments after Fox hosts attacked the governor of Rhode Island for using the term “holiday tree” instead of “Christmas tree,” Fox featured a “Holiday Wish List.”http://mm4a.org/113hCvn MEET THE PEOPLE SELLING CLIMATE DISFORMATION There’s a problem with climate disinformation in the media, but it hasn’t happened by accident. There’s a group of “experts” funded by industries who have a financial stake in blocking action on climate change. Jill Fitzsimmons and our climate team break down who these experts are, how they lie about science, and how mainstream outlets elevate them while striving for a false balance: http://mm4a.org/WvA9eD THE FAKE OUTRAGE OF SOCIAL SECURITY COVERAGE President Roosevelt signed the Social Security Act in 1935 (pictured). 77 years later, right-wing media like The Wall Street Journalare still attacking it, but this time they have unwitting allies in the mainstream press. Outlets like The Washington Post and The New York Times are echoingRepublican talking points that Social Security costs are “skyrocketing.” In reality, economists say that Social Security needs only minor adjustments to be solvent for another 77 years.http://mm4a.org/TjOLfQ

FEATURED VIDEO

Fox wanted journalist Tom Ricks to talk about their Benghazi conspiracy theory. Instead, Ricks called out the network’s politicized coverage on the air. See what everyone is talking about: http://mm4a.org/YjwG8h

WE NEED YOUR HELP

Yesterday, we kicked off our yearly fundraiser. We’relooking to raise$50,000 by the end of the year. Stopping conservative misinformation is a big job – and we can’t do it without you. You can support our work here:http://mm4a.org/2012fundraiser

THIS IS CNN, OR AT LEAST HALF OF IT

When covering the Congressional budget battle, CNN only told half the story. They went into detail about Democrats rebuffing Republican attempts to cut Medicare and Medicaid, but the network ignored the Republican refusal to raise tax rates on the very wealthy: http://mm4a.org/QMuC6M

IMAGE OF THE WEEK

When Truth Creeps Into The Bubble