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Lädt ... Into the Buzzsaw: Leading Journalists Expose the Myth of a Free Pressvon Kristina Borjesson (Herausgeber)
   Keine Keine aktuelle Diskussion zu diesem Buch.  BooksOn23rd | Nov 25, 2015 |   ------------ From the back cover: Two dozen award winning print and TV journalists have collaborated to produce a book of devastating essays about the dangerous state of American journalism today. Writing in riveting, often gut wrenching detail about their personal experiences with the "buzzsaw"-concerted corporate and/or government efforts to kill their controversial stories and their careers-- the contributors to Into the Buzzsaw reveal the awesome depth and breadth of censorship in America today. Their essays portray a press corps that regularly engages in self censorship and attacks reporters who come under fire for not doing so. They describe a Fourth Estate that has largely relinquished its watchdog role and that has been coopted by corporate and government powers. The bigger picture is that of a press actively contributing to the demise of democracy in america. Riveting first person accounts detail what these investigative reporters risked and what they uncovered about the governments' investigation into the crash of TWA Flight 800; the CIAs involvement in the war on drugs, the US military's efforts to cover up the massacre of hundreds of civilians during the Korean War, and the conspiracy to court martial a returning POW from Vietnam; the writing on the all foreshadowing the terrorist attacks of 9/11, and much more. ------------------ Some quotes that I want to remember: [Discussing a Fox news station]: "We paid 3 billion for these television stations. We'll tell YOU what the news is. The news is what we say it is. [said to the reporter, trying to get info about Monsanto aired]. The veteran lawyer told the judge, "There is no law, rule, or regulation against slanting the news." [so much for 'fair and balanced']. The First Amendment does not cover reporters inside a news organization. It is a protection to keep government from restricting a freepress. When the press itself is willing to disregard its public trust and individual reporters who are employees stand up to stop it, it will always be a "labor dispute". Terrorists don't have a chance against the United States. Terrorists will never destroy America. Greed might. Discussion of "Project Censored", which is put out annually by Sonoma State university. Lists the most un/underreported stories of the year. Do we have a free press today? Sure we do. ITs free to report all the sex scandals it wants, all the stock market news we can handle, every new health fad that that comes down the pike, and every celebrity marriage or divorce that happens. But when it comes to the real down and dirty stuff, stories like Tailwind, the october Surprise, the Mozote Massacre, corporate corruption, or CIA involvement in drug trafficing--that's when we begin to see the limit of our freedoms. In today's media environment, sadly, such stories are not even open for discussion. Back in 1938, when facism was sweeping across Europe.. George Seldes observed:" It is possible to fool all the people all hte time-when government and press cooperate." (www.projectcensored.org) _----------- As for the book/essays themselves? As books of this type are wont to be, they were unevent in tone, as well as portraying/convincing me of their message. Greg Palast, for example, merely went on a rant, with no information and no evidence. Others, however, shared their investigative findings with many notes, and told how they were edited or censored. Overall, 4 stars, and a very important read. (  ) PokPok | May 6, 2012 |  ) starmist | Apr 1, 2006 | Zeige 3 von 3
 For this edition, three of the original essays were removed and four new ones added. Many others have been updated, making the book even more pertinent and timely, notably with Michael Levine's contribution on the nation's drug war and Jane Akre's account of her legal battle with Rupert Murdoch over the broadcast of her story on Monsanto's bovine hormone. Each of the new chapters documents how journalists have experienced increased censorship in the aftermath of September 11th.... In her new introduction, Borjesson notes that the current state of American journalism makes it even more important that the work of investigative journalists and media critics be unreservedly and widely disseminated. As before, Buzzsaw provides a vital perspective on the First Amendment right to a free press and its endangered status today.  Significant stories by investigative reporters do not always reach the air or find their way into print; some of them get caught in "the buzzsaw" that rips through both their reporting and their reputations. Borjesson, an Emmy Award-winning reporter, pulls together 18 essays written by journalists who have either personally experienced this buzzsaw or who have closely observed the media industry. Her own reporting on TWA Flight 800 for CBS made her a target of the FBI, who interfered with her investigative work. She was harassed, her computer and reporter's notebook were stolen, and in the end CBS fired her. The experience changed her perception of the media establishment. Her colleagues here detail accounts of their own buzzsaw encounters covering such stories as Florida's voting in the recent presidential election, Tailwind, a massacre during the Korean War, and CIA involvement with the drug trade. A biographical sketch precedes each piece. This book would have benefited from a more substantial introduction to provide adequate context, but Robert McChesney's closing essay on the history of professional journalism does underscore the fragile state of reporting. In this uneven yet illuminating anthology, editor Borjesson succinctly explains the journalist's predicament: "The buzzsaw is what can rip through you when you try to investigate or expose anything this country's large institutions be they corporate or government want kept under wraps." Indeed, if members of the general public read this book, or even portions of it, they will be appalled. To the uninitiated reader, the accounts of what goes on behind the scenes at major news organizations are shocking. Executives regularly squelch legitimate stories that will lower their ratings, upset their advertisers or miff their investors. Unfortunately, this dirt is unlikely to reach unknowing news audiences, as this volume's likely readership is already familiar with the current state of journalism. Here, Murrow Award-winning reporter Borjesson edits essays by journalists from the Associated Press to CBS News to the New York Times. Each tells of their difficulties with news higher-ups as they tried to publish or air controversial stories relating to everything from toxic dump sites and civilian casualties to police brutality and dangerous hospitals. Some, like BBC reporter Greg Palast's, are merely rants against "corporate" journalism, but others, like New York Observer columnist Philip Weiss's, will serve as meaningful lessons to nascent and veteran writers alike. Award-winning journalists reveal the disturbing fact that the press in the U.S. isn't as free as the public would like to believe. Nearly two dozen reporters, at some risk to their careers, disclose run-ins with corporate or government powers-that-be which have prompted them to reevaluate the significance of journalism in a free and open society. .... This is a disturbing but fascinating collection that will appeal to readers interested in the media.  Borjesson provides a substantial demonstration of how major corporations and the political establishment control the content of reported news in the US. ...[T]he authors of these essays, many of them distinguished, award-winning journalists, document how important stories have been killed and events covered up when those stories or events reflected poorly on major corporations or people with political power. The rocks turned over in this volume expose facts that most readers will find disturbing. Although the contributors are understandably angry at the way they were treated for trying to report their stories, they direct their real anger at fellow journalists who fear or refuse to investigate beyond the "official" party line. Auszeichnungen
Writing in riveting, often gut-wrenching detail about their personal experiences with the "buzzsaw"--Concerted corporate and/or corporate efforts to kill their controversial stories and their careers, nearly two dozen print and TV journalists present devastating essays about the dangerous state of American journalism today. J. Keine Bibliotheksbeschreibungen gefunden. |
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 Google Books — Lädt ...GenresMelvil Decimal System (DDC)323.44Social sciences Political Science Civil and political rights The state and the individual LibertyKlassifikation der Library of Congress [LCC] (USA)BewertungDurchschnitt: (4.18)
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3
Not just for other journalists, the accounts in this book are of serious issues and should be read by everyone.
From the covering up of the number of soldiers left in Vietnam after that war, to the cancellation of investigative reports regarding growth hormones fed to cattle, and the silencing of non-government people over evidence in the TWA 800 crash investigation, the media has been dumbed-down according to the whims of corporations and government. Corporations are dollar-driven, they own a lot of the media outlets, and they want the news slanted in their favor; the government just outright lies or withholds information to keep its citizens pacified.
Each reporter has their own style, some being a bit more professional, some being a bit sensationalist. All together it makes for a well-rounded representation of independent journalism.
Although the incidents written about are all before 2004, they are still important to know and are a good example of what journalists are up against when they attempt to find the truth of matters. (