BBC chief slates US media on Iraq (US media=Bush "Cheerleaders") [View All]

[Tom Yossarian Joad]

http://news.ft.com/servlet/ContentServer?pagename=FT.com/StoryFT/FullStory&c=StoryFT&cid=1069493493055

Greg Dyke, director-general of the BBC, used the award of an International Emmy to round once again on US coverage of the Iraq war - suggesting the American media had become a "cheerleader" for the Bush administration.


Mr Dyke, receiving the award in New York, told leading broadcasters and media executives: "News organisations should be in the business of balancing their coverage, not banging the drum for one side or the other. This is something which seemed to get lost in American reporting during the war."

He cited research showing that US news organisations relied mostly on pundits who supported the war, and appeared to toe the government line.

"For any news organisation to act as a cheerleader for government is to undermine your credibility," he added
<snip>

Wow. We never noticed this before.



But it's nice to hear it said out loud.