Brokaw, T

Intimidation factor?

press2:

2006

Inhofe attacks press: Brokaw on climate (Borenstein at AP asked one hundred scientists about An Inconvenient Truth; Inhofe criticized him for not including skeptical scientists). Inhofe compared his 2006 Discovery Channel documentary on climate change to Big Lie Nazi propaganda; Kyoto would shut down agriculture and oil in Oklahoma. In addition he said that the NYT would profit from coverage of climate because on of its reporters had written a book on the subject (Revkin). A reporter who teaches journalism at NYU suggested that Inhofe and Morano's character assassination might be "ginning up the base" for the midterm elections, and that Inhofe's intimidation might scare some smaller newspaper radio and TV stations from running stories on climate. [note crypto/mirror: follow the money]

posted by JR @ 12:22 AM 0 comments links to this post

Sunday, July 23, 2006

Senate's top climate skeptic turns up heat on media

Sen. James Inhofe -- who calls human-induced climate change "the greatest hoax ever perpetrated on mankind" -- is using his chairmanship of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee to spank journalists who fail to give equal time to global-warming skeptics. The Oklahoma Republican has used interviews and press releases to question the objectivity of reporters who cover climate issues. Two recent targets are former NBC News anchor Tom Brokaw and Associated Press science reporter Seth Borenstein. Inhofe called Brokaw "a pawn of the Democratic Party" for keeping skeptics out of his recent Discovery Channel documentary. And Inhofe challenged Borenstein's article that asked more than 100 scientists for their views on former Vice President Al Gore's film, "An Inconvenient Truth," for not including Gore's critics.

A 71-year old former insurance executive, Inhofe has never been shy about confronting climate scientists, environmentalists, Hollywood producers and fellow senators. But in setting his sights on the press, Inhofe appears to be incorporating a strategy hatched by the committee's new communications director, Marc Morano.

As a reporter for the conservative Cybercast News Service from 2001 until earlier this year, Morano peppered his climate reporting with skeptics' views that have surfaced as themes in Inhofe's recent press attacks. Earlier this year, for example, Morano wrote about NASA scientist James Hansen's contributions to the 2004 Democratic presidential nominee, Sen. John Kerry (Mass.). Inhofe's press release questions why Brokaw failed to mention the political ties of Hansen and other scientists interviewed for the Discovery report.

During the 2004 United Nations conference in Buenos Aires, Morano wrote how environmental activists chastised him for asking skeptical questions about science during a session on global warming's effects on inhabitants of the Arctic Circle. Inhofe's release challenging the Associated Press included a demand for a list of the skeptics who the news service contacted to review Gore's film.

Morano, who worked as a producer in the mid-90s for radio commentator Rush Limbaugh, was also among the first reporters to write about the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth campaign scrutinizing Kerry's Vietnam War record. And earlier this year, Morano penned an article questioning the Purple Heart medals of Rep. John Murtha (D-Pa.), a leading critic of Bush's Iraq policy.

In an interview, Morano said Inhofe's latest statements target journalists because they have focused so heavily on the effects of global warming when the science is still open for debate. "The media has essentially white-washed the whole issue," Morano said. "There has been a love fest in the media on this." Morano insisted the press does not give a fair shake to skeptics, particularly news organizations with reporters who he says have a financial stake in the issue. For example, he questioned The New York Times' coverage of climate since one of its science reporter, Andrew Revkin, has written a book on the effects of global warming on the North Pole. Sales of Revkin's book, Morano argued, would be enhanced by his paper's coverage of climate. "We're not just shooting arrows," Morano said.

Intimidation factor?

Inhofe's critics question the propriety of the efforts of the committee's chairman and communications director and wonder if it will have any effect on press coverage and public understanding of climate change. Some journalism professors say Inhofe's goal might be to intimidate reporters and editors, particularly in smaller markets that rely on the Associated Press for Washington coverage. This, they say, could damage the public's understanding of the issue at a time when scientific evidence of global warming is growing. "It strikes me that the public relations people for Senator Inhofe are trying to distract the media by attacking the media for fairly reporting what the vast majority of scientists are reporting," said Jim Detjen, director of the Knight Center for Environmental Journalism at Michigan State University. "It's a last ditch effort to now attack the journalists," Detjen added. "I really believe it's nonsense."

Dan Fagin, a former Newsday environmental reporter who now teaches journalism at New York University, said he did not think Inhofe's criticism would affect Brokaw or his reputation. But he said the attacks on the Associated Press might convince some small newspapers and radio and television stations against running the wire service's stories on climate issues rather than wrestle with a Senate committee chairman. Fagin also suggested Inhofe might be attacking the press to toss red meat to conservative activists before midterm elections. "It's about ginning up the base," he said. "That kind of character assassination goes a long way on both counts. It's reprehensive, but it's a very effective political strategy."

Detjen likened Inhofe's efforts to other historical events where politicians have taken aim at the media, from President Teddy Roosevelt dubbing investigative reporters "muckrakers" to former President Richard Nixon and Vice President Spiro Agnew's condemnation of the press in the wake of the Watergate break-in. Media criticism has escalated during President Bush's time in the Oval Office amid news reports of several controversial secret domestic surveillance programs.

The Discovery Channel did not return calls for comment on Brokaw's report. The Associated Press, in a prepared statement, said Inhofe wrongly characterized Borenstein's article. The AP contacted more than 100 climate researchers, including skeptics. But it only quoted the scientists who said they had seen the movie or read the book, which turned out to be a far smaller number than those it surveyed. Generally, the AP said scientists were "positive toward Gore's scientific presentation." "The AP story reported facts," said Linda Wagner, director of AP media relations. "It did not take a position in a debate, whether political or scientific, about global warming."

Inhofe endorsed his press office's work and shrugged off a question over whether he was trying to intimidate reporters. "What are you talking about?" Inhofe said. "The media is 100 percent on the other side." logic?

Outflanking Bush

Inhofe's drive to attack climate skeptics comes as the European Union and much of the industrialized world head full bore into implementing the Kyoto Protocol, the only mandatory program in the world aimed at mitigating rising greenhouse gas levels. And Inhofe's views on climate also run to the right flank of President Bush, who in 2001 pulled the United States out of Kyoto but has said he would address the global warming issue through voluntary programs and more funding for research and technological development.

David Sandretti, communications director for the environment committee's ranking member, Sen. Jim Jeffords (I-Vt.), hesitated to discuss Inhofe's motivations for the press releases. "I'm not going to get into commenting on whether the tactic is appropriate," he said. "Clearly, the chairman's press release does not reflect the ranking member's opinion on the topic nor any of the Democrats on the committee."One of the committee's moderate Republicans, Sen. Lincoln Chafee (R.I.), said today he disagrees with Inhofe on the science of global warming, but he expressed support for the chairman's right to say whatever he wants. "It's America," Chafee said in an interview. Asked if Inhofe's moves were a waste of taxpayer money, Chafee replied, "He's elected by the people. If his constituents think it's a waste of taxpayer dollars, they can make a change."

One former Hill Republican aide said Inhofe's latest attacks are nothing new. "Give the guy some credit for integrity is my reaction," the former staffer said. "This is consistent with his position on the issue," the aide continued. "I don't think it's necessary to look for ulterior motive. His motives couldn't be more apparent." Jason Grumet, executive director of the National Commission on Energy Policy, said Inhofe's outrage could be a sign that the policy argument is entering a new phase -- one in which environmentalists may also start lashing out if they do not think the developing policy is strong enough. "When you have a debate like this that has been so forcefully engaged for a decade, before it moves to a point of constructive resolution, the last months before that are likely to be marked with peels of anger along the edges," Grumet said. "Maybe this is a sign we're getting close."

Another former Republican Hill aide who disagrees with Inhofe said skeptics have a right to speak out. But the aide added, "There's ways of making your case and there are ways of making your case. I'm not sure attacking the mainstream media is the way to go. "It's counterproductive," the former staffer added. "It's more based on personality and affiliation than it is on the science."

From "Greenwire" of 19th

---

entine was producer/ black athlete taboo?

morano: Morano was hired in Spring 2006 as the Director of Communications to US Senator James Inhofe(R-OK). Senator Inhofe is a member and the former Chair of the Senate Committee for the Environment and Public Works, and has compared**Tom Brokaw**'s climate change documentary to the "Big Lie," a Third Reich propaganda technique. Inhofe also claimed that "if we were to embrace the Kyoto treaty [on climate change], it would shut down agriculture, military and oil production in Oklahoma..." ^[9]

===

http://www.opednews.com/articles/opedne_rob_kall_060711_brokaw_and_global_wa.htm

In a double hitter, a government paid professional right wing political media hit man has attacked another journalistic leader AND the science of global warming. Outrageously, this is being done under the letterhead of the Senate committee on the Environment and Public Works, under the name of Senator James Inhofe, majority chairman of the committee.

First Dan Rather, then the New York Times, now Tom Brokaw. The right wing sleaze attack machine is hard at work, aggressively working at destroying the remaining mainstream journalists and media with the courage to continue to tell the truth and confront the massive flood of lies erupting like explosive diarhea from the Bush lie machine.

I first met Marc Morano at a take back america conference. I learned recently that he had been hired by a government agency to be writer.

Now he's using that govt; pulpit, on official government letterhead, to attack another major media figure. The assault on any writer that takes on the extreme rights lies and fraudulent claims appears to be intensifying.

A few weeks ago, he sent out an announcement to his mailing list, which I got on because, not knowing who he was, and being friendly, I helped him with some quotes for an article on a talk we'd both covered at the Take Back America Conference.

the announcement stated that afterfive years at CNSNews.com, he had "moved over to the U.S. Senate Committee on Environment & Public Works to be the Communications Director."

CNSNews.com is a "division of theMedia Research Center which, at the top of it's front page, declares it is "The leader in Documenting, Exposing and Neutralizing Liberal Media Bias."

To put Morano in context, it helps to know that he was the producer of Rush Limbaugh's short lived television show known as Rush Limbaugh's man in Washington.

CNSNEWs.com is the propaganda wing for the Media Research center. They claim to be non-profit and brag that they are not funded by the government, that thousands of donors and their tax deductible contributions support them. They basically put out attacks on Democrats, on claims that attack right wingers and their causes, claiming all the while to be "fairly" presenting "all legitimate sides of a story..."

The Media Research Center is quite open about it's attack on the media. One page declares "Media Research Center President says the NY Times Deserves Prosecution for Treason."

This is probably just one of the well funded right wing organizations that are systematically trying to take down, meaning silence, media criticism and dissent, discussion of problems, criticism, etc.. This "center" is one of the emitters of the spewings you'll find oozing from the bottom of the right wing's cesspool of anti-democratic, anti-press freedom efforts.

Today, I received a press release from Morano, just a few weeks into his new job, but still doing the same old work-- attack dog propaganda in the guise of journalism. This time though, OUR tax dollars are paying for him to attack one of the world's most respected journalists. Since it was sent by Morano, I assume it was either written or supervised by him:

BROKAW'S OBJECTIVITY COMPROMISED IN GLOBAL WARMING SPECIAL

Former NBC News anchor Tom Brokaw's lack of objectivity and balance on the issue of global warming appears to have tainted his upcoming Discovery Channel documentary called: "Global Warming: What You Need To Know" airing on July 16.

Brokaw's partisan past and his reliance on scientists who openly endorsed Democrat Presidential candidate John Kerry in 2004 and who are financially affiliated with left wing environmental groups, has resulted in a documentary that is devoid of balance and objectivity.

Colorado State climatologist and professor of atmospheric sciences at Colorado State University, Roger Pielke, Sr, viewed an advance copy of the Brokaw's special and declared that it contained "errors and misconceptions."

"The show relied on just a few scientists with a particularpersonal viewpoint on this subject which misleads the public on the broader view that is actually held by most climate scientists," Pielke wrote on July 7.

Unfortunately, viewers should not expect a scientifically balanced view of the climate from the former NBC newsman. Brokaw who has been affiliated with the Sierra Club and has recently lavished praise on former Vice President Al Gore's film "An Inconvenient Truth." Brokaw, who called Gore's film "stylish and compelling", has called the science behind catastrophic human caused global warming "irrefutable." Brokaw also chose to ignore all60 scientists who wrote to Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper in April of 2006questioning the science of climate alarmism.

David Sandretti Communications director for the minority staff told OpEdNews, "This is the opinion of the chairman and is certainly not shared by the ranking member nor any of the Democrats on the committee and a growing number of Republicans in the senate."

Commenting on the minority chair side of the committee's opinion of Brokaw's report, he said, "We obviously are looking forward to seeing it. We feel the congress needs to act. At this point we've been stymied. Anything that can raise public awareness is good for our cause."

It's clear what we have here is a single example of what is surely going on throughout the "government," which right wingers so devotedly claim they want to shrink. We have a right wing extremist Senator hell bent on destroying the environment, on blocking and obscuring real science with reports from a handful of scientists funded by corporations-- scientists who sell out their integrity to stay in the graces of their funders.

The tragic thing is, the author of the Brokaw attack article will probably proudly show this to his boss, Senator Imhofe, and gloat.end

Rob Kall is executive editor, publisher and website architect of OpEdNews.com, Host of the Rob Kall Bottom Up Radio Show (WNJC 1360 AM), and publisher of Storycon.org, President of Futurehealth, Inc, and an inventor. He is also published regularly on theHuffingtonpost.com

Dan Fagin, a former Newsday environmental reporter who now teaches journalism at New York University, said he did not think Inhofe's criticism would affect Brokaw or his reputation. But he said the attacks on the Associated Press might convince some small newspapers and radio and television stations against running the wire service's stories on climate issues rather than wrestle with a Senate committee chairman. Fagin also suggested Inhofe might be attacking the press to toss red meat to conservative activists before midterm elections. "It's about ginning up the base," he said. "That kind of character assassination goes a long way on both counts. It's reprehensive, but it's a very effective political strategy."

The Discovery Channel did not return calls for comment on Brokaw's report. The Associated Press, in a prepared statement, said Inhofe wrongly characterized Borenstein's article. The AP contacted more than 100 climate researchers, including skeptics. But it only quoted the scientists who said they had seen the movie or read the book, which turned out to be a far smaller number than those it surveyed. Generally, the AP said scientists were "positive toward Gore's scientific presentation." "The AP story reported facts," said Linda Wagner, director of AP media relations. "It did not take a position in a debate, whether political or scientific, about global warming."

Tom Brokaw "served as anchor and managing editor of NBC Nightly News with Tom Brokaw. Sole anchor of the program from 1983 through 2004, he had previously been anchor of NBC News' Today from l976-82 and had worked in a series of increasingly prominent assignments for NBC news. Brokaw's distinctively smooth style and boyish charm have made him a well-recognized star throughout the shifting stakes in television news in the 1980s and 1990s." For more info

He is married to Meredith Auld Brokaw.

Director, International Crisis Group
Director, International Rescue Committee
Director, Committee to Protect Journalists
Director, Robin Hood Foundation ^[1]
Trustee, American Museum of Natural History ^[2]

Contents[hide]

1 Resources and articles
- 1.1 Related Sourcewatch articles
- 1.2 References 2 External links

Brokaw, T

posted by JR @ 12:22 AM 0 comments links to this post

Resources and articles

Related Sourcewatch articles

References

External links