Harman Patil (Editor)

Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting

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Formation
  
1986

Purpose
  
Media criticism

Founder
  
Jeff Cohen

Headquarters
  
New York, United States

Type
  
Nonprofit

Website
  
fair.org

Founded
  
1986

Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting httpsuploadwikimediaorgwikipediaen77dFai

Products
  
Extra! magazine, CounterSpin radio program

Motto
  
The National Progressive Media Watchdog

Similar
  
Accuracy in Media, Truthout, Media Matters for America, Center for Public Integrity, Center for Media and Democracy

Fairness and Accuracy In Reporting (FAIR) is a progressive media criticism organization based in New York City. The organization was founded in 1986 by Jeff Cohen and Martin A. Lee. FAIR describes itself as "the national media watch group". The organization has been described as both progressive and leaning left.

Contents

FAIR monitors the U.S. news media for "inaccuracy, bias, and censorship" and advocates for greater diversity of perspectives in news reporting. It is opposed to corporate ownership of media entities and calls for the break-up of media conglomerates. FAIR publishes Extra!, a monthly newsletter of media criticism, and also produces a weekly, half-hour radio program called CounterSpin, heard on more than 150 stations.

Mission

FAIR describes itself on its website as "the national media watch group" and defines its mission as working to "invigorate the First Amendment by advocating for greater diversity in the press and by scrutinizing media practices that marginalize public interest, minority and dissenting viewpoints." FAIR refers to itself as a "progressive group that believes that structural reform is ultimately needed to break up the dominant media conglomerates, establish independent public broadcasting and promote strong nonprofit sources of information."

Activities

First published in 1987, Extra!, FAIR's bi-monthly magazine, features analysis of current media bias, censorship, and effects of media consolidation. Covering a variety of issues, FAIR addresses news coverage that it finds biased with rebuttals. FAIR also produces CounterSpin, a half-hour radio program hosted by Janine Jackson, Steve Rendall, and Peter Hart, recorded at MercerMedia in NYC. It broadcasts nationally on more than 130 radio stations and is available in MP3 and RealAudio format on the web.

FAIR has criticized US media coverage of Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez, taking issue with the assertion that "Hugo Chávez is an autocrat who has consolidated one-party rule."

In 2008, FAIR criticized American media for coverage during Pope Benedict XVI's visit to the United States by claiming that he received a "pass on Church abuse history."

Reception

In 1990 The New York Times' column by Walter Goodman comparing FAIR and Accuracy in Media stated that the two groups' "criticism of television and the press is often provocative. But it is always tendentious", and that FAIR focuses on criticizing right-wing bias in the media. Goodman also said that FAIR's "tone and language, notably the appropriation of words like progressive and public interest leaders and popular movements to adorn individuals and groups that suit Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting are shrill signals of its affinities." In 2011 NPR's ombudsman stated that "groups that claim to be media watchdogs are guilty of using AstroTurf-type names that disguise their real missions" and pointed to FAIR, stating that "FAIR leans to the left and often criticizes the news media for giving too much time to conservative viewpoints".

References

Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting Wikipedia