Me#1You#10 Site Admin
Joined: 06 May 2004 Posts: 6503
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Posted: Fri Jan 14, 2005 11:13 pm Post subject: Accuracy In Media vs. MSM |
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From Vince McMahon of the WWE, to Sinclair Broadcasting, to Walter Cronkite, to Bill Moyers, this rather long article touches a LOT of bases in it's latest skewering of MSM. Here's a start dealing with Vince McMahon & the recent WWE tour for the troops in Iraq...
Quote: | AIM Report: American Troops Cheer Attacks on U.S. Media
January 13, 2005
"It is tragic that the inspiring story about Binh Le gets buried in the paper while bad news about the war in Iraq is constantly featured on page one."
Vince McMahon, chairman of World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE), told American troops in Iraq before Christmas that when he returned to the U.S. he was going to look up the "negative media nay saying types and I'm going to say that you said that they can go straight to hell."
His comments were met with cheers and thumbs up.
McMahon and several of his WWE stars were in Iraq to perform for the troops. They crisscrossed the country in Blackhawk helicopters and met the troops in 16 different locations. They signed autographs, took photos and taped a full show that was broadcast on December 23 on the UPN network.
Those who witnessed the TV spectacle and the reaction of the troops to McMahon's strong attacks on the media saw something that was extraordinary. It is clear that many of our troops are seething with anger and resentment over media coverage of the war.
Speaking to thousands of soldiers in an old soccer stadium near Tikrit, Iraq, McMahon said that "The most important reason why we're here is to simply say 'thank you.' On behalf of an appreciative nation, on behalf of the WWE, on behalf of your family and loved ones back home, we thank you for all that you do from the bottom of our hearts. Quite frankly, we thought we were going to come over here and boost your spirits. Hell, you boosted ours. The secret weapon of the American fighting men and women is the American spirit that lives inside each and every one of you."
McMahon continued, "Unfortunately, back home we don't hear about that. Unfortunately, back home in the media all we hear is all the negatives here in Iraq. Negative, negative, negative, negative. We never hear about all the positives. We never hear about all your progress and accomplishments. We never hear about all the good things all of you do each and every day of your lives."
Upon his return home, McMahon was deluged with requests for interviews. His WWE website featured an article noting that he had "one clear message" for the media: "Report the good work being done in Iraq, not just the bad news."
McMahon said, "We get a little bit closer to the soldiers than most entertainers who just go and do their show and then leave. So we really get to know what's on their mind. And one of the things that concerns them is that the job that they're doing is not very well reported over here in the states. As far as the media is concerned, their point of view—and they get the news just like all the rest of us over here—is that it's generally very negative, and they take exception to that because they're doing a great job over there."
Accuracy In Media - cont'd |
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