Media Thread (non Faux)

[Vrede too]

The 2021 Pulitzer Prize Announcement
The 105th class of Pulitzer Prize winners in Journalism, Books, Drama and Music were announced at 1 p.m. Eastern Time on Friday, June 11.

Breaking News Reporting
Staff of the Star Tribune, Minneapolis, Minn.
For its urgent, authoritative and nuanced coverage of the death of George Floyd at the hands of police in Minneapolis and of the reverberations that followed.

Explanatory Reporting
Andrew Chung, Lawrence Hurley, Andrea Januta, Jaimi Dowdell and Jackie Botts of Reuters
For an exhaustive examination, powered by a pioneering data analysis of U.S. federal court cases, of the obscure legal doctrine of “qualified immunity” and how it shields police who use excessive force from prosecution.

and

Ed Yong of The Atlantic
For a series of lucid, definitive pieces on the COVID-19 pandemic that anticipated the course of the disease, synthesized the complex challenges the country faced, illuminated the U.S. government’s failures and provided clear and accessible context for the scientific and human challenges it posed.

National Reporting
Staffs of The Marshall Project; AL.com, Birmingham; IndyStar, Indianapolis; and the Invisible Institute, Chicago
For a year-long investigation of K-9 units and the damage that police dogs inflict on Americans, including innocent citizens and police officers, prompting numerous statewide reforms.

International Reporting
Megha Rajagopalan, Alison Killing and Christo Buschek of BuzzFeed News
For a series of clear and compelling stories that used satellite imagery and architectural expertise, as well as interviews with two dozen former prisoners, to identify a vast new infrastructure built by the Chinese government for the mass detention of Muslims.

Feature Writing
Mitchell S. Jackson, freelance contributor, Runner’s World (1st ever?)
For a deeply affecting account of the killing of Ahmaud Arbery that combined vivid writing, thorough reporting and personal experience to shed light on systemic racism in America.

Commentary
Michael Paul Williams of the Richmond (Va.) Times-Dispatch
For penetrating and historically insightful columns that guided Richmond, a former capital of the Confederacy, through the painful and complicated process of dismantling the city's monuments to white supremacy.

Breaking News Photography
Photography Staff of Associated Press
For a collection of photographs from multiple U.S. cities that cohesively captures the country's response to the death of George Floyd.

More winners and finalists at the link. Then, there are:

Darnella Frazier, Who Filmed George Floyd's Murder, Wins An Honorary Pulitzer
Darnella Frazier, who was 17 when she recorded George Floyd's murder in Minneapolis last year, was awarded a special citation by the Pulitzer Board on Friday.

The video played a major role in igniting a global protest movement against police violence, and was used as evidence in the trial of Floyd's killer.

Committee officials who give out the prestigious prize in journalism and the arts said Frazier's recording highlighted "the crucial role of citizens in journalists' quests for truth and justice."

... Frazier has gotten widespread praise for her actions from people including President Biden, film director Spike Lee and Anita Hill.

"As the prosecutors congratulate each other, thinking of young Darnella Frazier. There is no case without her," journalist Ann Marie Lipinski tweeted during Chauvin's trial. "The video record she made is one of the most important civil rights documents in a generation."

Melvin Carter, the mayor of St. Paul, Minn., had even previously suggested Frazier should win the Pulitzer Prize for taping the arrest that would later go viral.

"All of this," Carter tweeted Friday in response to the news that Frazier had been awarded a special citation. "So well deserved."

It's A First! NPR And Member Stations KCUR And WABE Win A Pulitzer Prize

... NPR's Pulitzer for audio reporting went to Lisa Hagen, Chris Haxel, Graham Smith and Robert Little for their investigative podcast series "No Compromise" about gun rights activists that illuminated the deepening schism between American conservatives. It was one of two NPR finalists in the category; the other was for what the Pulitzer committee described as "courageous, on-the-ground reporting on the assassination of Iranian General Qassem Soleimani and its implications around the globe." ...

[neoplacebo]

These are the people who force us to confront things, as well as ourselves. They are under appreciated and even disparaged by those who advocate ignorance.

[Vrede too]

These are the people who force us to confront things, as well as ourselves. They are under appreciated and even disparaged by those who advocate ignorance.

I'm sure that Wingnutland and the Blue Lives Matter drones are screeching about the "liberal Pulitzers".

[Vrede too]

Rachel Maddow again beats OAN's libel suit — and the pro-Trump outlet has to pay $250K in legal fees

x 250K.

[Vrede too]

These are the people who force us to confront things, as well as ourselves. They are under appreciated and even disparaged by those who advocate ignorance.

On a smaller scale:


Traffic Reporter Melts Down on Live TV

Plus, the anchor mispronounced his name again before cutting him off.

[GoCubsGo]

These are the people who force us to confront things, as well as ourselves. They are under appreciated and even disparaged by those who advocate ignorance.

On a smaller scale:


Traffic Reporter Melts Down on Live TV

Plus, the anchor mispronounced his name again before cutting him off.

That was funny, I wish it were real.
They could use a bit like this on The Morning Show.

https://www.truthorfiction.com/traffic- ... television/

[Vrede too]

Awww.

[Vrede too]

Trump Propaganda, Covid Conspiracy Theories, and White Supremacy: Brought to You by AT&T

One America News — the Trump-loving cable news network known for peddling conspiracy theories — probably wouldn’t exist if it weren’t for AT&T, according to a new report from Reuters.

OAN founder Robert Herring said in a 2019 deposition that back in 2013, the telecom behemoth told him to create a new conservative network. He obliged. “I jumped to it and built one,” Herring said.

AT&T has since been pumping tens of millions of dollars into OAN. According to 2020 testimony from one of the network’s accountants, a contract with DirecTV and other AT&T-owned TV platforms represented 90% of OAN’s revenue. “If Herring Networks … was to lose or not be renewed on DirecTV, the company would go out of business tomorrow,” said OAN lawyer Patrick Nellies, according to a court transcript....

Makes me even happier that I dumped AT&T years ago.

[Vrede too]

You know those full disclosure messages we get when the news is reporting on its parent company? How often is is the report critical of the parent company? This one is:

John Oliver obliterates parent company AT&T: 'You do bad things and you make the world worse'

... "OAN has grown into the toxic network it is today," stated Oliver. He continued as a picture of MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell appeared over his shoulder, "One that's happy to give a platform to batshit election fraud theories from America's most out-of-breath pillow fetishist."

As for OAN's content, according to the LWT host, in a message from AT&T, the company shared, "AT&T told us DirecTV respects the editorial independence of the channels it carries, just as AT&T is committed to providing editorial independence for every WarnerMedia show – including this one," which Oliver happily took as free reign to go off on his parent company.

"That is such a relief! Especially that last part. Because if I may, I'd like to use that generous editorial independence to offer some constructive feedback to AT&T," said Oliver, before he launched into a series of tagline suggestions for the company.

"Take AT&T's recent campaign. 'More for your thing, that's our thing,' which is, respectfully, complete gibberish. It sounds like Yoda pitching a penis-enlargement device. It is so nonsensical I have to assume something was lost in communication, which actually would be a much more appropriate slogan for the company," suggested Oliver. He went on, saying, "How about 'AT&T, all the business savvy of Quibi without the courtesy of committing corporate suicide,' or 'AT&T, if you run a cable out the back of your headquarters and plug it into T-Mobile's network while they aren't looking, that's legal, right? Asking for a friend.' Any of those are all yours if you want them!" In the end, Oliver did not mince words as he concluded his verbal attack with a clear message.

"Look, AT&T, I know our relationship is a little awkward, especially since you're trying to spin this business baby off in your deal with Discovery," shared Oliver. "But while we are still technically related, let me just say this: You're a terrible company. You do bad things and you make the world worse. Please don't bother keeping in touch once the merger's complete. Although that should not be a problem. You're AT&T. It's not like your messages will go through anyway."

[Vrede too]

Brilliant!

However:

CNN's New #FactsFirst 'Apple' Ad Sparks Battle Over Banana Truthers
Not everyone loves the network's new commercial.

... Some people loved the ad. Others, especially Trump supporters, slammed the network over it.

But more than a few also pointed out CNN’s own history of giving airtime to some extreme views or, in this case, “banana truthers.”

Here is some of that response:

CNN then invites banana truthers on-air to explain why they call it a banana.
They give the banana people and the apple people equal airtime

This ad only works if the network promises to stop booking banana truthers.

Good pointed ad, but CNN's own headline writers would promo such a story with "Banana Controversy Heats Up."

haha! So true. Then they would have a split screen with a Banana Expert

“It’s a valid story!” Jake Tapper says defensively before introducing the guy in the MAGA hat insisting the apple is a BANANA.

Is CNN going to remove all the apple deniers from their guest lists? Or keep shoving them down our throats 24/7?

Opps.

Will “banana truthers" become a meme or a code phrase for Trumpettes? I hope so.

[Vrede too]

Trump Propaganda, Covid Conspiracy Theories, and White Supremacy: Brought to You by AT&T

One America News — the Trump-loving cable news network known for peddling conspiracy theories — probably wouldn’t exist if it weren’t for AT&T, according to a new report from Reuters.

OAN founder Robert Herring said in a 2019 deposition that back in 2013, the telecom behemoth told him to create a new conservative network. He obliged. “I jumped to it and built one,” Herring said.

AT&T has since been pumping tens of millions of dollars into OAN. According to 2020 testimony from one of the network’s accountants, a contract with DirecTV and other AT&T-owned TV platforms represented 90% of OAN’s revenue. “If Herring Networks … was to lose or not be renewed on DirecTV, the company would go out of business tomorrow,” said OAN lawyer Patrick Nellies, according to a court transcript....

Makes me even happier that I dumped AT&T years ago.

DirecTV loss could cripple rightwing One America News

The largest satellite provider in the United States said late Friday it will drop One America News, a move that could financially cripple the rightwing TV network known for fueling conspiracy theories about the 2020 election.

The announcement by DirecTV, which is 70% owned by AT&T, comes three months after a Reuters investigation revealed that OAN’s founder testified that AT&T inspired him to create the network. Court testimony also showed that OAN receives nearly all of its revenue from DirecTV.

To read the Reuters report, click here: https://www.reuters.com/investigates/sp ... erica-att/

The Reuters report drew calls from some liberal groups for AT&T and DirecTV to drop OAN, a favorite of former President Donald Trump, because the network has become a key source of false claims about the election and COVID vaccinations....

[neoplacebo]

OAN On Ass Now

[Vrede too]

Rachel Maddow again beats OAN's libel suit — and the pro-Trump outlet has to pay $250K in legal fees

x 250K.

OAN, a Dependable Trump Promoter, Faces a 'Death Blow'

The future of One America News, which established itself as a powerful voice in conservative media by promoting some of the most outlandish falsehoods about the 2020 election, is in serious doubt as major carriers drop it from their lineups and defamation lawsuits threaten to drain its finances.

By the end of this week, the cable network will have lost its presence in some 20 million homes this year. The most recent blow came from Verizon, which will stop carrying OAN on its Fios television service starting Saturday. That will starve the network of a major stream of revenue: the fees it collects from Verizon, which counts roughly 3.5 million cable subscribers. In April, OAN was dropped by AT&T’s DirecTV, which has about 15 million subscribers.

OAN’s remaining audience will be small. The network will soon be available only to a few hundred thousand people who subscribe to smaller cable providers, such as Frontier and GCI Liberty, said Scott Robson, a senior research analyst at S&P Global Market Intelligence. OAN also sells its programming directly to users through its OAN Live and KlowdTV streaming platforms, but those products most likely provide a fraction of the revenue generated by traditional TV providers.

“I really think this is the death blow for the network,” Robson said.

In its statement announcing the termination of its OAN deal, Verizon said only that it had been “unable to reach an agreement to continue carrying One America News” and made no mention of the public pressure campaigns it faced from activist groups like Media Matters, which had been calling on cable providers to drop the network. A company spokesperson declined to comment further Tuesday....

All this comes at a particularly bad time for OAN, which is based in San Diego. The company and the Herring family that backs it face defamation lawsuits over the network’s claims that the 2020 presidential election was stolen from Donald Trump.

That coverage featured wild stories about supposed plots to steal votes from Trump. Voting technology companies Smartmatic and Dominion are suing OAN over false claims that their machines enabled Trump’s enemies to switch votes cast for him to President Joe Biden. One employee of Dominion, Eric Coomer, is also suing the network. Coomer received death threats after OAN named him in a report as an alleged collaborator of antifa, the far-left movement.

Two election workers from Georgia sued OAN for reporting that they were part of an illegal plot to add fraudulent votes to Biden’s totals in the state, which he narrowly won. OAN settled that case in April.

The cases are among a series of defamation suits against conservative media outlets and Trump allies that are pending before judges across the country. Dominion and Smartmatic are also suing Newsmax, one of OAN’s competitors, and Fox News.

Association with Dolt .45 is the kiss of death, again. Too bad, so sad.

... For OAN, the litigation has so far not gone well, as judges have rejected its attempts to have the cases dismissed. In one ruling, a judge concluded that OAN had acted “maliciously and consciously” in perpetuating falsehoods about Dominion and that its chief White House correspondent, Chanel Rion, had failed to exercise even the most minimal journalistic scrutiny.

In her report, Rion cited a conservative podcaster and activist, Joe Oltmann, who claimed to have eavesdropped on an antifa conference call before the election, and reported that “antifa-drenched engineers are hellbent on deleting half of America’s voice” and referred to Coomer....

OAN became not only a reliable purveyor of fawning coverage of Trump but also a dogged pursuer of his political opponents. Its willingness to bend the truth and give voice to conspiracy theories on a variety of topics — vaccines, COVID-19, the identities of the rioters at the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021 — went further than any of its competitors in the pro-Trump media sphere.

Was there an OAN conspiracy involving its own demise?

... Trump rewarded the network’s loyalty. In the summer of 2020, dissatisfied with what he considered insufficiently positive coverage from Fox News, he urged his followers to instead watch OAN and Newsmax, deeming them “much better!” He did so again after the election, when OAN’s correspondents were more willing than many Fox journalists to continue lending credibility to allegations of voter fraud.

More so than some of its competitors, for months OAN clung to the notion that the election remained unresolved. At times, the network acted as if Biden were not the president. The channel did not broadcast live coverage of his inauguration. In a report in late March 2021, one of its correspondents claimed, “There’s still serious doubts about who’s actually president.”

How's that reward for loyalty working out now?

... Its anchors have cast their network’s dispute with Verizon as another attempt by a corporate media establishment to silence conservative voices.One anchor, Dan Ball, recently implored viewers to call Verizon and demand that it continue service of OAN. “Call that number. You want to tell them, ‘Keep OAN. Keep OAN,’” he said. “Verizon is the next one trying to censor One America News.”

[Vrede too]

Right wingnut media is taking some hits this week.

Alex Jones' media company files for bankruptcy amid trial

Ironic that an ammosexual con extremist seeks to shirk his obligations and cower behind socialist bankruptcy protection . . . or maybe it's uber-predictable and not ironic at all.

[Vrede too]

Sheesh, Manchin is on ABC's This Week and BBC's Meet the Press at the same time.

[GoCubsGo]

Sheesh, Manchin is on ABC's This Week and BBC's Meet the Press at the same time.

Just finished on CNN.

[GoCubsGo]

3:30 am?

He could've chatted with Useless.

[Vrede too]

3:30 am?

He could've chatted with Useless.

Modern "cons" detest business freedom.

[GoCubsGo]

Right wingnut media is taking some hits this week.

[Vrede too]

That’s a sign of confidence.

Stressful when you can’t keep track of the lies