Pentagon Pundits: Urge the FCC to Investigate

It's time to put some heat on TV outlets like CNN, CNBC, MSNBC, Fox, NBC, CBS and ABC for their role in the Pentagon propaganda process leading up to and during the Iraq war. The media outlets misrepresented the objectivity of retired military personnel by presenting them in news reports when in reality they often functioned as a propaganda arm of the Pentagon. Many also had business conflicts of interests in the military industry.

MORE: Who are the Pentagon Pundits?

Now, after New York Times reporter David Barstow has received the 2009 Pulitzer Prize-winning for reporting on the Pentagon propaganda campaign, the same television outlets have been silent on the subject.

AMY GOODMAN: I think what’s so interesting about this story is not only what the Pentagon has done; it’s the lack of reporting on this by the networks.... How many times have you been invited on the networks—you just won the Pulitzer Prize for this investigation—to explain this story of the networks’ use of these pundits?

DAVID BARSTOW: You know, to be honest with you, I haven’t received many invitations—in fact, any invitations—to appear on any of the main network or cable programs.

These media outlets have licenses governed by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). Their licenses are based on a public trust and can be revoked by violating that public trust. It's time to remind them of that trust.

Psssst... Do Something

Contact the FCC Commissioners. Ask them to investigate these media outlets for 1) the TV media's misrepresentation of retired military personnel's objectivity, and 2) the TV media's failure to cover the 2009 Pulitzer Prize-winning reporting on the Pentagon propaganda campaign. Ask them to place your complaint and their findings in the file for future consideration during the future relicensing of these media outlets.

Send a copy of your correspondence to the media outlets. Contact information is provided below.

Michael J. Copps: Michael.Copps@fcc.gov
Commissioner Jonathan S. Adelstein: Jonathan.Adelstein@fcc.gov
Commissioner Robert McDowell: Robert.McDowell@fcc.gov

• Contact the Broadcast Media
  

Copy: CNN, CNBC, MSNBC, Fox, NBC, CBS and ABC

Sources:

Democracy Now, "Pentagon Pundits: New York Times Reporter David Barstow Wins Pulitzer Prize for Exposing Military’s Pro-War Propaganda Media Campaign," May 8, 2009.