There has been a sentiment amongst this community that the media has lost its integrity. They have strayed from their professed duty of objectively reporting news, and have developed a propensity to promote partisan politics, controversial spin and slander, and in some cases, have developed a tendency to lazily report half-truths.
We have responded as best we can, with the tools at our disposal, and Kos has written a series of posts, designed to keep us informed of the travesties of today's journalism. Some recent examples are Nedra Pickler and here, where he links to Atrios, and his response to NBC's Lisa Meyers and CNN's Paula Zahn.
The community has made suggestions about developing a monitoring network, similar to Dean for America's Dean Defense Network, but with a broader message and set of goals, and one that will remain long after the dust settles on the 2004 campaign season.
Martin Luther King, Jr. said, "Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about the things that matter." I have watched this idea take seed, and begin to germinate, only to sputter out before it has a chance to flower. I refuse to allow this brilliant community become silent in this regard.
If nothing greater comes out of these discussions, let this be our legacy... That we saw a flaw in our democracy, and responded with the full weight of our convictions!
In that regard, I have developed a conceptual model for the Media Monitoring Network, and am beginning to recruit some very diverse support for the idea, as well as a hosting service for the eventual product. The support will ideally come from groups committed to a wide range of issues, beyond our interest in politics.
I am seeking input on the following framework, to develop as comprehensive model as possible, prior to the development of the site. You will note, that these ideas have been farmed from previous discussions here at DailyKos. This is our brainchild, and we need to make this happen.
Media Monitoring Network
Mission Statement
The MMN is designed to monitor the journalists who report the news of today. Journalism has developed a lack of accuracy and responsibility, and has a propensity to promote controversial spin on statements and events that have been taken out of context. We stand vigilant against the degradation of the integrity of the media, and seek to promote honest reporting.
Framework
- A community of concerned citizens who are willing to monitor and respond to careless journalism.
- A system that provides links to the major news organizations, and the daily (or weekly) columns of certain selected journalists.
* Develop a system that divides the various journalistic `beats' amongst the greater organization, to insure the widest possible effort.
3. A Web Log that allows the `citizen soldiers' to report their findings to the greater community
* Allow comments and promote discussion amongst the community to flesh out the contradiction or misstatement in the report, to insure quality results from the community as a whole.
4. A Strategic response formula, to `enforce' responsible journalism.
* Develop a form response that includes:
- What was reported by the journalist? (Direct Quotes)
- What the reality was, and how that differs from what was reported.
- Why this is irresponsible, and what the community expects the editor and the journalist to do about it. (i.e. Issue a correction)
* Distribute the response to the community, who then adapt it in their own words.
* Distribute the contact information for the following people:
- Managing Editor
- Journalist
- National Editors Desk (Phone Number)
* Flood the above people with a concentrated response, which is respectful, well thought-out, accurate, and massive.
* Distribute open letters or online petitions to a media advisory list in egregious cases of bias or woefully inaccurate reporting.