Media

Procter & Gamble Blames Parents, Social Media for "Chemical Burn" Allegations

by Anne Landman — May 17, 2010 - 3:42pm

When parents of toddlers started complaining that Procter & Gamble's new "Dry Max" Pampers were giving their kids severe diaper rash, Jodi Allen, P&G's Vice President for Pampers took prompt action -- and blamed the childrens' parents and social media for spreading false rumors about their products.

Main Source: 
ConsumerAffairs.com, May 7, 2010

A Firing Squad Execution, and Utah Worries About Tourism?

by Megha Desai — April 29, 2010 - 11:36am
  • Topics: Media

    • After Utah death-row inmate Ronnie Lee Gardner selected the firing squad as his method of execution, the Salt Lake Tribune responded by highlighting how this event may impact Utah's tourism. Given the highly contentious nature of use a firing squad in the first place, one would expect coverage of this news to focus more on the barbaric nature of this practice.

    You and the Supremes Call to Be Rescheduled

    by PRW Staff — April 26, 2010 - 8:53pm
  • Topics: Corporations, Media, Politics, U.S. Government

    • The Center for Media and Democracy's PRWatch is launching a free seminar series for spin-watchers like you. Our first one was scheduled for this week, and was going to focus on the new vacancy on the U.S. Supreme Court and what it means for everyday people who are concerned about the Citizens United decision and its aftermath.

    This audio seminar was canceled due to unforeseen technical/logistical problems.

    In the future, we plan to provide an opportunity to:

    • Find out insider details about choosing and confirming a lifetime appointee to the Court.
    • Learn about how the next justice may influence legal policies you care about.
    • Ask Lisa your questions about the Supreme Court and Citizens United.
    • Hear about ways to join the fight against corporations controlling our democracy.

    CMD's new Executive Director, Lisa Graves, previously served as the Chief Counsel for Nominations for the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee and as Deputy Assistant Attorney General at the U.S. Department of Justice, working with the White House on judicial selection in the Clinton Administration. Her plain-spoken but deeply researched analysis of public policy issues has been featured on CNN, Free Speech TV, and Democracy Now! and credited in the New York Times, The Nation, The Progressive, and Vanity Fair and by numerous journalists over the past decade.

    PBS Edits Out Single Payer Proposal

    by Anne Landman — April 26, 2010 - 11:34am

    The PBS television program Frontline selectively edited an interview with a single-payer health insurance advocate, and film footage of people protesting in support of single-payer, to make it look as though they were advocating a public option instead.

    Main Source: 
    Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting, April 23, 2010

    Chamber Publicizes Bogus Poll

    by Anne Landman — April 16, 2010 - 4:29pm
  • Topics: Right Wing, Lobbying, Media, Politics, Propaganda

    • The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is publicizing a set of state-level polls that they claim show that "voters overwhelmingly oppose the creation of a new Consumer Financial Protection Agency," a component of financial reform legislation set to be debated next week in the House of Representatives. The survey polled 500 voters each in Nebraska and Arkansas, and was performed by the polling firm Ayres McHenry & Associates. Previous polls done by Ayres McHenry for the Chamber have been deemed unreliable by the New York Times, and not up to their standards for publication.

    Fake Interviews for Palin's "Real American Stories"?

    by Anne Landman — April 1, 2010 - 6:30pm

    Fox News will debut a new program featuring Sarah Palin called "Real American Stories" that, according to Palin's introduction of the show, tells true stories of real Americans who have overcome adversity and who pride themselves on their character. But Fox has had to pull one of the initial episodes because of objections from the subject of the segment.

    Main Source: 
    New York Times, March 31, 2010

    Scandal-Plagued PR Firm Ketchum Wins $25.8 Million DHHS Contract

    by Anne Landman — March 30, 2010 - 4:05pm

    Last year, the Obama administration announced nearly $1.2 billion in grants to help hospitals and health care providers implement and use electronic health records, but the proposal has faced stiff resistance from skeptics who doubt whether such a system can adequately protect patient privacy. To overcome this obstacle, the U.S.

    Main Source: 
    ProPublica, March 30, 2010

    John Boehner "Hell No You Can't" Video Mashup Making Waves

    by Anne Landman — March 30, 2010 - 1:55pm

    Right before the House voted to approve health reform legislation, Minority Leader

    Main Source: 
    FoxNews.com, March 30, 2010

    Gaga for Product Placement

    by Anne Landman — March 23, 2010 - 2:38pm

    Lady Gaga is raising eyebrows with her latest racy music video, Telephone, but this time it's not because of the overt sexuality, the wacky costumes or even the fact that her co-star is Beyonce'. What's grabbing attention is the video's flagrant product placement.

    Main Source: 
    Advertising Age, March 13, 2010

    Fake "News" About Russian Invasion Sparks Panic

    by Anne Landman — March 15, 2010 - 12:49pm

    A pro-government television station in the former Soviet Republic of Georgia broadcast a fake, half-hour news report depicting a Russian military invasion of the country, sending fear and panic throughout Georgian citizens. The station called the broadcast a "simulation" of what a new invasion might look like. In August, 2008 Russian tanks, troops and armored vehicles invaded Georgia after Georgian troops attacked pro-Russian separatists in the breakaway republic of South Ossetia.

    Main Source: 
    CNN.com, March 14, 2010
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