Media Coverage of the War in Iraq

This weekend marks the 3rd anniversary of the beginning of the US War/Occupation of Iraq. GRIID has been monitoring this coverage from the beginning and is pleased to join forces with Media Channel and United for Peace and Justice to demand better news coverage of the war in Iraq. Recent polling indicates that the majority of Americans are in favor of a withdraw of US troops with growing opposition to the war. However, the local news media continues to provide inadequate coverage of what is happening in Iraqi. It is of vital importance that citizens communicate to the local news outlets with the following talking points:

The U.S. news media has an obligation to reflect on the role it has played in building a pro-war consensus with false and deceptive reporting, what TIME magazine calls “mili-tainment” and “group think” in the pervasive use of conservative pundits and “experts” led by current and former government officials, and virtually no coverage of extensive civilian casualties and the suffering of Iraqi society because of the U.S. occupation.

The coverage remains one-sided — “All about us” — and excludes anti-war voices from citizens and anti-war groups all over the world.
We need to hear more from the Iraqi people!
Reports That Question Official Claims – We need more aggressive reporting, not just official stenography – just repeating official sources.
Independent Assessments of Political Developments – Let’s hear from international experts, not just pro-war pundits.
Stop Sanitizing the war – show the American people what the consequences of war really are.
Follow-up on Corruption Investigations – There have been reports on billion-dollar financial scandals to defense contractors, but little follow-up. How is our tax money being squandered? Tell us.

Previous GRIID Iraq War Studies
Searching for the Smoking Gun 2003
Reporting Official Positions 2004
Violence, Soldier Deaths and Omissions 2005
PDF of data for 2006

Contact:

Grand Rapids Press
Mike Lloyd
Phone #: (616) 222-5455

WOOD TV 8
News Director: Patti McGettigan
Phone #: 771-9366
E-mail: patti.mcgettigan@woodtv.com

WXMI FOX 17
News Director: Tim Dye
Phone #: (616) 364-1717
E-mail: tdye@wxmi.com

WZZM 13
News Director: Tim Geraghty
Phone #: (616) 785-1313
E-mail: tgeraght@wzzm.gannett.com