Media Fairness Caucus
Like many Americans, I have become increasingly concerned about unfair reporting by the mainstream news media. The purpose of the Media Fairness Caucus (MFC) is not to censor or condemn, but to encourage the media to adhere to the highest standards of reporting and provide the American people with the facts, balanced stories and fair coverage of the news.
Thomas Jefferson once said, “The only security of all is in a free press.” The Media Fairness Caucus (MFC) will strongly support a free press and not condone any form of censorship. Instead, we will examine the causes of one-sided reporting, develop strategies to combat media bias, promote an open dialogue between members of the media and elected officials, and remind the media of their profound obligation to provide the American people with the facts. We will avoid personal attacks or gratuitous criticism of media representatives.
Goals of the MFC center on stressing the need for objective and fair reporting. We will focus on finding better ways for elected officials and the media to communicate openly in order to encourage fairness and balance in reporting. In addition, we will point out biased coverage in a fair and reasonable way.
To find out more about media fairness, please visit the Media Research Center’s website by clicking here or Accuracy in Media's website by clicking here.
For more information or to get involved, please contact James Danford on my staff at 202-225-6371 or james.danford@mail.house.gov.
More on Media Fairness Caucus
Congressman Lamar Smith, chair of the Media Fairness Caucus, delivered the following remarks on the House floor regarding Obamacare.
Congressman Smith: “Today may be April Fools’ Day, but Americans are not fooled about the damaging effects of Obamacare.
“Millions of Americans continue to receive notice that their health insurance plans are being cancelled, while others see their premiums going up.
“The Administration has waived or delayed more than 30 provisions of the law. When will they realize the law just will not work?
Like many Americans, I have become increasingly concerned about unfair reporting by the mainstream news media. The purpose of the Media Fairness Caucus (MFC) is not to censor or condemn, but to encourage the media to adhere to the highest standards of reporting and provide the American people with the facts, balanced stories and fair coverage of the news.
Former CBS producer Greg Kandra recently highlighted the continued existence of the national liberal medias bias.
As a result of the national medias use of selectively edited clips to push its liberal agenda, he stated that he has grown weary trying to defend the national media. Kandra declared that he cannot and will not defend his former colleagues against claims of liberal bias.
The private sector is doing fine, President Obama claimed earlier this month. The 5.4 million American workers who have been classified as the long-term unemployed, those jobless for 27 weeks or longer, would think otherwise.
With unemployment over 8 percent for all of 2012, Im sure the American worker would like for the media to share the truth instead of using their bias to protect the President when he is out of touch.
Last month 43 Catholic institutions across America joined together to defend the First Amendment and filed a total of twelve lawsuits against the Administration in order to protect the right to freedom of religion on behalf of all Americans.
This is the most significant religious lawsuit in U.S. history and Christian leaders all across America have joined in support of the Catholic institutions.
According to the American Enterprise Institute, the labor force participation rate has dropped to its lowest level in 30 years. The only reason the unemployment rate fell slightly to 8 percent is because another 522,000 adults quit looking for work and are no longer counted.
The modern encyclopedia Wikipedia says, "the term 'mainstream' media denotes those generally reflective of the prevailing currents of thought, influence or activity."
But the opinions expressed by the media are neither widespread nor accepted by the majority of Americans. To call today's national media "mainstream" is inaccurate. They are better described as the "liberal" national media. Regardless, the term "mainstream" should be dropped.
Todays so-called mainstream media is not mainstream. The modern encyclopedia, Wikipedia, says, the term ˜mainstream media denotes those media generally reflective of the prevailing currents of thought, influence, or activity.
A recent study by the Business and Media Institute found that news coverage of rising gas prices are four times less likely during the Obama administration than the previous Bush administration.
The study found that news sources”such as ABC, CBS, and NBC”only covered the rising prices 21 times during the Obama administration compared to 97 times under the Bush administration.
Billionaire Warren Buffetts longtime secretary has become a symbol in the current Administrations fight over the tax code and economic fairness. While she was the Presidents chief stage prop in a show of the alleged unfairness of our tax system, this is hardly the truth.