Showing posts with label media. Show all posts
Showing posts with label media. Show all posts

Thursday, January 18, 2024

Israel One Of The The 'Worst Jailors' Of Journalists In The World

FILE - Palestinian journalists are seen during a protest march heading toward a United Nations office in the West Bank city of Ramallah, Nov. 7, 2023.  

The Guardian: Israel added to list of ‘worst jailers of journalists’ for first time 

Israel is in sixth place after the Committee to Protect Journalists recorded 19 Palestinian journalists in its jails Israel has joined a notorious band of authoritarian states with a history of imprisoning journalists by detaining Palestinian reporters without trial since the beginning of the latest war in Gaza. 

A report by the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) released on Thursday said that for the first time Israel figures in its list of “worst jailers of journalists”, putting it on a par with Iran.  

Read more ....  

Update #1: Israel Ranks Among World’s Worst Jailers of Journalists, Report Finds (VOA)

Update #2: Israeli arrests of Palestinian journalists soared in 2023: CPJ (Al Jazeera)  

WNU Editor: Israel is not what I call in good company .... Israel Jailed Record High Number of Journalists in 2023, Tying With Iran: Report (The Messenger). And it gets worse .... Israel’s War on Journalists: More Reporters Killed in Gaza in 3 Months Than Any Country Over Entire Year (Democracy Now!).

Sunday, January 14, 2024

U.S. Coalition - Yemen War -- News Updates January 14, 2023

 

Reuters: Yemen's Houthis vow strong response after new US strike Houthis vow 'strong response' after new US strike 

The Houthi movement threatened a "strong and effective response" on Saturday (January 13), after the United States carried out another strike in Yemen overnight.

It further heightens tensions after Washington vowed to protect shipping lanes from attacks by the Iran-aligned group. 

The U.S. said its latest strike hit a radar site, a day after dozens of American and British strikes on Houthi facilities in Yemen. 

A Houthi spokesperson told Reuters the strikes had no significant impact on the group's ability to prevent Israel-affiliated vessels from passing through the Red Sea. 

Though the Pentagon said the U.S.-British strikes had "good effects".  

Read more ....  

WNU Editor: The web "lit-up" a few hours before the US and the UK launched their attack that an attack was imminent .... Pentagon ‘frustrated’ with UK over Yemen leak – Telegraph (RT). This probably gave the Houthis the opportunity to vacate key personnel and equipment. 

More News On The U.S. Coalition - Yemen War  

Yemen's Houthis vow strong response after new US strike -- Reuters  

Yemen’s Houthis vow ‘strong response’ after new US strike -- Arab News  

Houthi rebels vow fierce retaliation after US and British strikes against them -- ABC News Australia  

US carries out new strike in Yemen, Houthis vow response -- Reuters  

US carries out fresh strikes on Yemen as Houthis vow to keep attacking ships in Red Sea -- France 24 

US launches fresh strikes on Houthi rebels in Yemen, military says -- The Guardian  

US attacks Houthi rebels: In Yemen bombing, America and UK strike back -- USA Today  

UK ready to strike Houthis again if Red Sea attacks continue, says David Cameron -- LCB 

The US and UK at last answered Houthi attacks with a carrier strike group, fighter jets, and a submarine packed with Tomahawk cruise missiles -- Business Insider  

Much of Houthis' Offensive Ability Remains Intact After U.S.-Led Airstrikes -- New York Times  

Western strikes on Houthis mostly failed – NYT -- RT  

Houthi capabilities dented but largely left intact after US-led strikes — report -- Times of Israel

Tuesday, November 14, 2023

At Least 42 Journalists Have Been Killed In The Hamas-Israel War

The scene in Sderot, Israel, as fighting between Israeli troops and amas militants continues. Photo: Ilia Yefimovich//Picture Alliance  

Axios: Dozens of journalists killed in Hamas-Israel war 

 At least 42 journalists have been killed since the Hamas-Israel war began Oct. 7, according to the latest tally from the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) out Tuesday. Many others have been reported missing or injured.  

The big picture: It's a staggering number of journalist deaths to be documented across such a short period of time. 

* For context, a total of 15 journalists have been killed in Ukraine between 2022 and 2023, per CPJ.  

Details: Most of the 37 Palestinians killed during the Hamas-Israeli war died during Israeli bombardments, per CPJ. 

* Four Israeli journalists were killed in Hamas attacks and one Lebanese journalist has also been killed in an attack Lebanon's government blamed on an Israeli missile strike. 

* Many of the journalists killed were working as photojournalists or videographers, trying to document the crisis unfolding on the ground.  

Read more ....  

WNU Editor: It should be noted that many journalists have been injured, and many have ben reported missing.

Did AP, Reuters, CNN, And The New York Times Know in Advance That Hamas Was Going To Attack Israel On October 7?

Honest Reporting: Broken Borders: AP & Reuters Pictures of Hamas Atrocities Raise Ethical Questions 

On October 7, Hamas terrorists were not the only ones who documented the war crimes they had committed during their deadly rampage across southern Israel. Some of their atrocities were captured by Gaza-based photojournalists working… On October 7, Hamas terrorists were not the only ones who documented the war crimes they had committed during their deadly rampage across southern Israel. Some of their atrocities were captured by Gaza-based photojournalists working for the Associated Press and Reuters news agencies whose early morning presence at the breached border area raises serious ethical questions. 

What were they doing there so early on what would ordinarily have been a quiet Saturday morning? Was it coordinated with Hamas? Did the respectable wire services, which published their photos, approve of their presence inside enemy territory, together with the terrorist infiltrators? Did the photojournalists who freelance for other media, like CNN and The New York Times, notify these outlets? Judging from the pictures of lynching, kidnapping and storming of an Israeli kibbutz, it seems like the border has been breached not only physically, but also journalistically.  

Read more ....  

Update #1: Media in Panic Mode Over Questions About Whether They Knew in Advance About Hamas Attack on Israel (PJ Media)  

Update #2: Nothing To See Here: Democrat Media Arm Scrambles As It Becomes Clear They Knew About Hamas Invasion Of Israel Before It Happened (Legal Insurrection)  

WNU Editor: I know how the media works. Some of these "reporters" must have been given a heads-up a few hours/day/days before the attack. The fact that some of these "reporters" were "present" when the attacks were being launched tells me that they had advanced notice on what was about to unfold. 

Update #3: Some of these media outlets are responding (see below).

Was The Washington Post 'Correct' To Ban This Cartoon On the Israel - Hamas War?

WNU Editor: The catoonist (two-time Pulitzer Prize winner Michael Ramirez) has responded .... ‘Grow Up’: Cartoonist Speaks Out after Washington Post Censors Hamas Drawing (National Review).

Sunday, October 22, 2023

Gallup Poll: Trust In US News Media Hits A Record Low

Gallup: Media Confidence in U.S. Matches 2016 Record Low 

* 32% have a “great deal” or “fair amount” of trust in media’s news reporting 

* New high of 39% have no confidence at all, compared with 27% in 2016 

* Democrats’ trust is down 12 points since last year; lowest since 2016 

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The 32% of Americans who say they trust the mass media “a great deal” or “a fair amount” to report the news in a full, fair and accurate way ties Gallup’s lowest historical reading, previously recorded in 2016. Although trust in media currently matches the historical low, it was statistically similar in 2021 (36%) and 2022 (34%). 

Another 29% of U.S. adults have “not very much” trust, while a record-high 39% register “none at all.” This nearly four in 10 Americans who completely lack confidence in the media is the highest on record by one percentage point. It is 12 points higher than the 2016 reading, which came amid sharp criticism of the media from then-presidential candidate Donald Trump -- making the current assessment of the media the grimmest in Gallup’s history. In 2016, U.S. adults were most likely to say they had “not very much” trust (41%). 

Read more .... 



WNU Editor: I am surprised that 32% of Americans still trust their news media.

Friday, September 1, 2023

Should U.S. President Biden Listen To These Generals?

President Joe Biden holds a meeting with military and civilian defense leadership, including Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III, Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen H. Hicks, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Mark A. Milley, the Joint Chiefs of Staff, combatant commanders, and the Coast Guard, the White House, Washington, D.C., April 20, 2022. (DoD photo by Lisa Ferdinando)  

The Hill: On Ukraine, Biden needs to listen to these US generals  

President Biden’s support for the Ukrainian war effort continues to be just enough for Ukraine to survive, but not enough for it to win. For Ukraine, this is like treading water wearing a 25-pound life preserver. All your energy is required just to stay afloat; nothing is left to swim ashore. 

When will the president start listening to his generals — his own military advisers? One can only assume the advice he is acting on is coming from the likes of national security adviser Jake Sullivan, Secretary of State Anthony Blinken or former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Susan Rice.  

Read more ....  

WNU Editor: U.S. Secretary of Defense and retired Army four-star General Lloyd Austin and Chairman of the Joint Chief of Staff General Mark Milley. Former and now retired General and retired CIA Director David Petraeus. Ben Hodges, former commanding general of U.S. Army Europe. And last but not least, Jack Keane, retired four-star general and former vice chief of staff of the Army. 

These are who US President Biden should listen to!?!?!?!? 

U.S. Secretary of Defense and retired Army four-star General Lloyd Austin and Chairman of the Joint Chief of Staff General Mark Milley lost all credibility in my eyes after the Afghan disaster.

The 3 retired US Generals mentioned in the above opinion piece have been commenting on the war since the beginning, and they have been completely wrong. 

Retired General Keane has for months been saying that Russia is too week (link here) when they are clearly not. 

Just a few days ago Retired General Ben Hodges was discussing that Ukraine could be successful in retaking Crimea if the US could only give just a bit more support Ukraine's current counteroffensive (link here). Retaking Crimea?!?!?! Are you kidding me.

But they pale when compared to retired General Petraeus. 

When Ukraine's counteroffensive started in June, retired General Petareus was predicting a quick collapse of the Russian Army (link here). That clearly has not happened. 

But what really got under my skin is when he told a CNN audience this week that the Russian military has no motivation to fight in Ukraine. 

Are you kidding me!?!?!?!? 

Each year all Russians commemorate and remember the 27 million who died in the Second World War. Every family in Russia lost someone in that war. And when they see the same German crosses that were on their armored vehicles during that war on the battle field in this war, and captured dead or captured Ukrainian soldiers with Nazi tattoos on their arms, coupled with anti-Russian rhetoric and actions from the Kyiv government on those who identify themselves as Russian-Ukrainians. Yeah .... you can take this to the bank, the motivation to fight in Russia is there.  

Update: This is an old article, but it should be mentioned. Many of these US military experts on Cable News have a conflict of interest. Aside from the fees that they earn for showing up on these cable news networks to discuss the war, they are also personally profiting enormously from other sources .... Cable News Military Experts Are on the Defense Industry Dole (The Intercept).

Sunday, July 23, 2023

The New York Times Wants More NATO Defense Spending!

Antiwar.com: Higher Military Spending Will Save Democracy  

So says the "liberal" New York Times 

Three days ago, I got a story in my New York Times email feed on “A Turning Point in Military Spending.” The article celebrated the greater willingness of NATO members as well as countries like Japan to spend more on military weaponry, which, according to the “liberal” NYT, will help to preserve democracy. Interestingly, even as NATO members have started to spend more, the Pentagon is still demanding yet higher budgets, abetted by Congress. I thought if NATO spent more, the USA could finally spend less? 

No matter. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, as well as the hyping of what used to be called the “Yellow Peril,” today read “China,” is ensuring record military spending in the USA as yearly Pentagon budgets approach $900 billion. That figure does not include the roughly $120 billion or more in aid already provided to Ukraine in its war with Russia. And since the Biden administration’s commitment to Ukraine remains open-ended, you can add scores of billion more to that sum if the war persists into the fall and winter.  

Read more ....  

WNU Editor: It was only 5 years ago that the New York Times condemned former President Trump's push to get NATO to spend more money on defense .... Trump Warns NATO Allies to Spend More on Defense, or Else (New York Times).

Friday, June 16, 2023

Radio New Zealand Moves To Ban Providing Balanced And Factual News On Ukraine

Violent Maidan coup in Ukraine, 2014. (Wikipedia) 

Consortium News: Suspended for Providing Balanced News on Ukraine  

An editor at Radio New Zealand has been suspended and is under investigation for the time-honored practices of providing balanced and factual reporting, writes Tony Kevin. 

On Friday The Guardian Australia website carried a news report, with a follow-up piece on Monday, whose implications for free speech are profoundly disturbing. 

They concern a Radio New Zealand, or RNZ, broadcasting employee — unnamed, but everyone in the small New Zealand broadcasting world will soon know who it is — who has been placed on leave while their professional conduct is investigated. Obviously, a career hangs in the balance. 

The malign ghosts of Orwell’s 1984 stalk this story.  

Read more ....  

WNU Editor: Radio New Zealand is not the only news media outlet making the decision to provide news on the Ukraine war from only one side. I would say most Western news agencies have made the decision to ban any news from the Russian side on what is happening in the war. And while there are rare occasions when major US outlets do provide a glimpse on what is actually happening on the front-lines, that coverage is very rare and it is often obscured with other news breaking stories.

Thursday, June 15, 2023

Is U.S. President Biden A “Wannabe Dictator"?

Washington Post: Fox News shocks with 'wannabe dictator' graphic during Biden speech 

Cable news’s on-screen graphics — known as chyrons — were originally designed to highlight the latest news to viewers in a concise way. But on Tuesday night, Fox News viewers got one that was unusually politically charged.

Just before 9 p.m., the network split the screen to present comments from President Biden at the White House simultaneously with Donald Trump’s combative remarks after pleading not guilty to federal charges of illegally retaining classified documents. 

Read more ....  

WNU Editor: The fun part of this story is that the Biden administration's Justice Department DID arrest and charge their main political rival. Isn't that what authoritarian governments around the world do to their political opponents? 

But it does not stop there. After-all. Where is the outrage when those on the left are saying Trump will be a dictator if elected in 2024? .... Trump Makes It Clear He’d Be an Out and Out Dictator If Reelected in 2024 (Vanity Fair). 

 Is U.S. President Biden A “Wannabe Dictator"?  

Fox News says it ‘addressed’ onscreen message that called Biden a ‘wannabe dictator’ -- AP  

Fox News Chyron Calls Biden a 'Wannabe Dictator' -- New York Times  

Fox News chyron calls Biden a 'wannabe dictator' who had his 'political rival arrested' -- Daily Mail  

Fox News stirs outrage after labeling Biden a ‘wannabe dictator.’ The network says it ‘addressed’ the situation -- CNN

Monday, May 15, 2023

Washington Post Deletes A Large Part Of Its Interview With Ukrainian President Zelensky Where He Accuses The Paper Of Aiding Russia

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky speaks to Washington Post journalists in Kyiv on May 1. (Ed Ram for The Washington Post) 

 Antiwar.com: WaPo Deletes Portion of Zelensky Interview Where He Accuses Paper of Aiding Russia  

The Ukrainian leader was angry about information revealed by a leaked document, saying sharing such info in Ukraine was a 'felony' 

The Washington Post deleted a portion of an interview with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, where he accused the paper of helping Russia by posing a question about information contained in leaked classified documents. 

 The interview was conducted on May 1 and published on Saturday. An archived version of the interview shows a testy exchange between Zelensky and the Post, which was later deleted.  

Read more .... 

WNU Editor: Zelensky was pissed in the tract that the Washington Post deleted. And there is more. Including his commitment to cancel upcoming elections. 

The tract that the Washington Post deleted can be read from (of all places) Russia's RT .... Here are the Zelensky ‘treason’ quotes the Washington Post deleted (RT). The 

Washington Post article is here .... Zelensky interview transcript: ‘Ukraine must win’ (Washington Post).  

Update: The Washington Post has restored the excerpt of the interview that was deleted earlier

Monday, April 24, 2023

FOX News Fires Tucker Carlson

 

Daily Mail: Tucker Carlson 'blindsided by Fox News firing that was a direct order from Rupert Murdoch after Jan 6 conspiracy claims and producer's lawsuit alleging bullying, sexism and anti-Semitism' 

* Fox announced today that Carlson's last show was on Friday April 21st 

* He was the network's most successful host drawing in 3.5million viewers 

Tucker Carlson was blindsided by his firing from Fox News and learned of it on Monday morning shortly before it was announced, according to sources. 

In a shock announcement Monday, the network announced he would not be returning.

'FOX News Media and Tucker Carlson have agreed to part ways. We thank him for his service to the network as a host and prior to that as a contributor,' the network statement read. 

Read more ....  

WNU Editor: I am personally surprised that he lasted this long. As Glenn Greenwald points out in the tweet below, he was always pushing a message that many in Washington did not agree with and/or wanted the public to not know.

Wednesday, February 15, 2023

Americans Trust In News Organizations Continue To Decline

The Hill: Half in new survey believe news organizations mislead, misinform public 

A new survey found that half of Americans believe that national news organizations intend to mislead, misinform or persuade the public. 

More than half of the Americans surveyed, 53 percent, in the Knight Foundation and Gallup poll said they held an unfavorable opinion of the media, which was down slightly from 2020 levels. 

“This study suggests that many Americans are not solely skeptical of news today — they feel distrust on an emotional level, believing news organizations intend to mislead them and are indifferent to the social and political impact of their reporting,” the report says.  

Read more ....  

WNU Editor: The survey is here .... AMERICAN VIEWS 2022: Part 2, TRUST MEDIA AND DEMOCRACY (Knight Foundation). 

Americans Trust In News Organizations Continue To Decline  

Study shows ‘striking’ number who believe news misinforms -- AP  

Study: Half of Americans believe news organizations intend to misinform -- New York Daily News  

Gallup Poll: Half Say News Media Deliberately Mislead -- Newsmax

Monday, January 9, 2023

Pushback From The Media On Republican Efforts To Investigate The Biden Family

 

News Busters: James Comer SCHOOLS Chuck Todd on Importance of Hunter Investigation 

On Sunday's Meet the Press, moderator, and Democrat activist Chuck Todd whined to House Oversight Committee chairman James Comer that the necessary oversight that Comer and his committee will be conducting will look "more partisan than professional." Comer proceeded to take Todd to school about how that is far from the case.  

"You're going to do a lot of oversight, a lot of subpoenas, many people look at what you're doing, and they see that it looks more partisan than professional," Todd asked Comer. "Tell me how you're going to try to departisanize an investigation, or do you expect it to be partisan?" Todd continued. This gave Comer an opening to take it to Todd and explain why the Biden administration needs to be investigated:   

Read more .... 

WNU Editor: Why is Chuck Todd so concerned about a Congressional investigation of the Biden family on corruption? He should be all for it if he is really concerned about corruption. 

Here is an easy prediction. Expect even more media blow-back when Congressional committees start their hearings in the coming months. We have seen nothing yet.

Saturday, December 10, 2022

International Federation of Journalists: 67 Journalists And Media Staff Killed In 2022

DW: Number of journalists killed up 40% in 2022, says NGO  

A decline in the number of journalists killed in recent years has been reversed, thanks in part to the war in Ukraine. The International Federation of Journalists has called for action to be taken. 

The world became a deadlier place for journalists in 2022, with 67 individuals killed while carrying out their work. 

That is up from 47 in 2021, according to a report published by the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) on Friday. Ukraine became the most dangerous country thanks to the Russian invasion, accounting for 12 of the total number of killed journalists and media staff. 

The report also highlighted violence in Haiti and organized crime in Mexico, accounting for 6 and 11 deaths respectively.  

Read more ....  

WNU Editor: The list of journalists and media staff killed in 2022 is here .... Journalists and Media Staff Killed in 2022 (IFJ). There are one notable omission. Darya Dugina (link here). 

International Federation of Journalists: 67 Journalists And Media Staff Killed In 2022 

67 journalists killed so far in 2022: IFJ demands immediate action -- Reliefweb 

67 journalists, media workers killed on the job this year -- AP  

Number of journalists, media professionals killed on the job in 2022 up by more than 40% over previous year -- Daily News 

IFJ: 67 journalists killed so far in 2022 -- ANF News 

International Federation of Journalists: 67 journalists killed in 2022 -- UPI  

Ukraine deadliest for journalists as 67 killed worldwide in 2022 -- Al Jazeera

Wednesday, December 7, 2022

Latvian Revokes Independent Russian TV Station’s License

Dozhd TV Channel Studio. Alexander Miridonov / Kommersant  

Moscow Times: Latvian Decision to Revoke Russian TV Station’s License Sparks Fear, Disbelief 

Latvia’s decision Tuesday to withdraw the broadcast license of independent Russian television channel Dozhd caused disbelief and anger among the media outlet’s journalists and soul-searching among other Russian journalists in exile. 

The Baltic country’s media watchdog said in a statement announcing the revocation that Dozhd posed “threats to national security and social order” following a series of fines issued over the outlet’s coverage of the war in Ukraine.

 “I’ve been fighting for all these years to remain human in any situation… [but] I feel like a disgusting scoundrel,” Dozhd co-founder Natalia Sindeeva said between sobs in a video posted to her Telegram channel after the announcement.  “The entire TV channel is at stake.”  

Read more ....  

WNU Editor: The Dozhd office in Moscow was shut down in March for its coverage of the Ukraine war (they were critical of the "special operations"). In July, the television channel was relaunched from studios in Riga, Latvia. But yesterday, citing national security, Latvia decided to immediately end Dozhd's license to broadcast. Their excuse is that Dozhd's coverage of the war is not 100% anti-Russian/Kremlin/Putin. Latvia is also critical of recent reports from Dozhd on recent heavy Ukrainian military losses and how dire the situation is for many ordinary Ukrainians. A host was also recently fired for saying the network was helping Russian soldiers 

As to what is my take on the end of Dozhd.

Latvia can make all the justifications that they want. But the revocation of Dozhd's license is a huge victory for the Kremlin. One more independent Russian media outfit snuffed-out, and the Kremlin did not have to lift a finger to do it. 

 Update: The CEO of Dozhd speaks out .... We made a lot of stupid mistakes' TV Rain CEO Natalia Sindeeva on the news that Latvia is stripping the network's broadcast license (Meduza).  

 Latvian Revokes Independent Russian TV Station’s License  

Russian TV station in Latvia loses licence over Ukraine war coverage -- The Guardian 

 Latvia pulls plug on anti-Kremlin Russian TV station -- Euronews  

Latvia revokes license of Russia independent channel TV Rain -- DW  

Latvia switches off the liberal Russian TV channel it took in -- Al Jazeera  

Who's Helping Putin? Dozhd Controversy In Latvia Inflames Tensions Over Émigré Anti-War Russians -- RFE

Wednesday, November 23, 2022

Was AP Reporter Fired Over Wrongful Reporting Of Russia Missile Strike On Poland A Scapegoat

The Associated Press fired veteran reporter James LaPorta (pictured) after they were forced to retract his story about Russian missiles landing in Poland. Leaked internal messages reveal the journalist deferred judgement on the piece to higher-ups but was fired anyway 

Daily Mail: Did AP make reporter fired over wrongful reporting of Russia missile strike on Poland a SCAPEGOAT? Texts reveal that James LaPorta passed on the tip - but said decision to run it 'is above my pay grade' 

* The correspondence occurred on Slack hours before AP filed the alert Tuesday 

* James LaPorta reported a 'senior US official' said the missile was Russian  

* The Associated Press retracted the story the following day  

* LaPorta, 35, was fired Monday after he 'violated' their standards, they said  

* The Slack messages obtained by global news platform Semafor paint a different picture, and suggest the reporter was not responsible for the erroneous report 

The Associated Press' firing of a reporter over a false story about a missile strike in Poland last week has come into question, as leaked messages reveal the journalist deferred judgement on the piece to higher-ups but was canned anyway. 

The correspondence transpired on Slack Tuesday, minutes before the outlet filed a news alert that that 'a senior US intelligence official' said 'Russian missiles crossed into NATO member Poland.'  The attack, the report from the wire service noted, left two dead.   

Read more ....  

Update: Associated Press blunder: Leaked internal messages show what led to erroneous Russian missile report (FOX News)  

WNU Editor: It looks like he is the scapegoat for AP's editors not doing their job properly. On a story as big as as this one .... Russia attacking a NATO country .... everyone should have been involved, and the facts checked multiple times.

Tuesday, November 22, 2022

AP Fires Reporter Who Posted The Polish Missile Misinformation That Risked Triggering WWIII

Zero Hedge: AP Fires Reporter Who Risked Triggering WWIII With Polish Missile Misinformation 

Five days after the Associated Press cited an anonymous 'senior US intelligence official' in a story that claimed a Russian missile killed two Polish civilians, one of the two reporters behind the story was fired. 

Reporters James LaPorta (fired) and John Leichester (not fired) share the byline on the now-retracted report, which sparked an entire news cycle that included talk of invoking 'Article 5' - the mutual defense agreement between NATO members - and which would have obligated other members to engage in collective defense, aka WWIII. 

As the day went on, President Biden popped out of a NATO / G7 briefing, and mumbled that "it's unlikely" the projectile was fired from Russia. NATO then chimed in, saying it was more likely that the missile was fired by Ukrainian forces in self-defense (or was it?).  

Read more ....  

WNU Editor: The AP is the world's largest news wire service. What they report is important. I do not think this former AP reporter really understands how his "false" report almost put the world on the brink of a nuclear crisis. I also have to wonder what were his editor's were thinking. They must have approved this report. 

One final note. Who was the anonymous US intelligence official who fed this AP reporter this false information? I would like to know who that person is.

Wednesday, November 16, 2022

Could Yesterday's Fake AP Report Saying Russian Missiles Struck Poland Set Off A Chain Of Events Leading To A WWIII Scenario?

Zero Hedge: Associated Press Issues Correction To Its Fake Report Which Could Have Kicked Off WW3 

Update(1605ET): The Associated Press has issued an official correction for its not-so-inconsequential bit of reporting Tuesday that could have easily set off a chain of events leading to a WWIII scenario. 

"The Associated Press reported erroneously, based on information from a senior American intelligence official who spoke on condition of anonymity" ...and we the know rest which unleashed a day of incessant warmongering based on the allegation that Russia attacked a NATO member. The incredibly embarrassing correction further states, "Subsequent reporting showed that the missiles were Russian-made and most likely fired by Ukraine in defense against a Russian attack." 

 Read more ....  

WNU Editor: The AP is the world's biggest news wire service. What they report carries weight and global of attention.

Friday, October 21, 2022

New York Times Poll Says A Majority Of Registered US Voters Say The Mainstream Media Is A 'Threat To Democracy'

 

The Hill: Nearly 60 percent see mainstream media as a threat to democracy: poll 

More than half of all registered voters see the mainstream media as a threat to American democracy, according to a new poll. 

A New York Times-Siena College poll published Tuesday found 59 percent of voters view the media as a “major threat to democracy,” while 25 percent said the press is a “minor threat” and only 15 percent said it poses no threat. 

The divide fell sharply along partisan lines, with 87 percent of voters who supported former President Trump in 2020 indicating they view the media is a major threat, while 33 percent of Biden voters during that election cycle said the same thing.  

Read more ....  

Update: Majority of registered voters say the media is a 'threat to democracy,' poll finds (FOX News)  

WNU Editor: Gallup is getting the same results .... Americans’ trust in media mired near record low: Gallup (The Hill)