A Tribute to Robert Parry: Independent Journalism at Its Best
Bob believed deeply in journalism, both as a vital force for shaping the world and as a moral imperative.
Robert Parry: A Day When Journalism Died
Parry: Webb’s offense was to have revived the shocking story of the Reagan administration’s tolerance of cocaine smuggling by the CIA-backed Nicaraguan Contra rebels in the 1980s. Though the scandal was real – and had been partly exposed in real time – the major newspapers had locked arms in defense of President Ronald Reagan and the CIA. The sordid scandal apparently was deemed “not good for the country,” so it was buried.
Chris Hedges: The Myth of the Free Press
The mass media, as [C. Wright] [Mills] wrote, exist primarily to help citizens feel they are successful and that they have met their aspirations even if they have not. They use language and images to manipulate and form opinions, not to foster genuine democratic debate and conversation... By Chris Hedges truthdig.com October 26, 2014 Screen shot More
Andrew O’Hehir: From Gary Webb to James Risen: The struggle for the soul of journalism
Two courageous reporters dug up dark government secrets. Only one was betrayed by his peers. Why did it happen? Jeremy Renner as Gary Webb in "Kill the Messenger" (Credit: Focus Features) By ANDREW O'HEHIR SALON.com October 25, 2014 In thinking about the cases of Gary Webb and James Risen, two famous investigative reporters aggressively persecuted for More