The state of the American media
Two leading media commentators explain just where they think it is going wrong.
 |
| Huffington’s book discusses what American media are doing wrong |
And the winner is: McCain, screamed the banner headline on HuffingtonPost.com the day after Hillary Clinton defeated Barack Obama in the Pennsylvania primary.
On Monday’s Riz Khan we speak to two leading commentators on their opinions about the state of the American media.
Arianna Huffington believes the problem with the mainstream media is not their ideology; it is that traditional outlets provide “equal time” to differing viewpoints, even when those viewpoints do not have equal merit.
In her new book Right is Wrong she discusses the case that the “lunatic fringe” of the right has taken over the Republican Party (with assistance from the media and compliant Democrats) despite holding views not shared by the majority of Americans.
The result has been the US invasion and occupation of Iraq, a faltering economy and many other major problems.
We also speak with Paul Starr, a Pulitzer Prize-winning professor of sociology and public affairs at Princeton University.
He is also the co-editor and co-founder of The American Prospect, a notable liberal magazine.
This episode of Riz Khan airs on Monday, May 05, 2008
You can watch Riz live at 1900GMT, with repeats at 0030GMT, 0500GMT, and 1000GMT.
To contact us click on ‘Send your feedback’ at the top of the page
Watch Al Jazeera English programmes on YouTube
Join our debates on the Your Views section of the site