Accuracy in Media

Accuracy In Media (AIM) is an American, non-profit news media watchdog founded in 1969 by economist Reed Irvine. AIM describes itself as "a non-profit, grassroots citizens watchdog of the news media that critiques botched and bungled news stories and sets the record straight on important issues that have received slanted coverage." Despite AIM's assertion of political neutrality,^[1] it is frequently described by the mainstream media and other media watchdog groups as a conservative organization.^{[2][3][4][5][6]}

History

At its inception, Accuracy In Media was run primarily by Reed Irvine and then-executive secretary Abraham Kalish. The two sent letters to the editors of many newspapers and magazines they identified as skewed, calling out slanted news stories. If the newspaper rejected the letter, AIM bought space and printed the letter in that newspaper. Beginning in 1975, Accuracy In Media began purchasing stock in major media companies, allowing Irvine to attend annual shareholder meetings. He used these opportunities to express AIM's concerns to the various companies' owners. Don Irvine, son of the elder Irvine, currently^[when?] chairs the organization.^[7]

Publications, growth and expansion

In 1972, Accuracy In Media began publishing the AIM Report, a twice-monthly newsletter originally edited by Reed Irvine. Today,^[when?] Cliff Kincaid and Roger Aronoff, AIM Senior Editor and AIM Executive Secretary and Media Analyst, respectively, handle the publication, as well as daily online updates. The AIM Report often calls on its subscribers to contact newsmakers, reporters and news corporations to end perceived liberal media bias.

AIM's work

Criticism of human-rights reporting in El Salvador

In 1982, New York Times reporter Raymond Bonner broke the story of the El Mozote massacre. This report was strongly criticized by AIM and the Reagan White House, and Bonner was pressured into business reporting, later deciding to resign. Although the report was embarrassing to the Reagan administration, who was heavily aiding the right-wing junta at the time, skeletons unearthed a decade later confirmed the original story's veracity.^[8]

Vincent Foster conspiracy theory

Accuracy in Media has received a substantial amount of funding from Richard Mellon Scaife who paid Christopher W. Ruddy to investigate allegations that President Bill Clinton was connected to the suicide of Vincent Foster.^[9] AIM contends that "Foster was murdered",^[10] which is contrary to three independent reports including one by Kenneth Starr.^[11] AIM faults the media for not picking up on the conspiracy.^[12] The organization has even gone to court for documents and recordings linked to the case.

AIM credits much of its reporting on the Foster case to Ruddy.^[13] Yet, his work has been called a "hoax" and "discredited" by conservatives like Ann Coulter,^[14] it was also disputed by the American Spectator, which caused Scaife to end his funding of the Arkansas Project with the publisher.^[15] As CNN explained on February 28, 1997, "The [Starr] report refutes claims by conservative political organizations that Foster was the victim of a murder plot and coverup", but "despite those findings, right-wing political groups have continued to allege that there was more to the death and that the president and First Lady tried to cover it up".^[16]

Ruddy operates a conservative news website, NewsMax, that still asserts there is a conspiracy and faults the media.^[17]

Fox News Channel

In November 2005, AIM columnist Cliff Kincaid criticized Fox News for broadcasting a program "The Heat is On," which reported that global warming represents a serious problem (the program was broadcast with a disclaimer). Kincaid argued the piece was one-sided and stated that this "scandal" amounted to a "hostile takeover of Fox News".^[18]

On October 20, 2006, Accuracy in Media released a list of 27 questions to pose at the Fox News Executive meeting that was attended by AIM editor Cliff Kincaid.^[19][20]

Of these 27 questions, 8 dwell on Rupert Murdoch's relationship with the Clintons and how that may have affected Fox News coverage.^[19] Moreover, AIM wrote "News Corporation hired the Glover Park Group, a public relations firm run by friends of Bill and Hillary Clinton, to block changes in the TV ratings system", and asks, "Was this part of News Corporation's move to the left?"^[19]

In May 2007, Accuracy in Media raised questions about a conflict of interest in Fox News' co-sponsorship of the May 15 Republican Presidential Candidates debate, pointing out that News Corporation, the parent company of Fox News, is as a client of presidential candidate Rudy Giuliani.^[21]

Documentary

AIM also denounced journalist Helen Marmor, who in 1983 produced a documentary for NBC concerning the Russian Orthodox Church.^[22] AIM contended that "it ignored the repressive religious policies of the Soviet state".

United Nations

AIM has been critical of the United Nations and its coverage by the media. In February 2005, AIM alleged that United Nations correspondents, including Ian Williams, a correspondent for The Nation had accepted money from the UN while covering it for their publications. AIM also asserted that the United Nations Correspondents Association may have violated immigration laws by employing the wife of Williams.^[23][24] Williams and The Nation denied wrongdoing.^[25][26] The charges were reiterated by FrontPage Magazine ^[27] and the allegation concerning Williams receiving UN cash was picked up by Brit Hume and the Fox News Channel.^[27]

Funding

Only three donors of the remainder^{[clarification needed]} are given by name: the Allied Educational Foundation, Shelby Cullom Davis, and billionaire Richard Mellon Scaife. Scaife gave $2 million to Accuracy in Media between 1977 and 1997.^[28]

References

External links

• Official website
• Accuracy in Media by SourceWatch
• Accuracy in Media, Inc. by MediaTransparency
• Profile of Cliff Kincaid by Media Matters for America December 9, 2005
• Meet the Myth-Makers: Right-Wing Media Groups Provide Ammo for "Liberal Media" Claims by Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting