U.S. Media Performance on Iraq Slammed in Report

U.S. Media Performance on Iraq Slammed in Report

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Major U.S. newspapers failed to challenge government assertions about Iraqi weapons of mass destruction, both before and after the 2003 war, according to a study by the University of Maryland released on Tuesday.

The study, by the university's Center for International and Security Studies, concluded that newspaper coverage generally failed to adequately question the U.S. administration's efforts to link its campaign against Iraq and the "war on terror."

It also concluded that media coverage often echoed the administration's argument that Iraq's chemical and biological weapons were a serious and immediate threat.

"Too many journalists acted as virtual stenographers for the current administration, in effect validating President (George W.) Bush's linkage of terrorism, Iraq and weapons of mass destruction," said University of Maryland journalism professor Susan Moeller, the report's author.

more...

U.S. Media Performance on Iraq Slammed in Report

More commentary on the report here