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By john darling for the Mail Tribune The news media in the United States are "cowed," in disarray and, because they're afraid of losing market share, are holding back on their traditional role of criticizing the powerful, say two noted alternative journalists, Amy Goodman, host of "Democracy Now!" and columnist Robert Scheer. The pair will speak and share in a panel discussion, "Is the Mainstream Media Doing Its Job?" at 7:30 p.m. Friday at Southern Oregon University. U.S. journalism has reached an "all-time low, " covering personalities, not movements, as in times past, said Goodman, whose show is syndicated on 200 radio and television outlets. "The media is the most powerful institution in the world but it's cowed and all we get is more static, distortion and lies," she said in a telephone interview. Consolidation of media under a few powerful corporate "moguls" is destroying democracy, Goodman said. "It doesn't matter how many channels you have but who owns them." Advertisement "That's how I lost my column after 30 years," said Scheer, noting it was cut from the Los Angeles Times after the paper was bought by the Chicago Tribune, owner of 11 daily newspapers and 13 television stations. "They care less about freedom of the press than the profit picture." The U.S. press "is in disarray and has lost its sense of authority," said Scheer, who won notoriety for his in-depth interviews of five recent presidents — including Jimmy Carter, who confided "lust in his heart" for women. The U.S. political system was historically held accountable by both the opposition party and the press but with the "deterioration" of the political system, that check is gone, Scheer said. "I'm concerned for our democracy," said Scheer. "You point at the barbarians at the gate (terrorists) and use that to chip away at liberties." That process was well underway but 9/11 "opened the door wide," he said in a phone interview. Goodman and Scheer are on an 80-city speaking tour promoting new books. Goodman's is "Static: Government Liars, Media Cheerleaders and the People Who Fight Back." Scheer's is called "Playing President," profiles of the presidents he's interviewed. It does not include George W. Bush. Scheer's interviews were approached by the presidents "with a seriousness of purpose" about a "serious enterprise" (the presidency) and "that's something that couldn't happen now," he said. A great many controversial stories go unreported by the mainstream media, said Goodman, including the "thousands of soldiers who refuse to deploy or redeploy to Iraq — and this runs across the political spectrum." Her interviews, she added, show considerable opposition to the war in the ranks and among Pentagon brass and "these are brave people, not a fringe minority." The explosion of media on the Internet and cable television, ironically, has not increased dialogue or openness, but rather the opposite, Scheer said, "because these (media) are very easy to manipulate. The 9/11 attack put a weight on the media it couldn't stand. The media panicked and decided if they raise a fuss about anything, they'll lose market share. So George W. gets a free ride." Goodman added, "We're not supposed to be for the state. We're supposed to be critical, not megaphones, not a conveyor belt for the state. It's not just Bush, it's the Democrats, too, creating this silenced majority." The media's failure is "endemic" and will not lessen with a change in administration, said Scheer. However, noted Goodman, it is up to the media to fulfill its traditional role of educating the electorate, teaching them to be "critical, but not cynical." Serving on the panel with Goodman and Scheer will be Ralph Temple of the American Civil Liberties Union of Oregon and Bob Hunter, editor of the Mail Tribune. John Darling is a freelance writer living in Ashland. E-mail him at [email protected]. Would you like to respond to this story? If so Click Here to visit our forums. Advertisement Copyright © 1997-2006 Mail Tribune, Inc. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions | Website Feedback online casinos news Home Security Systems Windermere Van Vleet Men's Clothing Southern Oregon Loans --> GMAT Prep Fundraisers Send Flowers Texas Electric Choice Entertainment Guide --> Casinos Canada Trunks, Footlocker Online Casino Reviews Online poker at AbsolutePoker.com