Editor & Publisher: Media Must Prevent Action Against Iran

Mon, Apr 24, 2006 at 8:07:38 am PDT

In the previous post, I wrote:

A cynic might conclude that the media are shying away from reporting Ahmadinejad’s insanity because they want to avoid creating support for a preemptive strike on Iran’s nuclear facilities.

Once again we see that you can’t go wrong with an attitude of extreme cynicism about the motives of mainstream media.

Here’s a piece by Greg Mitchell, editor of the influential trade magazine Editor & Publisher, arguing that the media elites should do everything possible to stop any military action against the “trumped up threat” of Iran: Will Press Put Out Fire on Iran? (Hat tip: The Big Carnival.)

To those who would say that this inflates the power or even role of the press in America today, I would reply: You don’t expect the Democrats to keep us out of war, do you? Just as they would not stand up to the president on Iraq for fear of appearing “weak on terror,” they would likely be wary of appearing “weak on the Tehran Bomb.” ...

The media, usually only a middle-reliever or in a mop-up role on this playing field, might have to pitch with the game on the line.