This weekend marks the 3rd anniversary of the beginning of the US War/Occupation of Iraq. GRIID has been monitoring this coverage from the beginning and is pleased to join forces with Media Channel and United for Peace and Justice to demand better news coverage of the war in Iraq. Recent polling indicates that the majority of Americans are in favor of a withdraw of US troops with growing opposition to the war. However, the local news media continues to provide inadequate coverage of what is happening in Iraqi. It is of vital importance that citizens communicate to the local news outlets with the following talking points:

The U.S. news media has an obligation to reflect on the role it has played in building a pro-war consensus with false and deceptive reporting, what TIME magazine calls “mili-tainment” and “group think” in the pervasive use of conservative pundits and “experts” led by current and former government officials, and virtually no coverage of extensive civilian casualties and the suffering of Iraqi society because of the U.S. occupation.

The coverage remains one-sided — “All about us” — and excludes anti-war voices from citizens and anti-war groups all over the world.

We need to hear more from the Iraqi people!

Reports That Question Official Claims - We need more aggressive reporting, not just official stenography – just repeating official sources.

Independent Assessments of Political Developments - Let’s hear from international experts, not just pro-war pundits.

Stop Sanitizing the war – show the American people what the consequences of war really are.

Follow-up on Corruption Investigations - There have been reports on billion-dollar financial scandals to defense contractors, but little follow-up. How is our tax money being squandered? Tell us.

Previous GRIID Iraq War Studies

Searching for the Smoking Gun 2003

Reporting Official Positions 2004

Violence, Soldier Deaths and Omissions 2005

PDF of data for 2006

Contact:

Grand Rapids Press

Mike Lloyd

Phone #: (616) 222-5455

WOOD TV 8

News Director: Patti McGettigan

Phone #: 771-9366

E-mail: patti.mcgettigan@woodtv.com

WXMI FOX 17
News Director: Tim Dye
Phone #: (616) 364-1717
E-mail: tdye@wxmi.com

WZZM 13
News Director: Tim Geraghty
Phone #: (616) 785-1313
E-mail: tgeraght@wzzm.gannett.com

On February 28, the three Grand Rapids based TV station spent a tremendous amount of time on the escape & capture of an African American male prisoner in Kent County. WOOD 8 spent a total of 32 minutes and 21 seconds combined on the 5:30, 6 & 11pm newscasts, WZZM 13 spent 33 minutes and 38 seconds on their 5:30, 6 & 11pm newscasts, and WXMI 17 spent 8 minutes and 25 seconds on their 10pm newscast. Clearly this was a public safety issue, but did it deserve this much attention? Never have we seen during the evening newscasts this much time devoted to a single election story or factory closing or other major local public interest story. Was there special attention given to this story because he is charged with shooting a police officer? Does the fact that he is an African American male have any impact on shaping public opinion? These are all questions that need to be asked of the TV stations.

Contact:

WOOD TV 8

News Director: Patti McGettigan

Phone #: 771-9366

E-mail: patti.mcgettigan@woodtv.com

WXMI FOX 17

News Director: Tim Dye

Phone #: (616) 364-1717

E-mail: tdye@wxmi.com

WZZM 13

News Director: Tim Geraghty

Phone #: (616) 785-1313

E-mail: tgeraght@wzzm.gannett.com