David Fenton and his public relations firm are “left-leaning,” according to the May 31 Washington Post. But the glowing 1,856-word profile of Fenton revealed more than just a left-leaning tilt.
In the story “Putting the Progressive in PR” by Linton Weeks, the Post depicted Fenton, now head of Fenton Communications, as an entrepreneurial Mahatma Gandhi figure – furthering causes deemed pure and wholesome by the Post, from the protection of swordfish to abolishing the death penalty.
The article depicted one man’s battle against nuclear power: in 1979 Fenton organized a “No Nukes” protest concert. He’s still fighting nuclear energy today. Over the years, Fenton Communications clients have included many notoriously liberal groups like MoveOn.org, Greenpeace, the AFL-CIO, the Sierra Club. He’s also friends with George Soros and Arianna Huffington.
Still, the Post saw it Fenton’s way.
“‘Left’ is a pejorative term,” Fenton told the Post. “People I hang with use the word ‘progressive.’”
The Post profile didn’t delve into any harm caused by some of Fenton’s actions, like the discredited Alar scare he marketed. It also left out the pro-nuclear perspective.
But the Post does not always write such glowing tributes. In April 2005, Caroline E. Mayer and Amy Joyce profiled another public affairs organization’s founder – the difference was that this organization advocated a free-market agenda. The Center for Consumer Freedom’s Executive Director and Berman & Co. President, Richard Berman, wasn’t handled with kid gloves as Fenton was.
In that profile, the Post cited several left-wing advocacy groups that vilified Berman’s efforts. Fenton’s accomplishments on the other hand, were glorified by the newspaper.
—Julia A. Seymour is an assistant editor for the Business & Media Institute.
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I have a different description
May 31, 2007 - 18:11 ET by LionKing“People I hang with use the word ‘progressive.’”
I call them liberal-socialists.
Silent Bias Part Deux?
May 31, 2007 - 18:54 ET by acumenExcuse me, I was distracted by a post on Huff-n-puff by Dave Johnson and James Boyce making the case the MRC can't find a single example the media are liberal.
Now what's this about In the profile of the right-leaning Center for Consumer Freedom, the Post cited several left-wing advocacy groups that vilified Berman’s efforts. Fenton’s accomplishments on the other hand, were glorified by the newspaper?
1,856 words? Gee whiz ...Eccl
May 31, 2007 - 19:00 ET by josephsamuelson1,856 words? Gee whiz ...
Ecclesiastes 5:3
For a dream cometh through the multitude of business; and a fool's voice is known by multitude of words.
Ecclesiastes 5:7
For in the multitude of dreams and many words there are also many vanities : but fear [respect] thou God.
Proverbs 10:19
In the multitude of words there lacketh not sin: but he that refraineth his lips is wise.
“‘Left’ is a pejorative
May 31, 2007 - 22:13 ET by botg“‘Left’ is a pejorative term,” Fenton told the Post. “People I hang with use the word ‘progressive.’”
So now the leftists are going to make the word progressive a pejorative by association. Sound Orwellian to anyone else?
Supreme Court, National Security, Borders, Fiscal Restraint, my litmus test for President.
Always changing around the wo
May 31, 2007 - 22:22 ET by bigtimerAlways changing around the words to describe themselves poor babies....last change they insisted upon was the democratic not democrat when using it in certain sentences...like ALL the time...which I find hysterically funny when it is used now....
Pretty pathetic all in all.
As in progressing to Gomorrah
May 31, 2007 - 22:28 ET by botgAs in progressing to Gomorrah?
Supreme Court, National Security, Borders, Fiscal Restraint, my litmus test for President.
To all a goodnight
June 1, 2007 - 00:04 ET by botg