In a just world, journalism students would be assigned to watch John Ziegler’s “Media Malpractice: How Obama Got Elected and Palin Was Targeted.”
Heck, why not run it side by side with any Michael Moore documentary and let the discussion begin?
The news industry is in horrible shape, and any film which could provoke debate over the fairness of modern media coverage could only help journalism majors – even if they don’t agree with Ziegler’s libertarian take on politics or his overall thesis.
Ziegler isn’t holding his breath. The radio talk show host shared his thoughts on his new movie, available through the film’s web site, with WWTW earlier this week.
WWTW: How long did it take you to assemble the mountain of video clips and news articles which make up the bulk of “Media Malpractice?”
JZ: Well, I purchased www.HowObamaGotElected.com in June of 2008 and was on “The Today Show” announcing the DVD’s release on February 23rd of 2009. I would say most of that time was spent putting the film together. I wish I could say I had a team of assistants but I didn’t. It was just me. It was a lot of work, but I have a ton of passion for this subject matter.
WWTW: Of all the biased reporting you uncovered while researching the film, was there a particular moment that stands out as the most egregious?
JZ: Well, the episode that was most absurd was how the Rev. Wright story was handled, but as far as something that people don’t know about I would say Andrea Mitchell playing the wrong Joe Biden “test” audio in a clear attempt to help the Obama campaign is about as egregious as it can get.
WWTW: Have you attempted to show your film at colleges or even offer it to journalism professors as something students could watch and discuss?
JZ: Not really. There has been some scattered interest and we may end up doing some college screenings and I would love to do them, but the reality is that any college showing this in a significant way is such a long shot that I don’t even bother wasting my time. It is the same thing with film festivals. They are all so liberal that you know you won’t get a fair shake so why bother?
WWTW: Have any mainstream or left-leaning outlets reviewed your film? What were their main criticisms about the movie?
JZ: While we have gotten tons of mainstream coverage we have never gotten what I would call a “mainstream” review but I haven’t pursued them. We have had liberal bloggers review the film, mostly positively. Interestingly, as far as I know, there has not been even one remotely credible allegation questioning any of the facts/assertions in the film which, considering the amount of personal heat I have taken from the left is kind of amazing. The film is really bullet proof and I think even the left realizes that.
WWTW: Have you heard from any news reporters who saw the film – what reactions did they have to its contents?
JZ: Not really. the closest I came when I happened to run into NBC’s Lee Cowan who was the Obama beat reporter during the campaign. I gave him the film and very casually said “Congratulations on the election” and he instinctively responded “Thank you very much.” I am not even sure he realized what he had said/done but I truly believe that is the way he looked at the election: “they” won and therefore accepting congratulations was perfectly natural. He sent me an e-mail later but made no mention of this exchange.
WWTW: Your film won’t get anywhere near the the press attention a documentary by Michael Moore will receive … what has to happen in order for that to change to some degree? Are you optimistic that right-leaning documentaries will one day get a fair shake in the culture?
JZ: No. My experience says that will never happen. In fact, “Media Malpractice” has gotten mainstream coverage than any other conservative documentary in history but of course if I was Michael Moore it would have been more glowing and even more extensive. There will probably never be a conservative Michael Moore and it isn’t really because the mainstream media won’t allow it, it is really because the right-wing media won’t embrace it because you have far too many insecure people looking out only for their own self interest and protecting their own little seat at the table.
WWTW: Is a follow up project in the works?
JZ: I have absolutely no doubt that a sequel/follow up would be a great film and could tell an even more incredible story, especially with what has happened to Sarah Palin. That may happen and I hope that it does, but at the moment I am concentrating on my new radio show, so we shall see. I would love to do it, but frankly I don’t trust the right wing media to give me even oxygen to make sure it has a chance to work.
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{ 9 comments… read them below or add one }
You should have asked him to elaborate about his comments indicating he isn’t getting the support of the “right wing media”.
Does he mean Fox or what?
There were a few items I wanted more information on … I may check back in with him on this …
Thx, for the info, cftoto.
I tried the link to the Biden-Mitchell clip. It got me to the webpage. And, the progress bar indicated that the clip was playing… but, not video nor audio. I would love to see that clip, if the link can be fixed.
Press on.
Eagerly awaiting the New Hollywood.
>>you have far too many insecure people looking out only for their own self interest and protecting their own little seat at the table.>>
Amen, brutha Ziegler. Amen.
PROFIT/GREED aside, what is the point of MEDIA MALPRACTICE?
Dave — the point is this: we trust the media to vet politicians so we can vote on the best ones … and when the media decides not to vet one and overly vet the other, it does the democracy a severe disservice.
Dave, all you have to do is ask yourself what would have happened in the recent presidential campaign if John McCain had attended a hate-filled white supremacist church. Just think how quickly, and how fantastically that news item would have been reported (justifiably) by a rabid media.
But… Sen. Obama attended a hate-fill, ANTI-AMERICAN Black supremacist church for 20 years… and the man was actually able to brush it off with a half-hearted, “Oh, I never saw that. /I don’t know that Jeremiah Wright” response. And the media just turned away from the story. Pathetic. I hope the media that remains has enough soul to see how completely embarrassing and shameful that was.
Sorry, my friend. You will NEVER be able to put the genie back in the bottle. The news is out, the gig is up… they finally found you.
THAT is the whole point of Media Malpractice.
Eagerly awaiting the New Hollywood.
The more I hear from Ziegler, the more frustrated and irritated with him I get. One could take his foolish sentiment about colleges and use it against him when he started his “Media Malpractice” project. The media is “all so liberal you won’t get a fair shake so why bother?”
Ziegler saw a way to make a name for himself among conservatives by attaching himself to Sarah Palin, he jumped at the chance and was successful doing so. His comments above, however, tell me he has no interest in actually doing something that might change the liberal culture that dominates colleges, universities, film festivals and the media. That explains why he goes out of his way to pick a fight whenever he accepts an interview with a mainstream news outlet – hence my post at Modern Conservative: “John Ziegler’s itching for a fight.”
And what is with the shot at the right-wing media?!? If it weren’t for the Right-wing media Ziegler wouldn’t have a radio show right now. That comment is nothing but a clear example of projection.
Regarding whether or not the Left-wing dominated culture will change, it will never happen with people like John who surrenders before he even began to fight. I can see why. Without it, he has nothing to rage against. It’s kind of like the oncologist who devotes his career to treating cancer, who never wants to see a cure, because he might go out of business.
For those who want to take on the Left-wing dominated culture, I would simply quote Churchill: “Never give in–never, never, never, never, in nothing great or small, large or petty, never give in except to convictions of honour and good sense. Never yield to force; never yield to the apparently overwhelming might of the enemy.”
As the Director of Campus Programs for The Culture Alliance I look forward to doing the work Ziegler won’t, i.e., taking his movie into Journalism schools and starting that discussion. Like the prophet for whom I’m named, why should I fear going into the lion’s den, I have God on my side.
Where is a fair and objective Michael Moore when we need to teach phony liberals about Hypocrites?The media has a 8 percent favorable rating..Hey Madison what about your friend Hugo Chavez?Where is your state run media?LMAO