Waging War on the Press?

In The Nation, two media critics compile a case against "Bush's War on the Press" and for a national shield law for journalists. On a related note, also check out Eric Alterman on the ongoing remodeling over at PBS.

With the November resignation of Moyers's nemesis, Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) board chair Ken Tomlinson, amid charges of personal and political wrongdoing and a host of other recent developments, it becomes increasingly clear that this White House is doing battle with the journalistic underpinnings of democracy. To be sure, every administration has tried to manipulate the nation's media system. Bill Clinton's wrongheaded support for the Telecommunications Act of 1996 cleared the way for George W. Bush's attempts to give media companies the power to create ever larger and more irresponsible monopolies. But with its unprecedented campaign to undermine and, where possible, eliminate independent journalism, the Bush Administration had demonstrated astonishing contempt for the Constitution and considerable fear of an informed public. Consider the bill of particulars...