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A Writer's Work
First-time author and 19-year-old Harvard University sophomore Kaavya Viswanathan's book has been pulled from shelves by its publisher, amid a plagiarism scandal. 5/2/06

'United 93'
The first in a series of films about the 9/11 terrorist attacks premiers with the release of "United 93." Two film experts discuss the movie and whether the American public is ready to relive the attacks. 4/28/06

At the Podium
President Bush named conservative commentator and former speechwriter Tony Snow to be his new press secretary. 4/26/06

Media Muscle
The Spanish-language media played a prominent role in the recent immigration protests. Jeffrey Brown discusses the growing clout of the Latino media with two guests. 4/11/06

Couric Heads to CBS
NBC's Katie Couric marked her 15th anniversary as co-host of the "Today" show by acknowledging she will be leaving to take the helm of CBS's "Evening News". 4/5/06

Set Free
American reporter Jill Carroll was released Thursday after nearly three months in captivity in Iraq. 3/30/06

'Death Is on Hold'
Eighty-year-old Pulitzer Prize-winning columnist Art Buchwald recently made public his decision to forego dialysis that could possibly prolong his life, at what he considers too burdensome a cost. 3/28/06

FCC Slaps Record Fines on CBS
In a government crackdown on indecency, the FCC has fined dozens of CBS stations over $3.6 million dollars for an episode of ''Without a Trace.'' 3/16/06

A Newspaper Deal
McClatchy Co. agreed to buy Knight-Ridder Inc., the second largest U.S. newspaper publisher, for about $4.5 billion in cash and stock. 3/13/06

A Look into the Past
The Birmingham News in Alabama recently published for the first time a set of powerful protest and demonstration photos taken during the civil rights era. 3/2/06

Controversial Cartoons
U.S. news organizations are split over whether to publish cartoons depicting the Prophet Muhammad that sparked protests across the Muslim world. 2/9/06

Covering Pakistan
The NewsHour recently aired a report by Dan Rivers of Independent Television News on earthquake survivors in a Pakistani village. Rivers talks about the process of putting together his report and the outpouring of viewer mail it generated. 2/3/06

In the Line of Fire
ABC News anchor Bob Woodruff was hospitalized in Germany Monday after his convoy hit a roadside bomb in Iraq. Cameraman Doug Vogt also was injured. 1/30/06

Oprah's Offensive
Embarrassed by her defense of James Frey, who made up parts of his best selling memoir, "A Million Little Pieces," Oprah Winfrey openly lectured the author for lying to her and the general public. 1/27/06

Google in China
Google has agreed to censor its search engine in China. In return for blocking politically sensitive terms, Google gains access to the world's No. 2 Internet market. 1/25/06

Online Offline
The Washington Post's Web site recently shut down the viewer comments section of one of its weblogs after an article by the Post's ombudsman caused a flood of complaints. 1/24/06

Google's Privacy Fight
Two guests discuss Google's fight against a government subpoena requesting access to the search records of millions of people. 1/20/06

Missing on Assignment
The abduction of American reporter Jill Carroll has highlighted the dangerous conditions for journalists in Iraq and how that impacts the news received at home. 1/18/06

Telling Stories
Accusations that author James Frey fabricated part of his memoir, "A Million Little Pieces" have raised questions over the burden of truth in the book publishing world. 1/13/06

Media Watch
Two recent news stories -- one dealing with the trapped miners in West Virginia and another on the domestic spying program -- have raised questions about how the media operate. 1/6/06

Video on Demand
Jeffrey Brown reports on video-on-demand technology and how television content can now be watched on a variety of devices, from iPods to cellular phones to computers. 12/29/05

Reporting National Security Secrets
President Bush has criticized The New York Times for publishing stories about domestic monitoring. Jeffrey Brown leads a debate with Scott Armstrong, executive director of Information Trust and James Woolsey, former CIA director. 12/26/05

The Public's Editor
Jeffrey Brown speaks with PBS ombudsman Michael Getler about his latest reports, including on the news magazine NOW and an American Experience program on Las Vegas.12/23/05

Journalism Hot Spots
Some journalists face dangers when reporting in their home countries, including threats from their own governments. The Media Unit profiles two journalists who were honored by the Committee to Protect Journalists. 12/21/05

The Revolution Will Be Googled
The search engine that powers the Internet is now worth more than the Washington Post, New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Disney, Amazon.com, General Motors and Ford combined. 11/30/05

Christian News
Christian-format radio and television, including news programs, have grown rapidly over the past few years, causing some to worry that listeners are getting news with a viewpoint. 11/23/05

Wireless City
Philadelphia is moving toward becoming the first U.S. city of its size to extend wireless broadband access to all its citizens, regardless of income, at below-market prices. 11/22/05

Covering the Washington Beat
Washington Post reporter Bob Woodward revealed Monday that he learned the identity of CIA operative Valerie Plame nearly a month before her identity was disclosed in 2003. 11/17/05

The Rise of Citizen Journalism
The Internet has spawned a new wave of journalists created not by traditional newsrooms, but fueled by citizen participation and interactive technologies. Special correspondent Terence Smith reports. 11/16/05

Former CPB Chairman Draws Fire
An internal review by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting found that former chairman Kenneth Tomlinson used "political tests" to recruit a new board president and was inappropriately involved in the creation of a program on PBS. 11/15/05

Document: The Inspector General's report in PDF (1 Mb)

CIA Leak Case Highlights Shield Law
The recent CIA leak case raises questions about whether a law should exist to shield journalists from revealing sources. 11/2/05

Trouble at the New York Times
A Media Unit update tracks the recent controversy at The New York Times over Judith Miller, a Times reporter involved in the CIA leak case and the author of articles containing erroneous information about weapons of mass destruction. 10/24/05

Miller and the New York Times
Two weeks after Judith Miller ended her more than 80 days in jail and testified before a grand jury investigating the leak into the name of a covert CIA operative, the New York Times Sunday printed a 5,500-word story detailing their reporter's involvement in the case. 10/17/05

A New Take on Murrow v. McCarthy
Jeffrey Brown talks with actor and director George Clooney about his new movie that captures the story of journalist Edward R. Murrow. 10/6/05

Jailed Journalist Testifies
New York Times reporter Judith Miller testified in front of a grand jury on the leak of a CIA operative's name. Following a background report, Washington Post reporter Carol Leonnig talks about Miller's testimony. 9/30/05

Conversation: 'Night Draws Near'
Anthony Shadid, Middle East correspondent for the Washington Post and Pulitzer Prize winner, talks about his book "Night Draws Near: Iraq's People in the Shadow of America's War" and the challenges of reporting in Iraq. 9/30/05

Coverage of Katrina Faces New Scrutiny
Following the landfall of Hurricane Katrina, the nation's media descended on the flooded and chaotic scene along the Gulf Coast, reporting on suspected anarchy and rapes in New Orleans and taking a hostile skepticism into interviews with government officials. 9/29/05

Conversation: Victor Navasky
Victor Navasky, editor of The Nation, discusses his new book, "A Matter of Opinion" and the role of opinion journals in the media. 8/17/05

Publishing Pioneer
The NewsHour remembers publishing tycoon John Johnson, founder of Ebony and Jet magazines, who died of congestive heart failure in Chicago at 87 years old. 8/9/05

Remembering Peter Jennings
Jim Lehrer talks to former NBC News anchor Tom Brokaw about his friend and former rival, ABC anchor and senior editor Peter Jennings, who died of lung cancer in his New York home on Sunday. 8/8/05

The Kremlin and ABC
The Russian government has threatened to deny visas and press credentials to any reporter working for the ABC News after the American television network broadcast an interview with a Chechan militant leader. 8/5/05

Conversation: Oral Histories
Authors Studs Terkel and Alex Kotlowitz discuss their work capturing the oral histories of average men and women in Chicago. 8/3/05

Terror Online
The recent bombing attacks in London and the continuing use of Internet sites by insurgents in Iraq are two examples of what many say is a growing trend of terrorists using the Internet and other digital technology to recruit new members, broadcast their messages and even run operations. 8/2/05

Pay-to-Play
New York Attorney General Eliot Spitzer announced Monday that Sony BMG Music Entertainment will pay $10 million in fines in a radio payola case. Ray Suarez discusses the use of bribes in the radio industry with a media professor. 7/26/05

Media Relations
The White House press corps applied pressure this week on administration mouthpiece Scott McClellan to explain prior assertions that presidential adviser Karl Rove had no involvement in the CIA leak case. Terence Smith examines the relationship between the media and the Bush White House. 7/13/05

Public Broadcasting Funding
A Senate subcommittee held hearings Monday on the future of funding for the Corporation of Public Broadcasting and alleged biases in PBS programming. 7/11/05

Protecting Anonymous Sources
A federal judge sentenced New York Times reporter Judith Miller to jail Wednesday for refusing to divulge her source to a grand jury investigating the administration's leak of a CIA operative's identity. Two media experts analyze the sentencing and what it could mean for journalists and their anonymous sources. 7/6/05
Online Report: Testing Press Privilege in the CIA Leak Case

Journalists and the Law
Two journalists are facing jail time and four more could be held in contempt of court for refusing to reveal anonymous sources in grand jury testimony. Experts discuss the cases and the effect it may have on reporter-source confidentiality. 6/29/05
Online Report: Testing Press Privilege in the CIA Leak Case

Under Pressure
PBS supporters and members of Congress came out to Capitol Hill Tuesday to protest proposed cuts in federal funding for public broadcasting, even as some continue to criticize the network as too liberal. 6/21/05

'Writing' Wrongs
Daniel Okrent, former ombudsman of The New York Times and Michael Getler, ombudsman of The Washington Post, discuss the public’s perception of the media and the controversial issues that their papers have confronted. 6/8/05

Online Special Report: Credibility in Question

Essay: Who's a Journalist?
Essayist Clarence Page of the Chicago Tribune considers who is and who is not a journalist. 6/7/05

Online Special Report: Credibility in Question

News on Demand
News organizations are rolling out new media technologies that allow people to get their news in different ways and decide how, when and where they want to receive it. 6/6/05
Extended Interviews:
Brian Gilmore of the News Journal; Backfence.com founders; and Kinsley Wilson of USATODAY.com

Ben Bradlee Reflects on Watergate
Former executive editor of The Washington Post Ben Bradlee discusses the paper's decision to confirm Deep Throat's identity, the confidentiality agreement with Felt and Felt's decision to speak with Woodward and Bernstein. 6/2/05

Deep Throat Reflections
In the wake of W. Mark Felt's admission that he was the source for much of the Watergate information, analysts debate how knowing the source's identity will impact how we remember Watergate. 6/1/05

Deep Throat Revealed
The Washington Post on Tuesday confirmed that former FBI official W. Mark Felt is Deep Throat, the famous anonymous source who leaked secrets about President Nixon's Watergate cover-up to the Post and helped bring down the Nixon presidency in 1974.

Jeffrey Brown speaks with John D. O'Connor, author of the Vanity Fair article, and Michael Putzel, former Associated Press Watergate correspondent, and David Gergen, a professor at Harvard's Kennedy School of Government, about what is now known about Deep Throat's once mysterious identity. 5/31/05

Newsweek Under Fire
Jeffrey Brown speaks with Newsweek editor Mark Whitaker about the magazine's decision to retract the flawed Quran report. Brown then speaks with two experts about the news media's use of anonymous sources. 5/16/05

Government "News"
A Senate panel on Thursday held a hearing to consider whether aspects of government-sponsored video news releases should be strictly regulated. Jeffrey Brown examines the debate over the ethics and legality of the government's pre-packaged "news." 5/13/05

World Press Photos
The World Press Photo's exhibition of the best photojournalism of 2004 is now open at the U.N. headquarters in New York and will travel to 85 cities around the world in the coming year. Media correspondent Jeffrey Brown speaks with the organization's managing director about the selection process of the best photographs of 2004. 5/4/05

Free Press
There is a new kind of newspaper war under way -- freely distributed newspapers or "freebies” are popping up in cities across the country. 5/2/05
Extended Interviews:
Dan Caccavaro of Express
Karen DeWitt
of the Examiner
Len Downie Jr. of The Washington Post
John Wilpers of the Examiner

Frozen in Time 4/28/05
In an encore presentation, Terence Smith visits the Bettmann Archive, one of the world's most renowned private collections of historical photographic and graphic images.

Space-Age Radio 3/30/05
Terence Smith takes a closer look at the satellite radio industry and how the two-way competition between XM Radio and Sirius is affecting traditional broadcast radio.
Online Report: Revolutions in Radio


Downloading Debate 3/29/05
The Supreme Court on Tuesday heard arguments in the entertainment industry's case against two Internet file-sharing services, a dispute that could decide whether file-sharing services are liable when their customers use their programs to download copyrighted music and songs.
Online Report: Copyrighting in the Digital Age

The Schiavo Case 3/24/05
The Supreme Court on Thursday refused an emergency appeal to reinsert Terri Schiavo's feeding tube. Terence Smith joins Jim Lehrer to discuss the media coverage and public interest in the case of the severely brain-damaged Florida woman.

Editorial Perspectives: Social Security 3/23/05
As President Bush continues a nationwide campaign to sell his proposals to strengthen the Social Security system, Terence Smith and four editorial page editors assess how Americans are responding to the president's initiatives. Online Report: Social Security Reform

Marketing America 3/16/05
President Bush this week nominated Karen Hughes, one of his closest and most trusted advisers, as undersecretary of state for public diplomacy. Terence Smith and guests discuss her nomination and the progress of the U.S. public diplomacy campaign.
Related Online Reports: Public Diplomacy: Rebranding America (1/21/03); Public Diplomacy: U.S. Outreach to the Arab World (2/18/02)

Troubled Kingdom 3/14/05
The Walt Disney Co. named President Robert Iger as its new chief executive officer, succeeding current CEO Michael Eisner. Eisner steps down one year earlier than expected, bringing to an end his tumultuous, 21 year-tenure as Disney's chief.
Terence Smith discusses the announcement and the future of Disney with NPR reporter Kim Masters, author of "The Keys to the Kingdom: The Rise of Michael Eisner and the Fall of Everybody Else."

Download Debate 3/7/05
Later this month, the Supreme Court will hear a much anticipated copyright case, MGM vs. Grokster, which pits the entertainment industry against the makers of software that allows people to exchange music and movies. Terence Smith provides a report.
Online Special Report: Copyrighting in the Digital Age

Selling Social Security 3/4/05
President Bush jump-started his "60 stops in 60 days" Social Security reform campaign Friday in New Jersey and Indiana. Terence Smith reports on how the Bush administration is trying to sell its Social Security plan.
Online Special Report: Social Security Reform

Powell Unplugged 3/3/05
Michael Powell ends his chairmanship of the Federal Communications Commission this month after four volatile years that included record fines for broadcast indecency and pushing for greater deregulation of media ownership rules.
Online Special Report: Merging Media

Media Watch 2/24/05
Terence Smith discusses recent controversies, including the contempt citations for two journalists in the CIA leak investigation and the latest on James Guckert/Jeff Gannon, the former White House reporter for Talon News and GOPUSA.
Online Special Report: Press Privilege in the CIA Leak Case

Embattled PBS 2/18/05
PBS finds itself in the midst of two controversies -- one involving a children's cartoon and sexuality; the second regarding strong language in a new Frontline documentary about soldiers in Iraq.

The Impact of Bloggers on Journalism 2/14/05
Late Friday night, conservative Web loggers, or bloggers, helped force the resignation of top CNN news executive Eason Jordan over remarks he made at the World Economic Conference in Davos. This, and other recent developments, have experts questioning the impact of Internet bloggers on mainstream journalism.
Online Special Report: Credibility in Question

Picturing Iraq 2/9/05
Terence Smith speaks with two prize-winning photographers about their experiences as female photojournalists covering the conflict in Iraq.

Patriotic Spectacle 2/7/05
The New England Patriots won their third Super Bowl in four years Sunday. Terence Smith speaks with author and sportswriter John Feinstein about the American tradition that is the Super Bowl.

Neglected News 2/4/05
Terence Smith speaks with Nicolas de Torrente, executive director of Doctors Without Borders in the United States, about the most underreported stories of 2004 and why he believes the press did not give substantial attention to these international crises.

Paying for Plugs 1/27/05
Gwen Ifill speaks with columnists and a media expert about the recent cases in which writers received federal funding for work related to the promotion of Bush administration proposals.
Online Forum: Media Ethics

Online Special Report: Credibility in Question

Presidents in Focus 1/21/05
Terence Smith speaks with historian Michael Beschloss about a new National Archives exhibit of rarely seen presidential photographs. Online Slideshow: Presidential Photos

Setting the Tone 1/18/05
Terence Smith looks at how U.S. presidents have used the coverage of their inaugurations to help set the tone and style of their administrations. Online Report: Inauguration 2005

Credibility Gap 1/13/05
Terence Smith leads a discussion on how numerous media scandals and lapses in journalistic judgment impact the public's perception of the news media.
Online Forum: Media Ethics

Online Special Report: Credibility in Question

CBS' Black Eye 1/10/05
Terence Smith discusses what went wrong in the 60 Minutes report with the authors of the review, Louis Boccardi and Richard Thornburgh, and then speaks with Linda Mason, CBS' newly appointed senior vice president of standards and special projects, about what changes the network will make.

Talking Libel 12/16/04
Terence Smith leads a debate about a Massachusetts' judge defamation and libel lawsuit against the Boston Herald and its broader implications for reporters appearing on television.

Street News 12/15/04
Across the country, homeless people are working for newspapers that deliver news about life on the street. Terence Smith looks at the challenges behind the Washington, D.C. paper, Street Sense.

Reporter's Privilege 12/8/04
New York Times reporter Judith Miller and Time magazine's Matthew Cooper appeared in a U.S. appeals court to challenge contempt of court convictions that could send them to jail for up to 18 months.
Online Report: Testing Press Privilege in the CIA Leak Case

Anchor Changes 11/23/04
Terence Smith discusses the departures of CBS News' Dan Rather and NBC News' Tom Brokaw and the future of nightly newscasts with Ken Auletta, who covers the media industry for the New Yorker magazine.

Cabinet Resignations 11/15/04
Terence Smith speaks with two White House correspondents about the wave of Cabinet resignations to hit the Bush administration and its ramifications for the president's second term.

What Went Wrong? 11/5/04
Warren Mitofsky, co-director of the National Election Pool, discusses why the exit polls in the presidential election were so misleading. Online Report: Covering the Campaign

Calling the Race 11/1/04
Terence Smith and news executives discuss the reporting difficulties of the 2000 presidential election and how election night coverage will be different this year. Online Report: Vote 2004: Covering the Campaign

Ad Wars in Battleground States 10/28/04
With less than a week until Election Day, dueling political advertisements are flooding the airwaves in key battleground states. Two experts discuss the ongoing ad war.

Online Report: Vote 2004: Ad Watch
Online Forum: Political Advertising

Fact Checking 10/21/04
News outlets are conducting their own analysis to verify the accuracy of politicians' statements. Terence Smith examines the benefits and risks of fact-checking for the news consumer.
Online Report: Vote 2004: Covering the Campaign

Embattled Beat 10/13/04
Reporters discuss the increasing challenges in covering the news in Iraq as violence continues in the embattled country.
Online Report: The Media and Postwar Iraq

News or Views? 10/12/04
Terence Smith leads a debate over Sinclair Broadcast Group's decision to preempt regular programming to air a documentary critical of Senator Kerry days before Election Day.
Online Report: Vote 2004: Covering the Campaign

Blurring the Lines 10/7/04
Terence Smith examines the melding of politics and entertainment in this election season and its consequences.
Online Report: Vote 2004: Covering the Campaign

Indecent Exposure 9/23/04
Terence Smith leads a debate over whether the government should enact tougher laws against over-the-air programming deemed indecent.

Air Wars 9/22/04
With nearly six weeks until Election Day, Sen. John Kerry and President Bush have waged the most expensive advertising war in presidential campaign history. Terence Smith examines the overall themes of the candidates' advertisements and their respective media strategies. 9/22/04
Online Report: Vote 2004: Ad Watch
Online Forum: Political Advertising

CBS Admits it Erred in Report 9/20/04
CBS News on Monday said that the network was misled over the origin and authenticity of documents and expressed deep regret for using the documents in the 60 Minutes report.
Online Report: Vote 2004: Covering the Campaign

CBS Questions Memos' Authenticity 9/16/04
CBS News anchor Dan Rather acknowledged Wednesday night the controversial memos used in a 60 Minutes report questioning President Bush's National Guard record may be suspect. Terence Smith speaks with Ken Auletta, media columnist for the New Yorker, and Susan Tifft, a professor of journalism and public policy at Duke University, about the network's handling of the controversy.
Online Report: Vote 2004: Covering the Campaign

Fact Check: Campaign Speeches 9/15/04
Brooks Jackson, director of FactCheck.org, evaluates the accuracy of the claims made in several of President Bush's and Sen. John Kerry's campaign speeches.

Online
Report: Vote 2004: Covering the Campaign

Parsing the Polls 9/10/04
Two recent polls showed President Bush with a double-digit lead over Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., while others had the two contenders in a statistical dead heat. A columnist and pollster discuss how voters should view the divergent surveys.

William F. Buckley, Jr. 9/8/04
At the age of 78, William F. Buckley Jr. has recently stepped down from his role as editor of the National Review, the conservative magazine he founded nearly a half-century ago.
Extended Interview: Wiliam F. Buckley

The President: By the Numbers 9/2/04
RealAudio: On the final night of the GOP convention, Terence Smith speaks with Andrew Kohut, president of the Pew Research Center, about the latest polls on the public's image of President Bush and why the president's ratings have shown some improvement over the last few weeks.
Online Report: Vote 2004: Covering the Campaign

The Running Mate 9/1/04
Andrew Kohut, president of the Pew Research Center, examines what recent polls indicate about Dick Cheney's favorability rating among all voters, and from whom the vice president enjoys his strongest support.
Online Report: Vote 2004: Covering the Campaign

Public Opinion of the Economy 8/31/04
A recent poll from the Pew Research Center indicates that voters are largely dissatisfied with economic conditions, despite new figures showing improved growth. Terence Smith examines the political implications of the study and how public perception of President Bush's handling of the economy could affect the results of the 2004 election.

Republican Profile: The Delegates 8/30/04
RealAudio: Who are the Republicans? What are the attitudes and demographics of both the delegates inside Madison Square Garden this week and Republicans nationwide? Terence Smith talks with Andrew Kohut, president of the Pew Research Center, about the current and historical polling data providing a comprehensive picture of the Republican party.
Online Report: Vote 2004: Covering the Campaign

Crashing the Party 8/27/04
Terence Smith looks at the influential role of 527s in this year's presidential campaign and why these groups are able to circumvent FEC oversight and the 2002 campaign finance law.
Online Report: Vote 2004: Ad Watch

Hindsight 8/18/04
Terence Smith examines the media's performance in covering the run up to the Iraq war and why news organizations are beginning to publicly question their own reporting. Online Report: Investigating Prewar Intelligence: Media Coverage

Protecting Sources 8/11/04
A federal judge held Time magazine reporter Matthew Cooper in contempt of court on Monday for refusing to testify before a grand jury investigating whether White House sources illegally revealed the identity of clandestine CIA officer Valerie Plame to certain journalists. Terence Smith discusses the merits of a prosecutor's right to subpoena reporters in criminal grand jury investigations and a journalist's privilege to protect the identities of confidential sources with former U.S. attorney Joseph DiGenova and First Amendment lawyer Floyd Abrams, counsel for Cooper and Time magazine.

News Divisions 8/3/04
A recent Pew Center poll of Americans' news habits shows the stark electoral split in the country has filtered into how news consumers choose certain news sources over others.
Online Report: Vote 2004: Covering the Campaign

By the Numbers 7/29/04
Thursday’s nomination acceptance speech is the most anticipated element of the convention and arguably the most important speech of Sen. John Kerry’s political career. Terence Smith speaks with Andrew Kohut, director of the Pew Research Center for the People and the Press, about what issues polls show undecided voters would like Kerry to address.
Online Report: Democratic National Convention

Delegates' Profile 7/26/04
Terence Smith profiles the Democratic delegates with Andrew Kohut, director of the Pew Research Center for the People and the Press, which recently conducted a comprehensive survey of the convention delegates.
Online Report: Democratic National Convention

Campaign Ad Wars 7/19/04
Voters in key battleground states have been inundated by campaign ads, according to a new study from the Wisconsin Advertising Project at the University of Wisconsin in Madison. Terence Smith speaks with Ken Goldstein, director of the University of Wisconsin Advertising Project, about what the data suggests about the Kerry and Bush campaigns' media strategies.
Online Report: Vote 2004: Ad Watch

Public Perception 7/16/04
How does the public shape its opinions of the presidential candidates? Tom Rosenstiel, director of the Project for Excellence in Journalism, discusses the dominant images of the candidates at this point in the campaign.
Online Report: Vote 2004: Ad Watch

The Plame Game 7/8/04
First Amendment attorneys went to court to ask a judge to quash the subpoenas served to journalists who allegedly received a leak from White House officials about the identity of a clandestine CIA agent.

Reel Politics 6/25/04
The Michael Moore film "Fahrenheit 9/11" opened today to heated debate about its tactics and tone. Critics discuss the feverish reception to the politically charged film.

A Traveler's Guide 6/23/04
Jim Carrier, an award-winning journalist and author, discusses his book, "A Traveler's Guide to the Civil Rights Movement," with Terence Smith.

Political Air Wars 6/22/04
Terence Smith speaks with Brooks Jackson of FactCheck.org about the latest non-candidate ads from independent advocacy groups, known as 527s, and other political organizations.
Online Report:
Vote 2004: Ad Watch

History Preserved 6/10/04
Terence Smith visits the Bettmann Archive, one of the world's most renowned private collections of historical photographic and graphic images, and explores the arduous process of preserving delicate historic images.

Campaign Ad Wars 6/2/04
Terence Smith speaks with Brooks Jackson, director of FactCheck.org of the Annenberg Public Policy Center of the University of Pennsylvania, about the ads and the veracity of claims from the Bush and Kerry campaigns.

Online Report:
Vote 2004: Ad Watch

Flawed Reporting 5/26/04
The New York Times on Wednesday published a critique of its reporting on Iraq's alleged weapons of mass destruction, and the editorial board admitted its coverage relied too heavily on suspect intelligence sources. Susan Moeller, a journalism professor at the University of Maryland, and Tom Rosenstiel, director of the Project for Excellence in Journalism, which, like the NewsHour's Media Unit, is funded by the Pew Charitable Trusts, discuss the Times' self-assessment.

Producer's View 5/25/04
Don Hewitt, the founder and executive producer of 60 Minutes, is stepping down after 36 years of heading the longest-running primetime news television show and most successful TV newsmagazine of all time. Hewitt speaks with Terence Smith about how the news business has changed during his tenure at the TV news magazine.
Extended Interview: Don Hewitt

Online Report: The Big Three News Magazines

New Details 5/21/04
New images and sworn statements came to light Friday in the Iraqi prisoner abuse scandal. Terence Smith talks to The Washington Post's Leonard Downie about the new evidence of abuse and the paper's decision to publish the photos.Online Report: The Media and Postwar Iraq

Neglected Stories 5/14/04
The United Nations recently released a list of the top ten news stories that need more regular attention are rarely reported. Terence Smith reviews the list with Shashi Tharoor, the U.N. undersecretary general for communications and public information.

Casualties of War 4/30/04
On ABC's Nightline, Ted Koppel read the names of all of the U.S. troops who have died in Iraq, but viewers of seven ABC stations owned by Sinclair Broadcasting will not able to see it. Terence Smith explores Sinclair's decision not to air the broadcast, which its executives say is politically motivated.

Photo Dispute 4/23/04
The Pentagon's ban on media coverage of the return of fallen service members was broken twice this week, reviving the debate over the Pentagon's prohibition on photos of the repatriation of the war dead.

Dangerous Assignment 4/22/04
Terence Smith discusses the hazardous reporting conditions in Iraq with John Burns, chief foreign correspondent and Baghdad bureau chief of The New York Times, and Eason Jordan, executive vice president and chief news executive for CNN.

Plan of Attack 4/21/04
Washington Post reporter Bob Woodward discusses his new book, "Plan of Attack," and his unprecedented access to President Bush and senior officials in the famously tight-lipped administration.

Breach of Trust 4/21/04
The editor of USA Today, the nation's largest-circulation newspaper, retired Tuesday in the wake of a scandal involving the paper's former star foreign correspondent, Jack Kelley.

Editorial Reaction 4/15/04
Editorial page editors discuss the Pentagon's decision to extend the tours of duty for some 21,000 troops to help deal with the rising anti-occupation violence in Iraq and other developments in the country. Online Report: The New Iraq

A New Voice: Al Hurra 4/15/04
To counter what U.S. officials consider as an anti-American slant in some Arab media, the government has launched Al Hurra, a new satellite television channel broadcast to the Arab and Muslim world. Online Report: The Media and Postwar Iraq

Hidden Truth 4/2/04
The Toledo Blade published a series of reports last October that detailed the largest case of alleged war crimes committed by an American unit, known as the Tiger Force, during the Vietnam War. Terence Smith examines why the media largely overlooked the Blade's explosive findings.

In Memoriam: Alistair Cooke 3/30/04
Alistair Cooke, a broadcasting legend on both shores of the Atlantic, died at the age of 95 in New York City. Cooke reported his radio program Letter from America each week for 58 years on the BBC, and American audiences knew Cooke as the host of Masterpiece Theatre on PBS. Terence Smith looks back at Cooke's life and legendary career.

Fallout From Clarke 3/29/04
Editorial page editors discuss the public's reaction to former White House counterterrorism chief Richard Clarke's criticisms against the Bush administration's anti-terror policy and its war against Iraq.

Breach of Trust 3/22/04
USA Today reported Friday that its former foreign correspondent Jack Kelley likely fabricated substantial portions of at least eight stories. Terence Smith looks at how newsrooms are responding to cases of journalistic misconduct.

Troubled Kingdom 3/3/04
Walt Disney Company shareholders cast the future of longtime Chief Executive Michael Eisner into doubt when more than 40 percent declined to support his reelection to the company's board. Terence Smith takes a look behind the scenes of Disney's boardroom battle with media analyst Tom Wolzien.

Under the Radar 3/2/04
While the national media have concentrated on the Democratic presidential candidates, the Bush campaign has been quietly working on building a sophisticated database of supporters to assist the campaign in finely targeting issue-based appeals. SPECIAL REPORT: Vote 2004, Media Analysis & Ad Watch

Campaign Cyber Ads 2/20/04
Terence Smith discusses the strategy of Web-based political ads and the unique advantages of the Internet for campaign communications with Jonah Seiger, an Internet communications strategist and visiting fellow at George Washington University, and Ken Goldstein, a political science professor at the University of Wisconsin who also works with the Wisconsin Advertising Project. SPECIAL REPORT: Vote 2004, Media Analysis & Ad Watch

Comcast Makes Unsolicited Bid For Disney 2/12/04
Jim Lehrer and media experts discuss the implications of a potential Comcast-Disney union and whether the federal government should try to intercept a merger between cable operators and content providers. SPECIAL REPORT: Merging Media

Indecency on Air 2/11/04
In the wake of the now-infamous Super Bowl halftime show, the head of the Federal Communication Commission testified before Congress about how to tackle public indecency on broadcast television.

Point, Click, Vote 2/6/04
Democratic voters in Michigan will participate in the largest and most ambitious Internet voting experiment in the United States to date. Terence Smith looks at the debate over Michigan's online voting system. SPECIAL REPORT: Vote 2004: Media Analysis & Ad Watch

The Rose Man of Sing Sing 2/4/04
Historian James McGrath Morris discusses his new book, “The Rose Man of Sing Sing," a chronicle of the life and times of early 20th century newspaper editor Charles Chapin, a founding father of the 24-hour news cycle.

Going Wholesale 2/3/04
With voters in seven states heading to the polls and caucuses on the same date, many Democratic presidential candidates chose to leave quaint campaign practices behind in Iowa and New Hampshire and take to the airwaves. Terence Smith examines the candidates' latest campaign television commercials. ONLINE SPECIAL REPORT: Vote 2004: Media Analysis & Ad Watch

The Hutton Report 1/28/04
British judge Brian Hutton issued his long-awaited report on the death of David Kelly, an expert on Iraqi weapons. Terence Smith examines the impact of the Hutton report on the British Broadcasting Corporation and Prime Minister Tony Blair.

Candid Coverage 1/16/04
Terence Smith goes to Iowa for a closer look at the new methods used by broadcasters to cover the 2004 presidential campaigns, and how it is affecting the ways in which the candidates campaign. ONLINE SPECIAL REPORT: Vote 2004

You've Got E-Mail 12/24/03
E-mail, now used by some 90 million Americans on a daily basis, is changing the way people communicate and interact with one another. In an encore presentation, Terence Smith reports on e-mail and its effect on American culture.

On the Streets 12/15/03
Terence Smith speaks with Time magazine correspondent Brian Bennett in Baghdad about Iraqis' reaction to the capture of Saddam Hussein. ONLINE SPECIAL: Media Coverage of Iraq

Central Casting 12/11/03
A look at a new and controversial approach to delivering local news developed by the Sinclair Broadcast Group, the nation's largest operator of independent television stations -- and whether it's the wave of the future. ONLINE SPECIAL: Merging Media

Gay Marriage? 12/4/03
Massachusetts' highest court last month ruled that a state's ban on same-sex marriage was unconstitutional, elevating the debate over gay marriage to the national stage -- just in time for the 2004 election. Editorial page editors offer diverse opinions on the issue.

Gays in TV 11/19/03
Terence Smith examines the proliferation -- and popularity -- of gay and lesbian-oriented television shows, and what this new trend in American television suggests about public attitudes toward homosexuality.

Tabloid Backlash? 11/14/03
In light of the current rape trial of basketball star Kobe Bryant, Terence Smith examines the ubiquity of tabloid-style journalism and its impact on mainstream coverage.

CBS Pulls Miniseries 11/4/03
After weeks of rumors that the upcoming CBS miniseries presents an unflattering portrait of former President Reagan and his wife Nancy, the network announced that it will not air the broadcast.

Deadlines Past 10/29/03
Walter Mears, a former Associated Press reporter, discusses his career covering 11 presidential campaigns, and how political journalism and the news business has changed over the last 40 years.

Digital News 10/24/03
Terence Smith examines the growing trend of electronic newsprint editions, and how newspaper publishers are working to keep pace with changing technologies.

Poll Mania 10/15/03
Terence Smith looks at the increasing prevalence of polling in contemporary journalism, and whether surveys excessively shape the news and public opinion themselves.

The Right Talk 10/13/03
Terence Smith explores the success of conservative talk radio shows and the failure of liberal programs, and talk radio's increasing importance in politics. ONLINE SPECIAL: The Right Talk

Merger: NBC Vivendi 10/8/03
General Electric Company and Paris-based Vivendi Universal announced today that they had reached a final agreement to merge the French company’s U.S. entertainment assets with GE’s television network NBC.
ONLINE SPECIAL: Merging Media

Naked in Baghdad 10/7/03
NPR correspondent Anne Garrels shares her unique experiences as one of the few non-embedded journalists who stayed in Baghdad during the Iraq war, and other stories from her recently published memoir, Naked in Baghdad.
ONLINE SPECIAL: Media Coverage of the Iraq War

Recall Revelations 10/3/03
Two California columnists examine how the sexual misconduct allegations may effect Republican candidate Arnold Schwarzenegger’s chances in winning the gubernatorial recall race.

ONLINE SPECIAL: The Recall of Gray Davis

In the Shadows 9/30/03
Terence Smith leads a discussion about the alleged leak of the identity of a covert CIA agent to at least six journalists, and the decision of syndicated newspaper columnist Robert Novak to report it.

Changing the Game 9/19/03
Big money is changing the presentation of sports on television, and in some cases, the sports themselves.
Extended Interviews:
CBS Sports President Sean McManus and ESPN/ABC Sports President George Bodenheimer

Rewriting the Rules 9/16/03
Terence Smith looks at the various legislative methods Congress is pursuing to undo all or elements of the new FCC rules, and considers the Senate-approved resolution's prospects in the House and the White House.

Blair's Defense 8/28/03
British Prime Minister Tony Blair responds to BBC claims that weapons inspector Dr. David Kelly was the source for reports that the British government manipulated intelligence on Iraq's weapons of mass destruction.

Editors' Views 8/21/03
Terence Smith gauges the public's response to the rising attacks on U.S. troops, and whether the Bush administration should seek more help from the United Nations with four editorial page editors.

Naming the Accuser 8/8/03
Terence Smith discusses whether media organizations should make public the name of the accuser in stories about rape cases with Geneva Overholser, a professor at the University of Missouri, and Catherine Crier, an anchor and executive editor at Court TV.

Campaigning Online 8/5/03
Terence Smith examines Democratic presidential contender Howard Dean's success at building grassroots support in cyberspace and how other presidential candidates are using the Internet to their advantage.

Policing the Press 7/31/03
Terence Smith discusses the recent changes at The New York Times with Joann Byrd, a member of the Siegal committee that examined The Times's newsroom policies, and Susan Tifft, a journalism professor at Duke University.

Elusive Weapons 7/2/03
Terence Smith discusses the importance of the thus far unsuccessful search for weapons of mass destruction in Iraq with four editorial page writers from across the country.

Russian Media Crackdown 7/1/03
Terence Smith discusses the recent closure of TVS and the Russian parliament's proposed bill to restrict press coverage of the upcoming elections with Ellen Mickiewicz, a professor and Russian media expert from Duke University and Yevgeny Kiselyov, the former editor-in-chief of TVS.

Editorial Views on Affirmative Action 6/24/03
Four editorial page editors assess the public's response to the Supreme Court's landmark affirmative action decisions.

Spam Wars 6/20/03
Junk e-mail, known commonly as spam, continues to flood inboxes throughout the country. Terence Smith examines the continued effort to stop unwanted e-mail.

Beaming Back 6/19/03
Saul Gonzalez of KCET of Los Angeles reports on National Iranian Television, or NITV, broadcast from California, which Iranian officials have blamed for inciting the recent unrest in that country.

Multimedia Appeal 6/18/03
News and entertainment outlets are competing for the first interview with rescued prisoner of war Jessica Lynch. Terence Smith reports on CBS's multimedia plan to tell Private Lynch's story. Then, Ray Suarez follows up with Tammy Haddad, a media consultant and radio host, and Tom Wolzien, a senior media analyst at Sanford C. Bernstein Co.

Making a Free Press 6/17/03
Terence Smith gets an update on efforts to create a free press in Iraq and a view of the current changes in the Iraqi media from Deborah Amos, an NPR News correspondent reporting from Baghdad, and David Hoffman, president of the Internews Network.

In Memoriam: David Brinkley 6/12/03

Terence Smith and former NewsHour co-anchor Robert MacNeil reflect on Brinkley's life, his career and the indelible mark he left on journalism.

Saving Private Lynch 6/10/03

Terence Smith discusses whether the American media too willingly accepted the story of the rescue of Private Jes