Bhaskar Menon, Editor, UNDiplomatic Times
Bhaskar Menon, who has worked both within the UN and parallel to it for 35 years, and who produces a paper pointedly called "UNDiplomatic Times," felt able to give an inside/outside perspective of the UN and the media. He feels that the United Nations gets a bad press because the issues it deals with are seldom reported, and consequently people are ignorant of the importance of its work. Sometimes there is a deliberate distortion by journalists, reflecting national and cultural prejudices. However, he also feels that the U.N. itself is incompetent in terms of public relations. He described it as "not proactive, and lethargic in its reactive capacity." Supporters of the U. N. feel that criticism of the institution would only serve to weaken it. Mr. Menon pointed out, however, that criticism can be productive because there is much room for improvement. Reporting more about the U. N., and developing greater awareness on the part of the U. N. on how to deal with the media, could only strengthen and improve the institution.
Danny Schechter, Founder and Executive Director, Media Channel; Founder and Vice-President/Executive Producer, Globalvision, Inc.
Mr. Schechter followed up on Mr. Menon's remarks by stating that a closet would be large enough to hold a conference of reporters who care about the U. N. Young people learn about critical global issues like poverty and Aids through the media, but the media have failed them. The media fell "hook, line and sinker" for the U.S. government claims of weapons of mass destruction in Saddam's Iraq, and even the presidents of major TV networks have admitted that the American people were let down by a policy of deliberate disinformation. How can we have democracy, Mr. Schechter asked, if people are not informed? Four times as many people watch the cartoon channels as watch network news. Students need to be taught media literacy and critical thinking. Mr. Schechter feels so strongly on this point that he has produced a film, Weapons of Mass Deception, which he urged the audience to see (www.wmdthefilm.com).
During the question period that followed this panel, Danny Schechter elaborated on some of his criticism of the media today, which is so deferential to power. Journalists who are critical, from whatever side, are sometimes threatened and even killed.
Matt Davies, Editorial Cartoonist, The Journal News; 2004 Pulitzer Prize and Herblock Prize winner
Matt Davies described his cartoon as a "wiggled down" version of Danny Schechter's fast-paced deluge of words. He gave a hilarious description of how he had become a cartoonist — the red-haired kid at the back of the class who kept on drawing instead of taking notes and always had a problem with authority. He gave credit to a teacher who believed in him, that the creation of effective cartoons requires as much intelligent reading as verbal reports on the current conditions of the world. Cartoons are irreverent, show different perspectives, ask questions, and irritate like a pebble in a shoe. They are anathema to corporate media, although Mr. Davies admitted he is employed by the Gannett organization, which, however, is not one of the giants. "There is this little square that is left, and I am like the angry reader who 'has to write a letter' about what he reads in the paper. I don't write, I draw."
Mr. Davies concluded by saying that he is concerned that the number of cartoonists is declining. There are about 85 salaried editorial cartoonists today as opposed to 150 ten years ago. They are controversial, so when there are budget cuts, "get rid of the cartoonist." He hopes, however, that there is a new generation of cartoonists, and he hopes that some of them are already drawing at the back of the class and have supportive teachers!
Mr. Davies' presentation was concluded with a slide demonstration of some of his personal favorite cartoons. For additional information on the Association of Editorial Cartoonists, of which Mr. Davies is president, and to download material for classroom use, go the website http://info.detnews.com/aaec/.
Special Guest—Walter Cronkite, Special Correspondent, CBS and retired CBS Evening News anchorman
Anne-Marie Carlson, Conference Chair, welcomed Mr. Cronkite and outlined some of his outstanding accomplishments.
Mrs. Carlson stated that during his six decades in journalism Walter Cronkite has covered virtually every major news event at home and abroad and has earned widespread acclaim not only from the general public but also from his colleagues in journalism and from other professionals in politics and business. Best known as the former anchor and managing editor of CBS Evening News, he remains one of this country's most trusted public figures. His reputation for integrity and unflappability was fashioned during World War II when, as a correspondent for United Press, he developed print journalism skills that demanded he get the story "fast, accurate and unbiased."
In addition to World War II, he has covered such history-making events as: the U.S. space program; the assassinations of President John F. Kennedy, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and Senator Robert Kennedy; the Watergate scandal; the hostage crisis in Iran; his landmark interview with Anwar Sadat and Menachem Begin; the Vietnam War; and, more recently, John Glenn's return to space. He is the recipient of this nation's highest civilian award, the Presidential Medal of Freedom, which was presented by President Jimmy Carter. Among the causes he staunchly supports are several of particular interest to those attending this conference: the causes of education, free speech and a free press.
Mrs. Carlson opened her conversation with Mr. Cronkite by asking him to share with the audience one issue that particularly concerns him.
In response, Mr. Cronkite stated that before he addressed her question, he wanted to take the opportunity to disagree with certain of the comments of Danny Schechter. Although he agreed with many of Mr. Schechter's points, he did not agree with the "total picture" portrayed by Mr. Schechter. An example he gave was that Mr. Schechter had characterized the Weapons of Mass Destruction story as a journalistic failure. He felt that the media was misled by those in power.
Returning to Mrs. Carlson's question, he answered that his greatest concern is the arrogance of this administration in the field of foreign policy. It is his opinion that our current policies have made this a much more dangerous world and turned those who once admired us into a "nest of discontent." He contrasted the present situation with the gratitude after World War II that the U. S. had saved Europe from the Nazis, and also made reference to the Marshall Plan. He then referred to Secretary of State Rice's "friendship tour of Europe," and stated that if her purpose is to show that "We are all friends," she will not convince Europeans if we continue with the policy that "We can do whatever we damn please."
The next question posed by Mrs. Carlson concerned the topic: How can the media be encouraged to assign greater priority to covering the critical but often less dramatic contributions of the United Nation? Mr. Cronkite's response was that the question was "turned around." The U.N. itself could hire top-notch public relations people and, when they have a good idea, propagandize it.
He went on to say that the biggest problem in the press today is education. "We are an uneducated people." The market place today requires that publications make money. They cannot make a profit unless they publish what people are interested in. Our problem today is that we have to educate our young people. We need to spend more money to hire and pay teachers. The lack of adequate support for education is one of the great crimes in this country. He then continued by stating, "We need to have an educated public that can run our own democracy." Mr. Cronkite than closed his remarks with a quotation from Thomas Jefferson: "The nation that would be ignorant and free expects what never can and never will be."
Mrs. Carlson closed the session by thanking Mr. Cronkite for his contribution to this conference and announced that in honor of his joining us this afternoon, the Committee on Teaching About the United Nations (CTAUN) was donating a check for $1000 to UNICEF.
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