Media Research Center
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The Media Research Center (MRC) was founded in 1987 by L. Brent Bozell III. According to its website, its mission is "to bring balance and responsibility to the news media. Leaders of America's conservative movement have long insisted that within the national news media a strident liberal bias existed that influenced the public's understanding of critical issues. On October 1, 1987, a group of conservatives set out to not only to prove - using selective scientific research - that liberal bias in the media does exist and undermines traditional American values, but also to attempt to make sure that if Liberal bias was present that they could neutralise it with their own Conservative bias. What they launched that fall is the now acclaimed (by Conservatives) --- Media Research Center (MRC)." MRC documents what it claims is widespread liberal media bias in the American press.
On June 16, 1998, the MRC founded the Conservative News Service, since renamed CNSNews.com (alternatively, the Cybercast News Service), whose role was ostensibly to be a balanced source of news by covering stories that more mainstream news organizations ignored. CNSNews.com provides news articles for Townhall.com and other conservative websites for a subscription fee. Its leadership consists of President Brent Bozell, Executive Editor Scott Hogenson, and Managing Editor David Thibault.
In July of 2002, MRC and affiliate Parent's Television Council (PTC) paid an out-of-court settlement ending a lawsuit which had been launched by World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) in November of 2000. The WWE alleged 13 instances of defamation, copyright infringement and interference with prospective business relations after PTC produced a fundraising video using unauthorized WWE footage, falsely claimed WWE was responsible for the murders of four children, and falsely claimed advertisers had pulled their commercials from the show. MRC paid $3.5 million.[1] (http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A41628-2002Jul8?language=printer)
MRC and PTC President Brent Bozell wrote in a lengthy public statement that "It was wrong to have stated or implied that the WWE or any of its programs caused these tragic deaths." [2] (http://www.philly.com/mld/miamiherald/sports/wrestling/3601388.htm?1c)
See also
External links
- Official website (http://www.mediaresearch.org/)
- Source Watch's (formerly Disinfopedia) entry on Media Research Center (http://www.disinfopedia.org/wiki.phtml?title=Media_Research_Center)
- CNSNews.com (http://www.cnsnews.com/)