Jeff Cohen (media critic)
Encyclopedia
Jeff Cohen is a journalist, media critic, professor, and the founder of Fairness & Accuracy In Reporting (FAIR), a media watchdog
group in the US. He was formerly a lawyer for the ACLU
and authored or co-authored five books that criticize media bias, mainly written with Norman Solomon
. He was a regular commentator for Fox News Channel
's Fox News Watch
, for MSNBC
and CNN
, and appears in Outfoxed
, a documentary critical of Fox News.
. He studied law at the People's Law School
in Los Angeles and was admitted to the California Bar
in 1981. Cohen then worked as a journalist in the L.A. area and after law school was a lawyer for the ACLU. Cohen founded FAIR in 1986 and subsequently served as executive director and on the board of directors.
In 2002 Cohen left FAIR to work full-time for MSNBC as senior producer
of Phil Donahue
's show, Donahue
. Previously, he briefly co-hosted CNN's Crossfire
in 1996 and was a regular panelist on FNC's Fox News Watch from 1997 to 2002. Cohen had also been a return commentator at multiple networks.
In 2008, Cohen became the founding director of the Park Center for Independent Media at the Roy H. Park School of Communications
at Ithaca College
where he is an associate professor in the journalism department. He additionally lectures across the country. He was Communications Director for the Kucinich presidential campaign
in 2003. Cohen, with Norman Solomon, wrote the "Media Beat" column syndicated in newspapers across the US, wrote occasionally commentaries in various newspapers, and wrote a column for Brill's Content. He also has written investigative
pieces for Rolling Stone
, New Times, The Nation
, Mother Jones
, and other publications.
Watchdog journalism
Watchdog journalism aims to hold accountable public personalities and institutions, whose functions impact social and political life. The term "lapdog journalism", for journalism biased in favour of personalities and institutions, is sometimes used as a conceptual opposite to watchdog...
group in the US. He was formerly a lawyer for the ACLU
American Civil Liberties Union
The American Civil Liberties Union is a U.S. non-profit organization whose stated mission is "to defend and preserve the individual rights and liberties guaranteed to every person in this country by the Constitution and laws of the United States." It works through litigation, legislation, and...
and authored or co-authored five books that criticize media bias, mainly written with Norman Solomon
Norman Solomon
Norman Solomon is an American journalist, media critic, antiwar activist, and current candidate for the United States House of Representatives. Solomon is a longtime associate of the media watch group Fairness & Accuracy In Reporting...
. He was a regular commentator for Fox News Channel
Fox News Channel
Fox News Channel , often called Fox News, is a cable and satellite television news channel owned by the Fox Entertainment Group, a subsidiary of News Corporation...
's Fox News Watch
Fox News Watch
Fox News Watch is a current events debate program on the Fox News Channel, hosted by Jon Scott.-Format:The show features a panel composed of two conservatives and two liberals, moderated by Scott. Similar in premise to CNN's Reliable Sources, the panel on Fox News Watch discusses how the media...
, for MSNBC
MSNBC
MSNBC is a cable news channel based in the United States available in the US, Germany , South Africa, the Middle East and Canada...
and CNN
CNN
Cable News Network is a U.S. cable news channel founded in 1980 by Ted Turner. Upon its launch, CNN was the first channel to provide 24-hour television news coverage, and the first all-news television channel in the United States...
, and appears in Outfoxed
Outfoxed
Outfoxed: Rupert Murdoch's War on Journalism is a 2004 documentary film by filmmaker Robert Greenwald that criticises the Fox News Channel, and its owner, Rupert Murdoch, claiming that the channel is used to promote and advocate right-wing views...
, a documentary critical of Fox News.
Biography
Cohen grew up in Detroit and did undergraduate study at the University of MichiganUniversity of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
. He studied law at the People's Law School
People's College of Law
The People's College of Law is an unaccredited, private, non-profit law school located in Los Angeles, California. PCL offers a part-time, four-year evening law program centered around work in the public interest.-History:...
in Los Angeles and was admitted to the California Bar
State Bar of California
The State Bar of California is California's official bar association. It is responsible for managing the admission of lawyers to the practice of law, investigating complaints of professional misconduct, and prescribing appropriate discipline...
in 1981. Cohen then worked as a journalist in the L.A. area and after law school was a lawyer for the ACLU. Cohen founded FAIR in 1986 and subsequently served as executive director and on the board of directors.
In 2002 Cohen left FAIR to work full-time for MSNBC as senior producer
Television producer
The primary role of a television Producer is to allow all aspects of video production, ranging from show idea development and cast hiring to shoot supervision and fact-checking...
of Phil Donahue
Phil Donahue
Phillip John "Phil" Donahue is an American media personality, writer, and film producer best known as the creator and host of The Phil Donahue Show. The television program, also known as Donahue, was the first to use a talk show format. The show had a 26-year run on U.S...
's show, Donahue
Donahue (MSNBC program)
In 2002, Phil Donahue returned to television to host a show called Donahue on MSNBC. Its debut Nielsen ratings were strong, but its audience evaporated over the following months. In late August 2002, it got one of the lowest possible ratings , less than MSNBC's average for the day of 0.2. On...
. Previously, he briefly co-hosted CNN's Crossfire
Crossfire (TV series)
Crossfire was a current events debate television program that aired from 1982 to 2005 on CNN. Its format was designed to present and challenge the opinions of a politically liberal pundit and a conservative pundit.-Format:...
in 1996 and was a regular panelist on FNC's Fox News Watch from 1997 to 2002. Cohen had also been a return commentator at multiple networks.
In 2008, Cohen became the founding director of the Park Center for Independent Media at the Roy H. Park School of Communications
Roy H. Park School of Communications
The Roy H. Park School of Communications, internationally recognized as a leading undergraduate communications school, is one of five schools at Ithaca College, in Ithaca, New York. The school is named after legendary media executive Roy H...
at Ithaca College
Ithaca College
Ithaca College is a private college located on the South Hill of Ithaca, New York. The school was founded by William Egbert in 1892 as a conservatory of music. The college has a strong liberal arts core, but also offers several pre-professional programs and some graduate programs. The college is...
where he is an associate professor in the journalism department. He additionally lectures across the country. He was Communications Director for the Kucinich presidential campaign
Dennis Kucinich presidential campaign, 2004
Kucinich was criticized during his 2004 campaign for changing his stance on the issue of abortion. His explanation was "I've always worked to make abortions less necessary, through sex education and birth control. But the direction that Congress has taken, increasingly, is to make it impossible for...
in 2003. Cohen, with Norman Solomon, wrote the "Media Beat" column syndicated in newspapers across the US, wrote occasionally commentaries in various newspapers, and wrote a column for Brill's Content. He also has written investigative
Investigative journalism
Investigative journalism is a form of journalism in which reporters deeply investigate a single topic of interest, often involving crime, political corruption, or corporate wrongdoing. An investigative journalist may spend months or years researching and preparing a report. Investigative journalism...
pieces for Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone is a US-based magazine devoted to music, liberal politics, and popular culture that is published every two weeks. Rolling Stone was founded in San Francisco in 1967 by Jann Wenner and music critic Ralph J...
, New Times, The Nation
The Nation
The Nation is the oldest continuously published weekly magazine in the United States. The periodical, devoted to politics and culture, is self-described as "the flagship of the left." Founded on July 6, 1865, It is published by The Nation Company, L.P., at 33 Irving Place, New York City.The Nation...
, Mother Jones
Mother Jones (magazine)
Mother Jones is an American independent news organization, featuring investigative and breaking news reporting on politics, the environment, human rights, and culture. Mother Jones has been nominated for 23 National Magazine Awards and has won six times, including for General Excellence in 2001,...
, and other publications.
Books
- Cable News Confidential: My Misadventures in Corporate Media (2006) ISBN 978-0976062165
- Wizards of Media Oz: Behind the Curtain of Mainstream News (1997) (with Norman SolomonNorman SolomonNorman Solomon is an American journalist, media critic, antiwar activist, and current candidate for the United States House of Representatives. Solomon is a longtime associate of the media watch group Fairness & Accuracy In Reporting...
) - Through the Media Looking Glass: Decoding Bias and Blather in the News (1995) (with Norman Solomon) ISBN 978-1567510492
- The Way Things Aren't: Rush Limbaugh's Reign of Error (1995) (with Steve Rendall and Jim NaureckasJim NaureckasJim Naureckas is the editor of Extra!, the magazine of FAIR .He graduated from Stanford University in 1985 with a bachelor's degree in political science...
) ISBN 978-1565842601 - Adventures in Medialand: Behind the News, Beyond the Pundits (1993) (with Norman Solomon) ISBN 9781567510157
External links
- Personal homepage
- Jeff Cohen at FAIR.org
- Jeff Cohen bio at Huffingtonpost
- Scott Ritter and Jeff Cohen addressed an audience of 250 in Sacramento, CA on 1/16/08, MP3
- Video: Jeff Cohen and Scott Ritter - U.S. Tour of Duty: The Iran Talks (January 14, 2008)
- 1 May 2011, 11 January 2009, 9 May 2004 interviews on Media Matters with Bob McChesneyRobert W. McChesneyRobert Waterman McChesney is an American professor at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. He is the Gutgsell Endowed Professor in the Department of Communication. His work concentrates on the history and political economy of communication, emphasizing the role media play in democratic...