Reed Irvine
Encyclopedia
Reed Irvine was an economist
who founded the media watchdog organization Accuracy in Media
, and remained its head for 35 years.
Notable commentaries focused on the El Salvador Civil War
, the Persian Gulf War
, and the Clinton administration.
On the El Salvador Civil War, he criticized reporter Raymond Bonner
with particular regard to his reporting in the New York Times of the El Mozote massacre
. He devoted an entire edition of the AIM Report to Bonner, reporting that "Mr. Bonner had been worth a division to the communists in Central America
."
During the Persian Gulf War
in 1991, "he accused CNN
and its reporter Peter Arnett
of airing 'Saddam Hussein
's version of the truth. There's no way his reporting is helping America win this war'".
In 1994 Irvine defended the controversial Washington Times, founded by Unification Church
leader Sun Myung Moon
, saying: "The Washington Times is one of the few newspapers in the country that provides some balance."
During the Clinton administration, in 1998 at the Conservative Political Action Conference
, he claimed there was a conspiracy within the Republican Party
to "suppress investigations of Clinton administration scandals. 'Conspiracy is a word that has been given a very bad connotation – it's become synonymous with "kooky,"' he told a Post reporter. 'But really it has a very good connotation.' In other words, he elaborated, some conspiracy theories are valid. But not Hillary Clinton's notion of a vast right-wing conspiracy
. 'She's kooky,' he said."
After Irvine's death, it was revealed that his taped telephone conversation was the source of statements made by Miquel Rodriguez, the former lead investigator for Kenneth Starr, to the effect that the investigation of Deputy White House Counsel Vincent Foster
's death was a cover-up.
Economist
An economist is a professional in the social science discipline of economics. The individual may also study, develop, and apply theories and concepts from economics and write about economic policy...
who founded the media watchdog organization Accuracy in Media
Accuracy in Media
Accuracy In Media is an American, non-profit news media watchdog founded in 1969 by economist Reed Irvine. AIM describes itself as "a non-profit, grassroots citizens watchdog of the news media that critiques botched and bungled news stories and sets the record straight on important issues that...
, and remained its head for 35 years.
Notable commentaries focused on the El Salvador Civil War
El Salvador Civil War
The Salvadoran Civil War was a conflict in El Salvador between the military-led government of El Salvador and the Farabundo Martí National Liberation Front , a coalition or umbrella organization of five left-wing militias. Significant tensions and violence had already existed, before the civil...
, the Persian Gulf War
Gulf War
The Persian Gulf War , commonly referred to as simply the Gulf War, was a war waged by a U.N.-authorized coalition force from 34 nations led by the United States, against Iraq in response to Iraq's invasion and annexation of Kuwait.The war is also known under other names, such as the First Gulf...
, and the Clinton administration.
On the El Salvador Civil War, he criticized reporter Raymond Bonner
Raymond Bonner
Raymond Bonner has been an investigative reporter and foreign correspondent for The New York Times and the International Herald Tribune. He has also been a staff writer at The New Yorker and contributed to The New York Review of Books...
with particular regard to his reporting in the New York Times of the El Mozote massacre
El Mozote massacre
The El Mozote Massacre took place in and around the village of El Mozote, in Morazán department, El Salvador, on December 11, 1981, when Salvadoran armed forces trained by the United States military killed at least 200 and up to 1000 civilians in an anti-guerrilla campaign during the Salvadoran...
. He devoted an entire edition of the AIM Report to Bonner, reporting that "Mr. Bonner had been worth a division to the communists in Central America
Central America
Central America is the central geographic region of the Americas. It is the southernmost, isthmian portion of the North American continent, which connects with South America on the southeast. When considered part of the unified continental model, it is considered a subcontinent...
."
During the Persian Gulf War
Gulf War
The Persian Gulf War , commonly referred to as simply the Gulf War, was a war waged by a U.N.-authorized coalition force from 34 nations led by the United States, against Iraq in response to Iraq's invasion and annexation of Kuwait.The war is also known under other names, such as the First Gulf...
in 1991, "he accused 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 its reporter Peter Arnett
Peter Arnett
Peter Gregg Arnett, ONZM is a New Zealand-American journalist.Arnett worked for National Geographic magazine, and later for various television networks, most notably CNN. He is well known for his coverage of war, including the Vietnam War and the Gulf War...
of airing 'Saddam Hussein
Saddam Hussein
Saddam Hussein Abd al-Majid al-Tikriti was the fifth President of Iraq, serving in this capacity from 16 July 1979 until 9 April 2003...
's version of the truth. There's no way his reporting is helping America win this war'".
In 1994 Irvine defended the controversial Washington Times, founded by Unification Church
Unification Church
The Unification Church is a new religious movement founded by Korean religious leader Sun Myung Moon. In 1954, the Unification Church was formally and legally established in Seoul, South Korea, as The Holy Spirit Association for the Unification of World Christianity . In 1994, Moon gave the church...
leader Sun Myung Moon
Sun Myung Moon
Sun Myung Moon is the Korean founder and leader of the worldwide Unification Church. He is also the founder of many other organizations and projects...
, saying: "The Washington Times is one of the few newspapers in the country that provides some balance."
During the Clinton administration, in 1998 at the Conservative Political Action Conference
Conservative Political Action Conference
The Conservative Political Action Conference is an annual political conference attended by conservative activists and elected officials from across the United States....
, he claimed there was a conspiracy within the Republican Party
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
to "suppress investigations of Clinton administration scandals. 'Conspiracy is a word that has been given a very bad connotation – it's become synonymous with "kooky,"' he told a Post reporter. 'But really it has a very good connotation.' In other words, he elaborated, some conspiracy theories are valid. But not Hillary Clinton's notion of a vast right-wing conspiracy
Vast Right-Wing Conspiracy
"Vast right-wing conspiracy" was a conspiracy theory advanced by then United States First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton in 1998 in defense of her husband, President Bill Clinton, and his administration during the Lewinsky scandal, characterizing the Lewinsky charges as the latest in a long,...
. 'She's kooky,' he said."
After Irvine's death, it was revealed that his taped telephone conversation was the source of statements made by Miquel Rodriguez, the former lead investigator for Kenneth Starr, to the effect that the investigation of Deputy White House Counsel Vincent Foster
Vince Foster
Vincent Walker Foster, Jr. was a Deputy White House Counsel during the first few months of President Bill Clinton's administration, and also a law partner and friend of Hillary Rodham Clinton...
's death was a cover-up.
Awards
- George Washington medal, Freedom Foundation, 1980
- Ethics in Journalism award, World Media Association, 1987.
External links
- Media Watchdog Reed Irvine, 82 Washington Post November 18, 2004.
- Why Don't the Media Uncover Cover-ups? AIM Report, December 1998.
- New York Times Obituary: Reed Irvine, 82, the Founder Of a Media Criticism Group, Michael T. Kaufman, November 19, 2004.