The National News Council (NNC) was a non-profit media watchdog organization. It investigated complaints of media bias and unfair reporting. The NNC formed in 1973 with a grant from the Twentieth Century Foundation,[1] the Markle Foundation and other sources.[2] The Council was composed of 15 members, nine members of the general public and six journalists.[3]
Compliance and cooperation with the NNC was entirely voluntary on the part of news organizations. The Council had no punitive powers. Its only power was that of publicity, drawing attention to media bias in hopes of the media's taking steps to acknowledge and correct it. Some media outlets were more willing to cooperate with NNC than others. CBS News under president Richard Salant notably supported the Council, including Salant's serving as NNC chairman,[4] but journalists within CBS itself, including Walter Cronkite, did not. Abe Rosenthal of The New York Times was said to have taken some pride in refusing to cooperate with the NNC, saying "I am against regulation of the press, including self regulation except within each individual newspaper or broadcast station."[5] The NNC heard a total of 242 formal complaints during its tenure.[2]
The NNC announced in 1984 that it was dissolving.[1] In the years since its dissolution, there have been periodic calls for its revival. General William Westmoreland, following the end of his protracted libel suit against CBS, called for the formation of an NNC-like body in 1985.[1] Journalists who have since supported the reforming of the NNC have included William F. Buckley,[4]Mike Wallace and Walter Cronkite (both in reversal of earlier opposition)[5] and Murray Seeger.[6] As of 2005, three states, Minnesota, Hawaii and Washington, had state-level news councils.[6]
^ abBuckley, William F. (1985-02-05). "Bring back the National News Council as a media watchdog". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. p. 7. Retrieved 2008-12-01.
^ abWallace, Mike (1995). . Archived from the original on 27 July 2011. Retrieved 2022-06-08.
^ abSeeger, Murray (2005-12-04). "Even a Free Press Can Use a Bit of Oversight". Washington Post. p. B05. Retrieved 2008-12-01.
Referencesedit
Charnley, Mitchell V. (1975). Reporting. Holt, Rinehart and Winston. ISBN0-03-089649-5.
Murray, Michael D. (1999). Encyclopedia of Television News. Greenwood Publishing Group. ISBN1-57356-108-8.
January 01, 1970
national, news, council, profit, media, watchdog, organization, investigated, complaints, media, bias, unfair, reporting, formed, 1973, with, grant, from, twentieth, century, foundation, markle, foundation, other, sources, council, composed, members, nine, mem. The National News Council NNC was a non profit media watchdog organization It investigated complaints of media bias and unfair reporting The NNC formed in 1973 with a grant from the Twentieth Century Foundation 1 the Markle Foundation and other sources 2 The Council was composed of 15 members nine members of the general public and six journalists 3 Compliance and cooperation with the NNC was entirely voluntary on the part of news organizations The Council had no punitive powers Its only power was that of publicity drawing attention to media bias in hopes of the media s taking steps to acknowledge and correct it Some media outlets were more willing to cooperate with NNC than others CBS News under president Richard Salant notably supported the Council including Salant s serving as NNC chairman 4 but journalists within CBS itself including Walter Cronkite did not Abe Rosenthal of The New York Times was said to have taken some pride in refusing to cooperate with the NNC saying I am against regulation of the press including self regulation except within each individual newspaper or broadcast station 5 The NNC heard a total of 242 formal complaints during its tenure 2 The NNC announced in 1984 that it was dissolving 1 In the years since its dissolution there have been periodic calls for its revival General William Westmoreland following the end of his protracted libel suit against CBS called for the formation of an NNC like body in 1985 1 Journalists who have since supported the reforming of the NNC have included William F Buckley 4 Mike Wallace and Walter Cronkite both in reversal of earlier opposition 5 and Murray Seeger 6 As of 2005 three states Minnesota Hawaii and Washington had state level news councils 6 List of NNC Chairmen editRoger Traynor Stanley Fuld Norman Isaacs 1977 1982 Lucy Wilson Benson Edward W Barrett Richard Salant 1983 1984 2 Notes edit a b c Harwood John 1985 03 16 Westmoreland calls for national news council St Petersburg Times p 3A Retrieved 2008 12 01 a b c Murray p 165 Charnley p 143 a b Buckley William F 1985 02 05 Bring back the National News Council as a media watchdog Pittsburgh Post Gazette p 7 Retrieved 2008 12 01 a b Wallace Mike 1995 The Value of a National News Council Archived from the original on 27 July 2011 Retrieved 2022 06 08 a b Seeger Murray 2005 12 04 Even a Free Press Can Use a Bit of Oversight Washington Post p B05 Retrieved 2008 12 01 References editCharnley Mitchell V 1975 Reporting Holt Rinehart and Winston ISBN 0 03 089649 5 Murray Michael D 1999 Encyclopedia of Television News Greenwood Publishing Group ISBN 1 57356 108 8 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title National News Council amp oldid 1145592484, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
