Unreliable Watchdog

"If you’re concerned about the state of the news media, Unreliable Watchdog is a must‐read. Ted Galen Carpenter dissects the disturbing new journalism where media outlets too often serve not as reporters of factual information, or as watchdogs, but as propaganda tools of powerful interests—and also as attack dogs sicced on journalists who don’t fall in line.” —SHARYL ATTKISSON, Emmy award‐winning investigative journalist and New York Times bestselling author Freedom of press is a cornerstone of our democratic political system. But reporters, pundits, and editors face intense pressure to serve as propagandists rather than journalists in their coverage of U.S. foreign policy. Too many members of the news media seem unable to make that distinction and play their proper role as watchdogs for the American people regarding possible government incompetence or misconduct. Since World War II, America has become a garrison state―always prepared for armed conflict—and the conflating of journalism