Stories by Norman Solomon

Solomon writes: "Labor Day may be a fitting tribute to America's workers. But what about the other 364 days of the year? Despite all the talk about the importance and dignity of working people, they get little power or glory in the everyday world of news media."

Solomon writes, "By now, we've run across similar stories many times: A scrappy innovator took on the business establishment and made a fortune. An engineer battled myopic bosses to develop a great new product. A brilliant computer nerd overcame entrenched foes and now heads the firm. Today's news reports seem to be more focused on mutiny than conformity in corporate suites. At a time when many companies are urging employees to challenge old concepts, the media coverage often makes the latest changes sound almost radical. "

Populist Jim Hightower has built a following on 150 stations nationwide during the last 16 months -- while breaking most of the rules for talk radio hosts. Instead of shouting, he speaks with a soft Texas twang. He actually lets callers who oppose him be heard. And his barbs are not aimed at women, gays, minorities or the poor -- but at the rich and powerful. He is the most distinctive new voice on talk radio and he is in danger of being silenced.

"The fact that Donald Barlett and James Steele's investigative report -- "Big Money and Politics: Who Gets Hurt?" -- made a splash in Time magazine is encouraging. But other media, including wire services, big daily newspapers and broadcast networks, failed to pick up on the superb cover story."

Solomon writes: "Despite this year's scandalmania, Bill Clinton now appears to be rather entrenched in the White House. A big reason is that he has been very careful to stay near the 'vital center' of America's political spectrum ... But what does all this talk about the 'vital center' and the 'Third Way' really mean?"

Are we suffering from Image Distortion Disorder? It's not listed in medical dictionaries. But physician Michael LeNoir is urging our society to treat Image Distortion Disorder as a very real -- and very unhealthy -- condition. Possible remedies aren't discussed on television. Instead of helping to alleviate Image Distortion Disorder, prime time is ablaze with programming that inflames it. Whether the issue is poverty, crime or drugs, the tilt of the media mirror often makes racial minorities look bad.

Listening to Newt Gingrich for an hour is like hearing a great philharmonic orchestra play a simple tune. The House speaker's virtuosity was impressive as he addressed a national meeting of newspaper opinion editors Nov. 3 in Atlanta. His dazzling performance was akin to a symphonic concert of "Pop Goes the Weasel." Let's give the performer his due. Gingrich sounded crystal- clear themes: his own virtues, the continuing ascendancy of the Republican "revolution" and the media's inability to grasp just how thoroughly "liberalism" has been discredited. As soon as Gingrich reached the podium, an aide distributed his favorite recent clippings to the assembled members of the Association of Opinion Page Editors. At the top of the stack was a Tennessee newspaper's editorial -- describing Gingrich as "just maybe a history-maker of the first rank" and a "mastermind" with "courage" who "holds to his ideals." Never let it be said that Gingrich fails to acknowledge the work of insightful editorial writers. But, alas, all too many commentators don't comprehend the achievements of congressional Republicans. "Getting our message across in a coherent form is the single most difficult challenge we face," Gingrich told the editors. He had a scolding tone, but the speaker indicated that it was not too late to rectify the situation. Gingrich explained that his admirable qualities include being a great listener. Yet, such talent must not be squandered on the undeserving. When an editor asked if Gingrich could learn from listening to people who disagree with him on fundamental issues, the speaker was blunt: "I do not have time." A year after the Republican electoral triumph, Gingrich continues to portray himself as a martyr beset by the "elite media." But he is generous with praise for his key media allies - - many of whom are as "elite" as they come. During his talk in Atlanta, for instance, Gingrich lauded the editorial page of the <it>Wall Street Journal.<> To hear the speaker tell it, when Mr. Smith goes to Washington, the best supportive commentary comes from an ordinary working man named Dow Jones. But Gingrich denounced his hometown newspapers, which have long scrutinized him. Perhaps his ire was inflamed by an accurate news article in that day's <it>Atlanta Constitution<> mentioning Gingrich's "history of keeping secret millions of dollars in donations to his own political action committee." Although he has spoken up for political finance reform, the paper reported, "Gingrich played a pivotal role last year in killing a lobbying reform bill by whipping up last-minute opposition from radio talk show hosts to a provision in the bill that he had insisted be inserted." What really makes Gingrich mad is that the press sometimes engages in journalism. He much prefers puffery for the GOP -- hardly in short supply these days but still quite inadequate as far as Gingrich is concerned. He has urged big corporations to pull ads from newspapers that oppose conservative interests. In person, Gingrich exudes remarkable arrogance. And his political program includes a slash-and-burn approach to budgeting that can only make the poor poorer and rich richer. But his blend of personal mania and political agenda doesn't explain his success; the nation's Democratic "leadership" deserves a lot of the credit. For decades, the leading lights of the Democratic Party have been rather dim bulbs. They've put out flickering platitudes about average Americans -- while relentlessly assisting big-money contributors. People who collect contribution checks in glass skyscrapers can't throw too many stones. The current Democratic chief, Bill Clinton, has shown little backbone when it comes to defending the interests of working people -- and people who can't find jobs. The president has taken the political art of compromise to new depths. Say what you will about Newt Gingrich. He's willing to put up a fight. He doesn't cower and bleat about compromise. He's dynamic because he goes on the attack and stays there without pulling punches. Today, there is no match for the likes of Gingrich in our country's political arena. Bill Clinton and other pussy-cat Democrats sometimes pretend to be tigers. But their growling fools few people -- least of all the right-wing hyenas who are licking their chops. In the spotlight, Newt Gingrich is happy to keep flailing away. He takes his lumps -- and plenty of fawning coverage as well -- from the news media. But, unlike the "comeback kid" in the Oval Office, the speaker doesn't backpedal. He's too busy throwing roundhouse punches. And it doesn't take too many of them to knock over a hollow foe.###

"Despite all the emphasis on new media, photography has never lost the power to move us. Some recent photo essays in major American magazines, focusing on the poor and dispossessed, are efforts to break through abstraction and indifference."

"When the government takes a human life, it's usually not much of a national story -- maybe a few inches in the newspaper or a fleeting mention on a newscast. With 3,625 people on death row in the United States, and more arriving all the time, a macabre rhythm has taken hold."

"To an unprecedented extent, large numbers of American reporters and editors now work for just a few huge corporate employers -- a situation that hardly encourages unconstrained scrutiny of media conglomerates as they assume unparalleled importance in public life. As the late media critic Herbert Schiller pointed out, self-censorship has long been one of journalism's most ineffable hazards. And the current wave of mergers rocking the media industry is likely to heighten the dangers."

"On the last day of February, the shocking news was that a 6-year-old boy in Michigan killed a classmate. How would a little boy get the impression that pointing a gun at someone and pulling the trigger is appropriate behavior? Not exactly a tough question. The television industry is good at deploring bloodshed -- while milking it to boost ratings."