Setting the Record Straight

June 2005

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This November, IN THE LIFE is "Setting the Record Straight." This hour long special explores the intersection of LGBT representation, cultural prejudice, censorship, media sensationalism vs. actual news and the big picture implications of it all. Hosted by actor, comedian, and Air America Radio talk show host JANEANE GAROFALO with PSAs from actor, comedian ROSIE O'DONNELL and young adult author ALEX SANCHEZ (Rainbow High, Rainbow Boys).

 

Interviews this month include: Veteran journalist Helen Thomas and former Talon News White House correspondent Jeff Gannon, Court TV and CNN anchor Nancy Grace, Judy Shepard, attorney Sean Maloney, "The Laramie Project" Director Moises Kaufman, Sirius Q Radio Host Romaine Patterson, Media Expert Douglas Rushkoff, the Vermont couple from PBS's "Postcards from Buster: Sugartime" episode Karen Pike and Gillian Pieper, PBS Senior V.P. John F. Wilson, and GLAAD's Media Director Glennda Testone.

See other episodes in the 13th Season

Postcards from Buster

IN THE LIFE begins with a visit to Vermont couple Gillian Pieper and Karen Pike of PBS's "Postcards from Buster: Sugartime" to discuss the rippling effects of U.S. Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings's disapproval of the episode in which their family was profiled. Spellings urged PBS to pull the episode, restricting the open dialogue she pledged to pursue in her inaugural address.

Ethics in Journalism

The traditional role of a journalist has been to act as an objective observer of our culture using a standard set of ethical guidelines in their effort to report the most factual information possible. Recent controversies have highlighted journalists with right-leaning agendas and the current U.S. government's packaging of Video News Releases as actual news, calling into question the ethical practices of journalists today. In this segment, IN THE LIFE explores the effects of government propaganda and its influence on headline news, which exploits LGBT people to the detriment of the entire society.

ABC's "Matthew Shepard: Secrets of a Murder"

Finally, IN THE LIFE explores the newsmagazine format in a for-profit media model. In November 2004, ABC News 20/20 aired "Matthew Shepard: Secrets of a Murder" promising stunning new information about the crime using interviews with the convicted killers. The primary focus was on dismantling the widely accepted position that Matthew's murder was a hate crime. ITL looks at the sources and the methodology to discover what was missing from 20/20's report.