Fairness & Accuracy in Reporting


Fairness & Accuracy In Reporting is a media critique organization based in New York City. The organization was founded in 1986 by Jeff Cohen and Martin A. Lee. FAIR describes itself as "the national media watch group". The organization has been described as both progressive and leaning left.
FAIR monitors the U.S. news media for "inaccuracy, bias, and censorship" and advocates for greater diversity of perspectives in news reporting. It is opposed to corporate ownership of media entities and calls for the break-up of media conglomerates. FAIR publishes Extra!, a monthly newsletter of media criticism, and also produces a weekly podcast and radio program called CounterSpin, which is aired on more than 150 stations throughout the United States.

Mission

FAIR describes itself on its website as "the national media watch group" and defines its mission as working to "invigorate the First Amendment by advocating for greater diversity in the press and by scrutinizing media practices that marginalize public interest, minority and dissenting viewpoints." FAIR refers to itself as a "progressive group that believes that structural reform is ultimately needed to break up the dominant media conglomerates, establish independent public broadcasting and promote strong nonprofit sources of information."

Activities

First published in 1987, Extra!, FAIR's newsletter, features analysis of current media bias, censorship, and effects of media consolidation. Covering a variety of other issues as well, FAIR addresses news coverage that it finds biased with rebuttals. FAIR also produces CounterSpin, a half-hour radio program hosted by Janine Jackson, which is recorded at the FAIR office in NYC. Broadcasts are syndicated nationally on more than 130 radio stations and is available in podcast format on the web.
FAIR has criticized US media coverage of Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez, taking issue with the assertion that "Hugo Chávez is an autocrat who has consolidated one-party rule." FAIR has also criticized media coverage of the Crisis in Venezuela.
In 2008, FAIR criticized American media for coverage during Pope Benedict XVI's visit to the United States by claiming that he received a "pass on Church abuse history."