Want to get to the truth about AP’s Iraq reporting?

I’ve long, and fruitlessly, called for a credible, independent examination of the stringer policy and procedures of the major media operating in Iraq (and, the Palestinian areas as well). Case after case has accumulated, well-documented, of the major media being used as avenues of lies and propaganda by our enemies, as well as our enemies themselves saying that’s part of their modus operandi. I know of at least one respected academic working on such a study, but far more is needed.

Now that the Associated Press and CENTCOM (along with many blogs) have thrown down their gauntlets to each other, there’s such an opportunity to get such a comprehensive examination, with the case of the purported six Sunnis set aflame as the case study to open the now secretive door to major media’s reliance on stringers and suspect sources.

Curt, at Flopping Aces blog, brings us up to date, along with the critical links.

The Associated Press, like any business, depends upon its customers. Indeed, the Associated Press is responsive to its customers. Those customers are the media that buy AP stories and feeds, providing their customers – the readers and viewers – with a wide range of content that any particular venue cannot itself provide. The AP’s Board of Directors are, themselves, the owners and chief executives of other newspaper and media organizations.

I suggest that you write a brief, polite letter to each of the AP Board members, and to the chief editor of your local newspaper, requesting a comprehensive, independent examination of the AP’s handling of this matter, and that the study be published in its entirety.

Here’s a prototype letter:

Dear _______________:
As a customer of the news provided by the Associated Press and your (newspaper, TV station/network) I depend upon the reliability of what I (read/see).

As a concerned American, I depend upon that news reporting in judging the viability of national policy.

I appreciate how difficult it is to report from a war zone. However, after a number of instances of reports that have been proven or appear substantially unreliable, my confidence in your product is shaken.

I request that you use your position as a (Board member/customer) of Associated Press to press for an immediate, comprehensive, independent, published examination of the AP’s reporting of the purported six Sunnis set aflame, to include the detailing of policies and procedures for vetting stringers and sources.

Thank you, in advance, for working to increase confidence in our (underline “our”) media,
SIGN

You can go to this source to link to every newspaper in America to get the contact info for the AP Board members and for your local editors, or Google their organization to get contact info.

UPDATE: Some have written me they prefer an easier way to write one letter. The AP does not have an email address for its Board, but does offer this, which should filter through:
For general questions and comments;or to contact a specific employee: info@ap.org

The AP Board members are:

AP Board of Directors
Burl Osborne – Chairman
Publisher Emeritus
The Dallas Morning News
Dallas, Texas

R. Jack Fishman
Publisher and Editor
Citizen Tribune
Morristown, Tennessee

Dennis J. FitzSimons
Chairman, President and CEO
Tribune, Co.
Chicago, Illinois

Joe Hladky
President and Publisher
The Gazette Co.
Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Walter E. Hussman Jr.
Publisher
Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
Little Rock, Arkansas

Julie Inskeep
Publisher
The Journal Gazette
Fort Wayne, Indiana

George B. Irish
President
Hearst Newspapers
New York, New York

Boisfeuillet (Bo) Jones
Publisher and CEO
The Washington Post
Washington, D.C.

Mary Junck
President and CEO
Lee Enterprises, Inc.
Davenport, Iowa

David Lord
President
Pioneer Newspapers, Inc.
Seattle, Washington

Kenneth W. Lowe
President and CEO
E.W. Scripps Company

Douglas H. McCorkindale
Chairman
Gannett, Co. Inc.
McLean, Virginia

R. John Mitchell
Publisher
Rutland Herald
Rutland, Vermont

Steven O. Newhouse
Chairman,
Advance.Net
New York, New York

Gary Pruitt
Chairman, President and CEO
The McClatchy Company
Sacramento, California

Michael E. Reed
CEO
Liberty Group Publishing, Inc.
Downers Grove, Illinois

Bruce T. Reese
President and CEO
Bonneville International Corp.
Salt Lake City, Utah

Jon Rust
Publisher
Southeast Missourian
Co-president, Rust Communications
Cape Girardeau, Missouri

William Dean Singleton
Vice Chairman and CEO
MediaNews Group Inc.
Denver, Colorado

Jay R. Smith
President
Cox Newspapers, Inc.
Atlanta, Georgia

David Westin
President
ABC News
New York, New York

H. Graham Woodlief
President, Publishing Division
Vice President,
Media General Inc.
Richmond, Virginia