The IFC Media Project(2008–2010)

News Fixations and Taboos

The Frontlines of Journalism

Dumbing It Down

Unreliable Sources

The Anatomy of a Story

FEAR

The episode follows Max Blumenthal as he explores the language of fear within the Tea Party Movement and how Fox News Channel and leaders of the Republican Party are using fear to meet their own political ends.

WAR

The episode explores the Obama administration's strategy for the war in Afghanistan through the lens of reconstruction. Journalist Nir Rosen travels to Kabul and Wardak Province to uncover how $51 billion have been spent.

GREED

Charlie LeDuff turns the media's fascination with the decimation of his hometown, Detroit, Michigan, inside out. Leaving his hometown to confront the power brokers in Wall Street and the United States Congress, LeDuff meets Senators, journalists and stock brokers in his hunt to discover what happened to the American dream. Featuring H. Rodgin Cohen and Matt Taibbi.

American Worldview

The episode takes a look at how the US is portrayed in the world media, and how it's often misrepresented. Featured segment investigates why English Al-Jazeera is unavailable in most of the US. Featured interview with the creator of "BCC World News America" Rome Hartman.

Crossing the Line

The episode explores journalistic ethics and when it is or isn't okay to "cross the line" in pursuit of a story. Featured is the story of Muntadhar al-Zaidi, the Iraqi journalist who threw a shoe at President Bush during a press conference. Featured interview with columnist Randy Cohen.

Agendas

The episode covers a variety of topics, including questioning the media's agendas in political and business news coverage, the debate over clean coal and how two competing publicity campaigns obfuscate the issue, as well as a look at why we will continue to need coal for years to come. Activist Alex Jones is featured as a "below-the-radar" anti-government media voice.

Economics and News

The episode focuses on the plight of the media in today's current economic state. Case studies compare former media insiders' perspectives as well as show who's hurting and benefiting from the digital shift. A mini-feature piece chronicles the death of the Rocky Mountain News as told from the point of view of its editor and publisher, John Temple.