Gitlin

July 20, 2004
Transcription by Chris Beiderbecke and Ben Tupper

ECHO CHAMBER PROJECT: Okay. Why don't you go ahead and introduce yourself.
TODD GITLIN: I am Todd Gitlin, professor of Journalism and Sociology at Columbia University. And I approve this message.

ECHO CHAMBER PROJECT: From your perspective -- How did the media as a whole perform during the build-up to the war in Iraq?
GITLIN: To generalize, the media performed as they normally perform when it comes to the run-up to war. They are by and large credulous toward official claims. They are by and large scanty with analysis of the arguments that are made in behalf of war. They are in general scanty with the range of views that they permit to speak along side officialdom. They are in general parochial, and give short shrift to views from abroad -- either from supporters, neutrals or opponents. And they have a memory span of about four seconds.