National News Council
Encyclopedia
The National News Council (NNC) was a non-profit media watchdog organization. It investigated complaints of media bias and unfair reporting. The NNC formed in 1973 with a grant from the Twentieth Century Foundation, the Markle Foundation
and other sources. The Council was composed of 15 members, nine members of the general public and six journalists.
Compliance and cooperation with the NNC was entirely voluntary on the part of news organizations. The Council had no punitive powers. Its only power was that of publicity, drawing attention to media bias in hopes of the media's taking steps to acknowledge and correct it. Some media outlets were more willing to cooperate with NNC than others. CBS News
under president Richard Salant notably supported the Council, including Salant's serving as NNC chairman, but journalists within CBS itself, including Walter Cronkite
, did not. Abe Rosenthal
of The New York Times was said to have taken some pride in refusing to cooperate with the NNC, saying "I am against regulation of the press, including self regulation except within each individual newspaper or broadcast station." The NNC heard a total of 242 formal complaints during its tenure.
The NNC announced in 1984 that it was dissolving. In the years since its dissolution, there have been periodic calls for its revival. General William Westmoreland
, following the end of his protracted libel suit against CBS
, called for the formation of an NNC-like body in 1985. Journalists who have since supported the reforming of the NNC have included William F. Buckley, Mike Wallace
and Walter Cronkite (both in reversal of earlier opposition) and Murray Seeger. As of 2005, three states, Minnesota, Hawaii and Washington, had state-level news councils.
Markle Foundation
The Markle Foundation is an organization concerned with technology, health care, and national security.Emerging communications media and information technology create unprecedented opportunity to improve people's lives. The Markle Foundation works to realize this potential and promotes the use of...
and other sources. The Council was composed of 15 members, nine members of the general public and six journalists.
Compliance and cooperation with the NNC was entirely voluntary on the part of news organizations. The Council had no punitive powers. Its only power was that of publicity, drawing attention to media bias in hopes of the media's taking steps to acknowledge and correct it. Some media outlets were more willing to cooperate with NNC than others. CBS News
CBS News
CBS News is the news division of American television and radio network CBS. The current chairman is Jeff Fager who is also the executive producer of 60 Minutes, while the current president of CBS News is David Rhodes. CBS News' flagship program is the CBS Evening News, hosted by the network's main...
under president Richard Salant notably supported the Council, including Salant's serving as NNC chairman, but journalists within CBS itself, including Walter Cronkite
Walter Cronkite
Walter Leland Cronkite, Jr. was an American broadcast journalist, best known as anchorman for the CBS Evening News for 19 years . During the heyday of CBS News in the 1960s and 1970s, he was often cited as "the most trusted man in America" after being so named in an opinion poll...
, did not. Abe Rosenthal
Abe Rosenthal
Abraham W. "Abe" Rosenthal was an English professional footballer who played as a striker. Rosenthal was Jewish.-Career:...
of The New York Times was said to have taken some pride in refusing to cooperate with the NNC, saying "I am against regulation of the press, including self regulation except within each individual newspaper or broadcast station." The NNC heard a total of 242 formal complaints during its tenure.
The NNC announced in 1984 that it was dissolving. In the years since its dissolution, there have been periodic calls for its revival. General William Westmoreland
William Westmoreland
William Childs Westmoreland was a United States Army General, who commanded US military operations in the Vietnam War at its peak , during the Tet Offensive. He adopted a strategy of attrition against the National Liberation Front of South Vietnam and the North Vietnamese Army. He later served as...
, following the end of his protracted libel suit against CBS
Westmoreland v. CBS
Westmoreland v. CBS was a $120 million libel suit brought by former U.S. Army Chief of Staff General William Westmoreland against CBS Television for the televising of a documentary entitled The Uncounted Enemy: A Vietnam Deception, narrated by the investigative reporter, Mike Wallace. It was shown...
, called for the formation of an NNC-like body in 1985. Journalists who have since supported the reforming of the NNC have included William F. Buckley, Mike Wallace
Mike Wallace (journalist)
Myron Leon "Mike" Wallace is an American journalist, former game show host, actor and media personality. During his 60+ year career, he has interviewed a wide range of prominent newsmakers....
and Walter Cronkite (both in reversal of earlier opposition) and Murray Seeger. As of 2005, three states, Minnesota, Hawaii and Washington, had state-level news councils.
List of NNC Chairmen
- Roger Traynor
- Stanley FuldStanley FuldStanley Howells Fuld was an American lawyer and politician from New York. He was Chief Judge of the New York Court of Appeals from 1967 to 1973.-Life:...
- Norman Isaacs (1977–1982)
- Lucy Wilson Benson
- Edward BarrettEdward BarrettEdward Edmond Barrett was a track and field athlete, wrestler and hurler.He was born in Rahela, Ballyduff, County Kerry, Ireland....
- Richard Salant (1983–1984)