Dishonesty in the News: American Public Media and Its Sponsor Monsanto

I am among the millions of Americans who listen to public radio and believes that what I’m hearing is objective information that isn’t bought and paid for by corporate interests. Unfortunately, it appears that American Public Media may be making an exception for GMO giant, Monsanto.

Non-profit Credo Action writes:

Marketplace, a program of American Public Media, has provided a soapbox to opponents of organics with a recent report titled “The Non-Organic Future.” This poisoning of public radio programming — and news that’s assumed to be unbiased and fair — aired on a program that has received substantial sponsorship from Monsanto, the corporation responsible for producing roughly 90% of genetically modified seeds around the globe.

And it urges people to:

Tell American Public Media: Report the facts, not anti-organic propaganda paid for by Monsanto. Click here to automatically sign the petition.

I did so, adding: “I happen to remember hearing this when it aired, and wondered why the subject was treated in such a summary, one-sided fashion. Now I know. You should be ashamed.”

In the past, I have taken heat for suggesting that news shows shouldn’t take advertising dollars from companies whose industries they cover.  Many readers scoffed that the presence of sponsors doesn’t slant stories.  Bullcrap.  The practice is wrong, and this is the result.