Erik Wemple - A reported opinion blog on news media.

Posted at 01:39 PM ET, 03/30/2012

Spike Lee apologizes, atones for screwup

By Erik Wemple

Who said a good apology is worthless?

By Erik Wemple | 01:39 PM ET, 03/30/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: bill maher, spike lee, elaine mcclain, david mcclain, trayvon martin, george zimmerman

Posted at 12:35 PM ET, 03/29/2012

Reuters no-comments alleged Iranian suit

By Erik Wemple

Reuters acknowledges mistake in video on Iranian martial-arts program.

By Erik Wemple | 12:35 PM ET, 03/29/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 11:19 AM ET, 03/29/2012

The Daily’s relish for female Iranian ninjas

By Erik Wemple

Connects martial-arts group to Bangkok bombings.

By Erik Wemple | 11:19 AM ET, 03/29/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: The Daily, rupert murdoch, iran press tv, luke jerod kummer

Posted at 04:39 PM ET, 03/28/2012

Politico rankles White House with ‘breaking’ alert

By Erik Wemple

An e-mail gives the impression of an administration doing damage control.

By Erik Wemple | 04:39 PM ET, 03/28/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: white house, donald verrilli, politico, dan pfeiffer

Posted at 01:52 PM ET, 03/28/2012

Why did New York Times call George Zimmerman ‘white Hispanic’?

By Erik Wemple

Conservatives slam the New York Times’ description of the man who shot Trayvon Martin.

By Erik Wemple | 01:52 PM ET, 03/28/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: george zimmerman, white hispanic, new york times, bernard goldberg, jonah goldberg

Posted at 12:19 PM ET, 03/28/2012

C-SPAN’s Brian Lamb, patiently pushing for cameras in Supreme Court

By Erik Wemple

Brian Lamb’s long mission to persuade justices to televise proceedings.

By Erik Wemple | 12:19 PM ET, 03/28/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: brian lamb, supreme court, tv cameras, c-span

Posted at 09:21 AM ET, 03/28/2012

Joe Oliver, not a ‘close friend’ of George Zimmerman

By Erik Wemple

By three smart interviewers.

By Erik Wemple | 09:21 AM ET, 03/28/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: joe oliver, jonathan capehart, trayvon martin, george zimmerman, lawrence o'donnell, charles blow

Posted at 05:46 PM ET, 03/27/2012

Sarah Palin on the liberal media, again

By Erik Wemple

She takes on Santorum v. Zeleny.

By Erik Wemple | 05:46 PM ET, 03/27/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 04:44 PM ET, 03/27/2012

Al Sharpton and MSNBC’s activist TV

By Erik Wemple

The civil rights agitator-cum-television host has hopped back and forth across that line in recent weeks.

By Erik Wemple | 04:44 PM ET, 03/27/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: the rev. al sharpton, msnbc, trayvon martin, sybrina fulton, tracy martin, benjamin crump

Posted at 02:57 PM ET, 03/27/2012

Geraldo undoes apology!

By Erik Wemple

Hours after apologizing for his hoddie comment, Rivera walks backward.

By Erik Wemple | 02:57 PM ET, 03/27/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: geraldo rivera, apology, politico, trayvon martin, hoodie

Posted at 11:29 AM ET, 03/27/2012

Santorum v. Zeleny: Two men doing their jobs

By Erik Wemple

‘Because of health care’ would have been a fine response.

By Erik Wemple | 11:29 AM ET, 03/27/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 04:16 PM ET, 03/26/2012

Supreme Court’s policy on video creates anti-American elite

By Erik Wemple

People who heard the oral argument have an edge on the field.

By Erik Wemple | 04:16 PM ET, 03/26/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: chief justice john roberts, justice ruth bader ginsbug, justice samuel alito, justice stephen breyer

Posted at 11:09 AM ET, 03/26/2012

Supreme Court on health care law: What’s going on in there?

By Erik Wemple

Supreme Court on health care law: What’s going on in there?

By Erik Wemple | 11:09 AM ET, 03/26/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: supreme court, health care, cameras in the courtroom, fox news channel, msnbc, cnn, dan lothian

Posted at 05:10 PM ET, 03/23/2012

Bill O’Reilly still doesn’t understand boycotts

By Erik Wemple

Again!

By Erik Wemple | 05:10 PM ET, 03/23/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 02:45 PM ET, 03/23/2012

Geraldo’s hoodie comments: Definitely not a hoax

By Erik Wemple

Radio show proves the point.

By Erik Wemple | 02:45 PM ET, 03/23/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: geraldo rivera, trayvon martin, fox news, kabc, hoodie

Posted at 11:17 AM ET, 03/23/2012

Geraldo on Trayvon Martin’s hoodie: It’s got to be a hoax

By Erik Wemple

Cannot be real.

By Erik Wemple | 11:17 AM ET, 03/23/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: geraldo, fox news, trayvon martin, hoodie

Posted at 10:51 AM ET, 03/23/2012

C-SPAN knocks, Politico answers

By Erik Wemple

What’s next?

By Erik Wemple | 10:51 AM ET, 03/23/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: c-span, politico, howard mortman, david zurawik, maggie haberman, jonathan martin, jim vandehei

Posted at 04:15 PM ET, 03/22/2012

James O’Keefe confronts new allegations

By Erik Wemple

Veritas will suffer

By Erik Wemple | 04:15 PM ET, 03/22/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 01:18 PM ET, 03/22/2012

Does AP really reach half the world?

By Erik Wemple

Does it really reach more than half the world’s population?

By Erik Wemple | 01:18 PM ET, 03/22/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 12:10 PM ET, 03/22/2012

Bill Maher asks for apology disarmament

By Erik Wemple

Fine idea, wrong proponent.

By Erik Wemple | 12:10 PM ET, 03/22/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: bill maher, new york times, apologies

Posted at 02:10 PM ET, 03/21/2012

Jason Mattera interviews someone — is it Bono?

By Erik Wemple

Or someone who looked a lot like Bono?

By Erik Wemple | 02:10 PM ET, 03/21/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: jason mattera, bono, impersonator, breitbart.com, blaze.com

Posted at 05:25 PM ET, 03/20/2012

Anita Dunn responds!

By Erik Wemple

Searching for answers on behalf of America’s Morning News.

By Erik Wemple | 05:25 PM ET, 03/20/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 01:01 PM ET, 03/20/2012

If only we all could write as well as Michael Wolff

By Erik Wemple

Says journalists cannot write

By Erik Wemple | 01:01 PM ET, 03/20/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: michael wolff, mike daisey, guardian, howard kurtz, foxconn

Posted at 11:09 PM ET, 03/19/2012

Mike Daisey tells Georgetown of his Apple story: ‘The essential idea is true’

By Erik Wemple

The besieged performer talks about “essential” truth.

By Erik Wemple | 11:09 PM ET, 03/19/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 03:43 PM ET, 03/19/2012

Should Mike Daisey get credit for being accountable?

By Erik Wemple

That’s hard to know

By Erik Wemple | 03:43 PM ET, 03/19/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: mike daisey, this american life, ira glass, rob schmitz

Posted at 01:55 PM ET, 03/19/2012

Santorum stoops to ‘gotcha’ snipe

By Erik Wemple

Did Scarborough and Brzezinski drop a gotcha question on Rick Santorum?

By Erik Wemple | 01:55 PM ET, 03/19/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: rick santorum, gotcha, mika brzezinski, joe scarborough

Posted at 11:34 AM ET, 03/19/2012

New York Times writes on sentences

By Erik Wemple

Oh my sentences!

By Erik Wemple | 11:34 AM ET, 03/19/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: jhumpa lahiri, new york times, sunday review, news analysis, opinion, "my life's sentences"

Posted at 07:26 PM ET, 03/16/2012

‘This American Life’ retraction goes deep

By Erik Wemple

Author cooperates in the investigation

By Erik Wemple | 07:26 PM ET, 03/16/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: mike daisey, apple, this american life, ira glass

Posted at 05:23 PM ET, 03/16/2012

‘This American Life’ retraction: Embarrassing and reassuring

By Erik Wemple

How a retraction should go

By Erik Wemple | 05:23 PM ET, 03/16/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: this american life, ira glass, rob schmitz, retraction

Posted at 03:17 PM ET, 03/16/2012

Mike Daisey: Truth vs. facts

By Erik Wemple

Ask Mike Daisey.

By Erik Wemple | 03:17 PM ET, 03/16/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 12:28 PM ET, 03/16/2012

O’Reilly: Boycotts/threats are un-American

By Erik Wemple

The guy doesn’t like boycotts.

By Erik Wemple | 12:28 PM ET, 03/16/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: Bill o'reilly, rush limbaugh, boycotts, msnbc

Posted at 06:54 PM ET, 03/15/2012

Highly public DNC-Daily Caller spat should have been private

By Erik Wemple

To another reporter?

By Erik Wemple | 06:54 PM ET, 03/15/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: daily caller, democratic national committee, matthew boyle

Posted at 02:17 PM ET, 03/15/2012

Jon Stewart rips CNN primary coverage

By Erik Wemple

Snooze. . .

By Erik Wemple | 02:17 PM ET, 03/15/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: jon stewart, daily show, cnn, primary coverage, mississippi

Posted at 11:33 AM ET, 03/15/2012

Politico: Stupid is as stupid does

By Erik Wemple

Kinda stupid.

By Erik Wemple | 11:33 AM ET, 03/15/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: politico, stpuid voters, john harris, alexander burns

Posted at 05:44 PM ET, 03/14/2012

Famous women are entitled to respect

By Erik Wemple

And its pitfalls

By Erik Wemple | 05:44 PM ET, 03/14/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 05:43 PM ET, 03/14/2012

Washington City Paper slashes salaries

By Erik Wemple

Across the board.

By Erik Wemple | 05:43 PM ET, 03/14/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 04:18 PM ET, 03/14/2012

AP (usually) wants administration officials on the record

By Erik Wemple

Except when they’re giving us scoops.

By Erik Wemple | 04:18 PM ET, 03/14/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: president obama, china, associated press, ap, trade, rare earths

Posted at 01:02 PM ET, 03/14/2012

Santorum flip-flops on Fox whining issue

By Erik Wemple

He says he’s not whining.

By Erik Wemple | 01:02 PM ET, 03/14/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 05:43 PM ET, 03/13/2012

Roland Martin’s suspension from CNN is over

By Erik Wemple

Quietly

By Erik Wemple | 05:43 PM ET, 03/13/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 04:46 PM ET, 03/13/2012

Rick Santorum on Fox’s alleged Romney tilt: Good for business

By Erik Wemple

Nothing new here!

By Erik Wemple | 04:46 PM ET, 03/13/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: fox news, bret baier, rick santorum, rachel maddow, roger ailes

Posted at 02:26 PM ET, 03/13/2012

Before and after: Bill Maher’s gender-balanced staff

By Erik Wemple

For the sake of gender diversity

By Erik Wemple | 02:26 PM ET, 03/13/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: bill maher, gender diversity, hbo

Posted at 01:20 PM ET, 03/13/2012

On Fox, three men slam Obama

By Erik Wemple

Next channel?

By Erik Wemple | 01:20 PM ET, 03/13/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: fox news, stuart varney, president obama, president bush, gas prices, msnbc

Posted at 10:26 AM ET, 03/13/2012

Limbaugh and Maher: Do these guys work with women?

By Erik Wemple

Any gender diversity there?

By Erik Wemple | 10:26 AM ET, 03/13/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: bill maher, rush limbaugh, gender diversity, staff

Posted at 12:48 PM ET, 03/12/2012

CNN’s O’Brien goes for a do-over

By Erik Wemple

Anchor refines her take on “critical race theory.”

By Erik Wemple | 12:48 PM ET, 03/12/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: soledad o'brien, cnn, dorothy brown, joel pollak

Posted at 10:54 AM ET, 03/12/2012

Meghan McCain: No mistakes here

By Erik Wemple

An error-free existence.

By Erik Wemple | 10:54 AM ET, 03/12/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: meghan mccain, mistakes, forbes

Posted at 10:02 AM ET, 03/12/2012

Fox & Friends on Obama’s policies toward women: ‘so much to discuss’

By Erik Wemple

No agreement here.

By Erik Wemple | 10:02 AM ET, 03/12/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: victoria jones, lurita doan, fox & Friends, gretchen carlson

Posted at 04:11 PM ET, 03/09/2012

Megyn Kelly: Fluke controversy is about me

By Erik Wemple

SHE didn’t expect a handout as a law student

By Erik Wemple | 04:11 PM ET, 03/09/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 03:54 PM ET, 03/09/2012

Derrick Bell’s widow: Unaware of second hug between prez and prof

By Erik Wemple

Not according to Bell’s widow

By Erik Wemple | 03:54 PM ET, 03/09/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: harvard law school, derrick bell, janet bell, breitbart.com

Posted at 01:20 PM ET, 03/09/2012

Limbaugh and Sleep Train part for good

By Erik Wemple

A strange tale

By Erik Wemple | 01:20 PM ET, 03/09/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 05:50 PM ET, 03/08/2012

Domino’s ten-foot pole for Rush Limbaugh

By Erik Wemple

And how far away from Limbaugh it tries to stay.

By Erik Wemple | 05:50 PM ET, 03/08/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: domino's pizza inc., rush limbaugh, advertising

Posted at 05:40 PM ET, 03/08/2012

Breitbart.com and the Obama footage: Showmanship prevails

By Erik Wemple

With promised Obama-Harvard scoop

By Erik Wemple | 05:40 PM ET, 03/08/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 12:35 PM ET, 03/08/2012

CNN presses Wurzelbacher on gay stance

By Erik Wemple

Embrace the ‘gotcha’ question!

By Erik Wemple | 12:35 PM ET, 03/08/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: zoraida sambolin, samuel wurzelbacher, gotcha, tmz, cnn

Posted at 04:28 PM ET, 03/07/2012

Breitbart.com hates getting scooped

By Erik Wemple

Competitors

By Erik Wemple | 04:28 PM ET, 03/07/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: andrew breitbart, buzzfeed, ben smith wgbyh, hannity

Posted at 03:35 PM ET, 03/07/2012

Domino’s struggles to distance itself from Limbaugh

By Erik Wemple

3,500 times

By Erik Wemple | 03:35 PM ET, 03/07/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: rush limbaugh, domino's, leland yee, john hlinko, tim mcintyre, sandra fluke

Posted at 07:54 AM ET, 03/07/2012

CNN scores Palin interview

By Erik Wemple

Sounds a lot like Sarah Palin on Fox

By Erik Wemple | 07:54 AM ET, 03/07/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: sarah palin, cnn, fox news, sam feist

Posted at 05:01 PM ET, 03/06/2012

Limbaugh and the ‘Woody’s Barbecue’ defense

By Erik Wemple

Much the same as current Limbaugh

By Erik Wemple | 05:01 PM ET, 03/06/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: rush limbaugh, woody's barbecue, feminazi, something in the air, sandra fluke

Posted at 02:00 PM ET, 03/06/2012

Gawker Media boss: Online, the ‘standards of publication are lower’

By Erik Wemple

No talking points

By Erik Wemple | 02:00 PM ET, 03/06/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 04:50 PM ET, 03/05/2012

Rush Limbaugh’s ‘personal attack’ on Sandra Fluke? More like 20 attacks.

By Erik Wemple

Then why did he attack Sandra Fluke more than 20 times?

By Erik Wemple | 04:50 PM ET, 03/05/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 02:49 PM ET, 03/05/2012

Breitbart’s last scoop: Obama participated in a panel discussion!

By Erik Wemple

Obama appeared on a panel discussion!

By Erik Wemple | 02:49 PM ET, 03/05/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: andrew breitbart, barack obama, president obama, saul alinsky, terrapin theatre

Posted at 01:05 PM ET, 03/05/2012

Limbaugh’s Monday show: Feeling the heat over Sandra Fluke flap, he approaches contrition

By Erik Wemple

Are we detecting contrition?

By Erik Wemple | 01:05 PM ET, 03/05/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: rush limbaugh, apology, sandra fluke

Posted at 11:37 AM ET, 03/05/2012

Fox hearts Gingrich

By Erik Wemple

On the Fox & Friends set.

By Erik Wemple | 11:37 AM ET, 03/05/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: steve doocy, fox news, newt gingrich, meet the press, elite media

Posted at 12:00 PM ET, 03/04/2012

Rush Limbaugh apologizes — for vocabulary

By Erik Wemple

With important qualifier

By Erik Wemple | 12:00 PM ET, 03/04/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: rush limbaugh, sandra fluke, apology

Posted at 07:13 PM ET, 03/02/2012

Sleep Train ‘currently’ bags Limbaugh after long run

By Erik Wemple

What’s too much?

By Erik Wemple | 07:13 PM ET, 03/02/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: rush limbaugh, sleep train

Posted at 02:59 PM ET, 03/02/2012

Shadid’s wife confesses being ‘mad’ at journalism

By Erik Wemple

‘Mad at journalism’

By Erik Wemple | 02:59 PM ET, 03/02/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: cnn, new york times, anthony shadid, nada bakri, marie colvin

Posted at 05:04 PM ET, 03/01/2012

Andrew Breitbart, barrier-busting media critic

By Erik Wemple

A guy who took down names

By Erik Wemple | 05:04 PM ET, 03/01/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: andrew breitbart, dies, big government, big journalism, big hollywood, washington post, new york times, cpac, kate zernike, jason mattera, human events

Posted at 03:12 PM ET, 02/29/2012

Vanity Fair on Washington Post: Old story, new copy

By Erik Wemple

Touches all the bases.

By Erik Wemple | 03:12 PM ET, 02/29/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: vanity fair, washington post, sarah ellison, donald graham, facebook, mark zuckerberg, kaplan, politico

Posted at 08:16 AM ET, 02/29/2012

CNN: I want results!

By Erik Wemple

Including counties and congressional districts

By Erik Wemple | 08:16 AM ET, 02/29/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: cnn, primary, john king

Should the Guantanamo Bay prison be closed?

Erik Wemple: March, 2012