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Those who have been fans of Danny Schechter, "The News Dissector," since his days at WBCN FM, long before that became another Clear Channel fiefdom (and there’s a topic for dissection), will welcome this documentary about the Orwellian state of the American "news" media. They may also be disappointed at the timing of the release. Why not before November 2? In fact, though, the weapons targeted in this uneven but frequently right-on investigation have little to do with Saddam’s imaginary arsenal or even the current administration. Long before our current catastrophe, three Republican presidencies were quietly colluding with the corporations that run the "news" media, assuring them of monopolies if they stay on message. How did this happen and what can we do about it? Schechter can be scattered in his answers. As for the how, he offers information and insights that any viewer of, say, Outfoxed would recognize. And like Outfoxed, WMD fails to explain why American audiences willingly dive into such toxic misinformation as if it were so much cable-fed fast food. He can be repetitious, too, longwinded on obvious points and coming up short when there’s something worth following up — for example, how did the administration stage the now-iconic "spontaneous" Iraqi demonstration at the liberation of Iraq? In short, Schechter is everything journalism today is not — skeptical, unslick, and investigative. As for what we can do, his advice is as provocative as it is terse: "Think about it." (98 minutes) At the Kendall Square.
By Peter Keough
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