A Place for the 99-Percent to Unite!

Deciding to reactivate this blog, Americans for Truth in News, was an easy choice. Having worked for many large media companies, I know the few good journalists left in the industry are stretched so far they can't get to all the important stories. Then, of course, there's so much commentary disguised as news, and advertorials (ads hidden as news) it's hard to know what to believe anymore. Press releases issued by state, local and federal governments are often taken as truth simply because there isn't enough time (or staff) to check them out properly. I'm not saying my former colleagues- or anyone working for the major media- are deliberately misleading, although some companies are forcing their employees to do just that.
Most journalists today are simply overworked and under the gun at deadline and don't have time to spend on more than a 12-inch print piece or a 10-second sound bite. That means a lot of important stories are ignored, or at least under-reported.
The fact so many groups and organizations have sprung up recently, like United We Stand, Tea Party- and many, many political parties other than elephants and donkeys we've never even heard of, shows the people who make up the "99-percent" mentioned in those 4-second segments of your television broadcasts really have something to say.
Eventually my main website, www.pennyfletcher.com, where I edit for authors preparing for publication, will be connected to this blog but for now, as I beat my technologically imperfect brain into submission to get this started, I invite you to send me your stories, photographs, and videos, and of course, on-line advertising to support the site!
Anyone, anywhere, is welcome to re post from this site but please remember to credit the source. The more people we can get talking to each other, the faster real patriots can fix what's gone so terribly, terribly wrong since the 27 Amendments to the Constitution were written.

What Really Determines Where Our Forces Fight & Die?

I want to alert you to something right away: This blog, Americans for Truth in News, is here strictly to give you facts or tell you how and where to search for them. It was created because of my dissatisfaction with the traditional national media with which I have been involved for more than 35 years. I am especially revolted by newscasters and reporters who mix their commentary with news so that it sounds like fact. That's why I started this post with a sentence containing the word "Alert!" If I ever give you an opinion instead of fact, you'll know it right off. And this post will be partially opinion. The difference is, I'll always tell you straight out which part of the post is fact and which is opinion- or "slant" as they like to call it in the newsroom. Last week I wrote a story for my local Tampa Bay newspaper based on the account of the bombing of the USS Indianapolis in World War II. The story was told as a riveting narrative at a local veteran's luncheon. It's still alive and well at http://www.observernews.net. if you want to read it. It's a tale of man's love of his fellow man, as sailors held the heads of their friends above water as they were drowning themselves and watched as sharks ate people hugging bits and pieces of the downed ship wondering if they would be next. This weekend, parades honoring veterans of all wars are being held all across the nation. I'm photographing one of them tomorrow. (So far, this whole post has been fact.) More fact: my father was a Merchant Marine for 35 years. My Uncle Hal flew over The Hump delivering supplies to troops in WWII. My first husband was with the 101st Airborne in Vietnam and now I have a grandson in the 82nd Airborne- a Sgt. at 23- who has been to Iraq twice and is soon headed for Afghanistan. (Still fact.) I consider myself a patriotic American, but I have interviewed enough Congressmen and Senators to know something happens to them when they get to DC. They are so mired in bureaucracy they can't get anything done. Our government has become a machine. It says we are fighting for peace but I say we have picked and chosen where to send our men and women to fight and die for reasons other than peace. I say they often die for the greed of the powerful. I did not oppose the Vietnam War, but now I wish I had. I did, however, march for Civil Rights in the '60s. I wish Americans would stand up for the genocide in parts of Africa. Where are we on Darfur? Where were we when the brave young student stood in front of the tanks in Tienanmen Square? Why do we allow billions to be wasted while people die of hunger in our streets? Yes, I honor our veterans this Veterans Day. But I say shame to those who are sending them to fight and die while at the same time they disarm us in our homes. (Opinion began with the words "I wish Americans would stand up for....") Now that's the difference. We need to demand to hear the difference between opinion and news in every post, newscast, broadcast, and printed piece. Where, fellow reporters, do YOU stand on the Constitution of the United States? Are you ready to stand up for "truth, truth and nothing but the truth," or allow politically-correct speech and under-reported news to rule?

I've heard the g'vt shut down the water supply of some California farmers

Checking out this farmer vs. government story thoroughly before posting. That's why there's no new post today. Meanwhile, to PAO- who commented earlier today: when I checked out the source of the comment made on my first post I did see your handle listed as PAO, but my research gave me the name "Irma" as going with that handle. Perhaps I do not have the "Blogger" techniques completely ironed out so if I am in error, please excuse. Please tell me who you are (My email is Penny@pennyfletcher.com if you don't want to post it here). I would enjoy more comments from people in the know like yourself. And always- always- everyone, call me on it if I am incorrect in anything. That is at the very heart of "Truth in News."

Do you think the news is ever slanted to please advertisers?

Question of the day-

Looking for responses from Twitter, Facebook and other sites. Tell me
where you found this question. Well, do you think news is ever slanted to please advertisers and if so, why?

What the %$#@ is this blog about?

If you're fed up with the inaccuracy of politically-correct speech, or of journalists and broadcasters who pawn off their opinion as fact, or if you have any historical knowledge about how other countries were duped into dictatorship by propaganda, you just may find this your new home. Or maybe you're just plain tired of reading about celebrities; OK, this spot is for you too. By quitting the big-time media and freelancing, I put a stop to censorship- yes censorship- of my writing. Now I write only for small local publications (to stay close to my community) and on line for organizations that believe in the Truth with a capital T. I'm going to point you to sources and stories from around the world that at first may seem unbelieveable- until you check them out. As a radio talk show host, I ran under the name Uncensored Reporter so I chose to also use it here. What gave me the idea for all this were the headlines one day in July 2008 while I was on the air. It seemed every news outlet in America was asking "Who is the father of Minnie Driver's baby?" But that was the day NASA launched the "Geoeye." Ever heard of it? Well, it can read a 16-inch area (yep- including your computer screen) from 4 miles in the sky through walls. Should this (perhaps?) have been the lead story on Page One of every newspaper in America? Well guys, where the $$@#! were you? I'm going to ask that bloggers send their stories. Brief, OK? And of course, if asked, you may have to prove them, or at least offer some way we can check them out. Coverups. Conspiracies. Whistleblowers. Unsung heroes (hey, we like good news too!). And as we go, comment all you want. Discuss. But please, let's treat each other as guests in our home because that's what I hope we will be. So welcome Truth Bearers. The first thing we need are suggestions on what followers here want to call themselves. "UR Reporters" maybe (as in "you are" and also standing for Uncensored Reporters?) Kind of like AP (Associated Press) reporters only closer to the truth.