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In a story on [[organic food]], Stossel claimed that ABC News tests had shown that neither organic nor conventional produce samples contained any pesticide residue.<ref name="givemeafake">{{cite news| url=http://www.ewg.org/reports/givemeafake | title=Give Me a Fake: Stossel Under Fire| publisher=Environmental Working Group | date=[[2000-09-06]] | accessdate=2007-09-26}}</ref> The [[Environmental Working Group]] revealed that the produce samples had been tested only for bacteria. The story was rebroadcast with the inaccurate statement uncorrected.<ref name="Rutenberg">{{cite news | last=Rutenberg | first=Jim | title=Report on Organic Foods Is Challenged | publisher=The New York Times | date=[[2000-07-31]] | url=http://www.nytimes.com/library/financial/073100abc-organic.html | accessdate=2007-09-01}}</ref><ref name="Rutenberg2">{{cite news | last=Rutenberg | first=Jim | coauthors=Barringer, Felicity | title=MEDIA; Apology Highlights ABC Reporter's Contrarian Image | publisher=The New York Times | date=[[2000-08-14]] | url=http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9804E3DA133FF937A2575BC0A9669C8B63&sec=health&pagewanted=print | accessdate=2007-09-05}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.lewrockwell.com/mcelroy/mcelroy21.html | title=Blaspheming Organic Food: The Persecution of John Stossel | last=McElroy | first=Wendy | date=[[2000-08-15]] | publisher=LewRockwell.com | accessdate=2007-09-26}}</ref> ABC news found the producer to be at fault and suspended him for a month, and also reprimanded Stossel, who issued an apology over the incident.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://abcnews.go.com/2020/story?id=124196&page=1 | title=20/20: Stossel Apology for Organic Food Report | date=[[2000-08-11]] | last=Stossel | first=John | publisher=ABC News | accessdate=2007-09-26}}</ref> In a story on [[laissez-faire]] economics, liberal economist [[James K. Galbraith]] said Stossel took a short interview clip out of context and that he was making the opposite point.<ref>http://www.fair.org/index.php?page=1134</ref> Stossel defended the overall work but acknowledged the possibility of error. Todd Seavey, the associate producer who conducted the interview, denied that there was any distortion.<ref>Rose, Ted (March 2000) [http://www.mediatransparency.org/reprints/brill_stossel.htm "Laissez-Faire TV: ABC's John Stossel is a man on a mission to teach Americans about the evils of government regulation and the rewards of free enterprise."] ''Brill's Content''</ref>
In a story on [[organic food]], Stossel claimed that ABC News tests had shown that neither organic nor conventional produce samples contained any pesticide residue.<ref name="givemeafake">{{cite news| url=http://www.ewg.org/reports/givemeafake | title=Give Me a Fake: Stossel Under Fire| publisher=Environmental Working Group | date=[[2000-09-06]] | accessdate=2007-09-26}}</ref> The [[Environmental Working Group]] revealed that the produce samples had been tested only for bacteria. The story was rebroadcast with the inaccurate statement uncorrected.<ref name="Rutenberg">{{cite news | last=Rutenberg | first=Jim | title=Report on Organic Foods Is Challenged | publisher=The New York Times | date=[[2000-07-31]] | url=http://www.nytimes.com/library/financial/073100abc-organic.html | accessdate=2007-09-01}}</ref><ref name="Rutenberg2">{{cite news | last=Rutenberg | first=Jim | coauthors=Barringer, Felicity | title=MEDIA; Apology Highlights ABC Reporter's Contrarian Image | publisher=The New York Times | date=[[2000-08-14]] | url=http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9804E3DA133FF937A2575BC0A9669C8B63&sec=health&pagewanted=print | accessdate=2007-09-05}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.lewrockwell.com/mcelroy/mcelroy21.html | title=Blaspheming Organic Food: The Persecution of John Stossel | last=McElroy | first=Wendy | date=[[2000-08-15]] | publisher=LewRockwell.com | accessdate=2007-09-26}}</ref> ABC news found the producer to be at fault and suspended him for a month, and also reprimanded Stossel, who issued an apology over the incident.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://abcnews.go.com/2020/story?id=124196&page=1 | title=20/20: Stossel Apology for Organic Food Report | date=[[2000-08-11]] | last=Stossel | first=John | publisher=ABC News | accessdate=2007-09-26}}</ref> In a story on [[laissez-faire]] economics, liberal economist [[James K. Galbraith]] said Stossel took a short interview clip out of context and that he was making the opposite point.<ref>http://www.fair.org/index.php?page=1134</ref> Stossel defended the overall work but acknowledged the possibility of error. Todd Seavey, the associate producer who conducted the interview, denied that there was any distortion.<ref>Rose, Ted (March 2000) [http://www.mediatransparency.org/reprints/brill_stossel.htm "Laissez-Faire TV: ABC's John Stossel is a man on a mission to teach Americans about the evils of government regulation and the rewards of free enterprise."] ''Brill's Content''</ref>


In a segment about the extravagant finances and lifestyles of certain [[televangelist]]s, ABC aired an out-of-context clip of TV preacher Frederick Price originally broadcast by the [[Discovery Channel]]. Price sued ABC for defamation and intentional infliction of emotional distress. ABC News has twice aired apologies for the error.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.wavenewspapers.com/default.asp?sourceid=&smenu=71&twindow=&mad=&sdetail=6067&wpage=1&skeyword=&sidate=&ccat=&ccatm=&restate=&restatus=&reoption=&retype=&repmin=&repmax=&rebed=&rebath=&subname=&pform=&sc=1019&hn=wavenewspapers&he=.com | title=Price Strikes Back at ABC | last=Johnson | first=Gene C., Jr. | publisher=Los Angeles Wave | date=[[2007-08-02]] | accessdate=2007-09-26}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url=http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/latimes/access/1309570171.html?dids=1309570171:1309570171&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Jul+25%2C+2007&author=Alana+Semuels&pub=Los+Angeles+Times&edition=&startpage=C.1&desc=TELEVISION%3B+Preacher+sues+%6020%2F20%2C%27+alleging+defamation | title=Preacher sues '20/20,' alleging defamation | publisher=Los Angeles Times | date=[[2007-07-25]] | last=Semuels | first=Alana | accessdate=2007-09-26}}</ref> In an article entitled "Sick Sob Stories" written by Stossel, he described the case of Tracy and Julie Pierce that was explored in [[Michael Moore]]'s film, [[Sicko]].<ref>{{cite news | url=http://online.wsj.com/article/SB118964470258225901.html | title=Sick Sob Stories | publisher=Wall Street Journal | last=Stossel | first=John | date=[[2007-09-13]] | accessdate=2007-09-26}}</ref> Julie criticized Stossel's comments saying they were distortions and factual inaccuracies, and that he didn't interview her before writing his opinion piece.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.michaelmoore.com/sicko/news/article.php?id=10226 | title=Open Letter to ABC's John Stossel ... from Julie Pierce, American SiCKO | publisher=Michael Moore | last=Pierce | first=Julie | date=[[2007-09-14]] | accessdate=2007-09-26}}</ref> Stossel expressed sympathy and responded to some of her criticisms.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://abcnews.go.com/2020/Stossel/story?id=3649791&page=1 | title=Stossel Responds to 'Sicko' Letter | publisher=ABC News | date=[[2007-09-25]] | last=Stossel | first=John | accessdate=2007-09-27}}</ref>
In a segment about the extravagant finances and lifestyles of certain [[televangelist]]s, ABC aired an out-of-context clip of TV preacher Frederick Price originally broadcast by the [[Discovery Channel]]. Price sued ABC for defamation and intentional infliction of emotional distress. ABC News has twice aired apologies for the error.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.wavenewspapers.com/default.asp?sourceid=&smenu=71&twindow=&mad=&sdetail=6067&wpage=1&skeyword=&sidate=&ccat=&ccatm=&restate=&restatus=&reoption=&retype=&repmin=&repmax=&rebed=&rebath=&subname=&pform=&sc=1019&hn=wavenewspapers&he=.com | title=Price Strikes Back at ABC | last=Johnson | first=Gene C., Jr. | publisher=Los Angeles Wave | date=[[2007-08-02]] | accessdate=2007-09-26}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url=http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/latimes/access/1309570171.html?dids=1309570171:1309570171&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Jul+25%2C+2007&author=Alana+Semuels&pub=Los+Angeles+Times&edition=&startpage=C.1&desc=TELEVISION%3B+Preacher+sues+%6020%2F20%2C%27+alleging+defamation | title=Preacher sues '20/20,' alleging defamation | publisher=Los Angeles Times | date=[[2007-07-25]] | last=Semuels | first=Alana | accessdate=2007-09-26}}</ref> In an article entitled "Sick Sob Stories" written by Stossel, he described the case of Tracy and Julie Pierce that was explored in [[Michael Moore]]'s film, [[Sicko]].<ref>{{cite news | url=http://online.wsj.com/article/SB118964470258225901.html | title=Sick Sob Stories | publisher=Wall Street Journal | last=Stossel | first=John | date=[[2007-09-13]] | accessdate=2007-09-26}}</ref> Julie criticized Stossel's comments saying they were distortions and factual inaccuracies, and that he didn't attempt to contact her or her late husband's physicians before writing about them.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.michaelmoore.com/sicko/news/article.php?id=10226 | title=Open Letter to ABC's John Stossel ... from Julie Pierce, American SiCKO | publisher=Michael Moore | last=Pierce | first=Julie | date=[[2007-09-14]] | accessdate=2007-09-26}}</ref> Stossel expressed sympathy and responded to some of her criticisms.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://abcnews.go.com/2020/Stossel/story?id=3649791&page=1 | title=Stossel Responds to 'Sicko' Letter | publisher=ABC News | date=[[2007-09-25]] | last=Stossel | first=John | accessdate=2007-09-27}}</ref>


Politically [[Social progressivism|progressive]] organizations such as [[Fairness and Accuracy In Reporting]] (FAIR),<ref name="fairprofile">{{cite web | url=http://www.fair.org/index.php?page=19&media_outlet_id=19 | title=John Stossel | publisher=Fairness and Accuracy In Reporting | accessdate=2007-09-24}}</ref> [[Media Matters for America]] (MMfA),<ref name="mmprofile">{{cite web | url=http://mediamatters.org/issues_topics/search_results?qstring=john+stossel | title=John Stossel | publisher=Media Matters for America | accessdate=2007-09-24}}</ref> and others<ref name="mtprofile">{{cite web| url=http://www.mediatransparency.org/personprofile.php?personID=92 | title=John Stossel | publisher=Media Transparency | accessdate=2007-09-24}}</ref> have criticized Stossel over his political positions,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ewg.org/files/tamperingwithtruth_letter.pdf | title=Letter from parents to Mr. Stossel | date=2001-06-24| publisher=Environmental Working Group | accessdate=2007-10-06}}</ref> alleged distortion of facts,<ref name="tampering">{{cite news | url=http://www.fair.org/index.php?page=1682 | title=Stossel Tampers with the Facts | publisher=Fairness and Accuracy In Reporting | date=[[2001-07-17]] | accessdate=2007-09-26}}</ref><ref name="denial">{{cite news| url=http://www.fair.org/index.php?page=3120&printer_friendly=1 | title=In Denial on Climate Change | last=Hart | first=Peter | publisher=Fairness and Accuracy In Reporting | date=2007-05 | accessdate=2007-09-26}}</ref><ref name="fair00">{{cite web | url=http://www.fair.org/index.php?page=1887 | title=Stossel's Distortions Finally Catching Up With Him? | publisher=Fairness and Accuracy In Reporting | date=[[2007-08-07]] | accessdate=2007-10-06}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url=http://mediamatters.org/items/200601200003 | title=Stossel presented skewed 20/20 segment on "stupid" public schools | publisher=Media Matters for America | date=[[2006-01-19]] | accessdate=2007-09-26}}</ref> and balance of coverage.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://mediamatters.org/items/200709160003 | title=In health-care special featuring mainly free-market advocates, Stossel endorsed Health Savings Accounts | publisher=Media Matters for America | date=[[2007-09-16]] | accessdate=2007-10-06}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | last=Spencer | first=Miranda | date=1995-05 |url=http://www.fair.org/index.php?page=1286 | title=Desperately Seeking Difference: ABC Finds Biology Is Destiny | publisher=Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting | accessdate=2007-10-06}}</ref> Critics also claim a conflict of interest for Stossel donating profits from his public speaking engagements (as per by his ABC contract) to, among others, a charity that produces a program that features him.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://archive.salon.com/media/feature/2000/02/25/stossel/ | title=Prime-time propagandist | date=[[2000-02-25]] | last=Mastio | first=Daivd | publisher=Salon Media | accessdate=2007-10-06}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.thenation.com/doc/20020107/dowie/3 | title=A Teflon Correspondent | last=Dowie | first=Mark | date=[[2001-12-20]] | accessdate=2007-10-06 | publisher=The Nation}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.thegreatboycott.net/John_Stossel.html | title=John Stossel, Junk Journalism & the Poison Peddlers | publisher=The Great Boycott | last=Keeler | first=Barbara | coauthors=Sterling, Robert | accessdate=2007-10-06}}</ref><ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.mediatransparency.org/recipientprofile.php?recipientID=761 | title=Palmer R. Chitester Fund | publisher=Media Transparency | accessdate=2007-10-06}}</ref> Stossel has responded to some of the criticism.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0106/30/rs.00.html | title=Does David Brock Have Any Credibility Left?; Is John Stossel Challenging Environmentalists or Slanting News? | publisher=CNN | date=[[2001-06-30]] | accessdate=2007-10-06}}</ref><ref>http://www.ewg.org/node/19634</ref><ref name="smearchoice">{{cite news|url=http://www.townhall.com/columnists/JohnStossel/2006/07/26/smearing_education_choice |title=Smearing Education Choice | publisher=Townhall.com | last=Stossel | first=John | date=2006-07-26 | accessdate=2007-09-24}}</ref>
Politically [[Social progressivism|progressive]] organizations such as [[Fairness and Accuracy In Reporting]] (FAIR),<ref name="fairprofile">{{cite web | url=http://www.fair.org/index.php?page=19&media_outlet_id=19 | title=John Stossel | publisher=Fairness and Accuracy In Reporting | accessdate=2007-09-24}}</ref> [[Media Matters for America]] (MMfA),<ref name="mmprofile">{{cite web | url=http://mediamatters.org/issues_topics/search_results?qstring=john+stossel | title=John Stossel | publisher=Media Matters for America | accessdate=2007-09-24}}</ref> and others<ref name="mtprofile">{{cite web| url=http://www.mediatransparency.org/personprofile.php?personID=92 | title=John Stossel | publisher=Media Transparency | accessdate=2007-09-24}}</ref> have criticized Stossel over his political positions,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ewg.org/files/tamperingwithtruth_letter.pdf | title=Letter from parents to Mr. Stossel | date=2001-06-24| publisher=Environmental Working Group | accessdate=2007-10-06}}</ref> alleged distortion of facts,<ref name="tampering">{{cite news | url=http://www.fair.org/index.php?page=1682 | title=Stossel Tampers with the Facts | publisher=Fairness and Accuracy In Reporting | date=[[2001-07-17]] | accessdate=2007-09-26}}</ref><ref name="denial">{{cite news| url=http://www.fair.org/index.php?page=3120&printer_friendly=1 | title=In Denial on Climate Change | last=Hart | first=Peter | publisher=Fairness and Accuracy In Reporting | date=2007-05 | accessdate=2007-09-26}}</ref><ref name="fair00">{{cite web | url=http://www.fair.org/index.php?page=1887 | title=Stossel's Distortions Finally Catching Up With Him? | publisher=Fairness and Accuracy In Reporting | date=[[2007-08-07]] | accessdate=2007-10-06}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url=http://mediamatters.org/items/200601200003 | title=Stossel presented skewed 20/20 segment on "stupid" public schools | publisher=Media Matters for America | date=[[2006-01-19]] | accessdate=2007-09-26}}</ref> and balance of coverage.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://mediamatters.org/items/200709160003 | title=In health-care special featuring mainly free-market advocates, Stossel endorsed Health Savings Accounts | publisher=Media Matters for America | date=[[2007-09-16]] | accessdate=2007-10-06}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | last=Spencer | first=Miranda | date=1995-05 |url=http://www.fair.org/index.php?page=1286 | title=Desperately Seeking Difference: ABC Finds Biology Is Destiny | publisher=Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting | accessdate=2007-10-06}}</ref> Critics also claim a conflict of interest for Stossel donating profits from his public speaking engagements (as per by his ABC contract) to, among others, a charity that produces a program that features him.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://archive.salon.com/media/feature/2000/02/25/stossel/ | title=Prime-time propagandist | date=[[2000-02-25]] | last=Mastio | first=Daivd | publisher=Salon Media | accessdate=2007-10-06}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.thenation.com/doc/20020107/dowie/3 | title=A Teflon Correspondent | last=Dowie | first=Mark | date=[[2001-12-20]] | accessdate=2007-10-06 | publisher=The Nation}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.thegreatboycott.net/John_Stossel.html | title=John Stossel, Junk Journalism & the Poison Peddlers | publisher=The Great Boycott | last=Keeler | first=Barbara | coauthors=Sterling, Robert | accessdate=2007-10-06}}</ref><ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.mediatransparency.org/recipientprofile.php?recipientID=761 | title=Palmer R. Chitester Fund | publisher=Media Transparency | accessdate=2007-10-06}}</ref> Stossel has responded to some of the criticism.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0106/30/rs.00.html | title=Does David Brock Have Any Credibility Left?; Is John Stossel Challenging Environmentalists or Slanting News? | publisher=CNN | date=[[2001-06-30]] | accessdate=2007-10-06}}</ref><ref>http://www.ewg.org/node/19634</ref><ref name="smearchoice">{{cite news|url=http://www.townhall.com/columnists/JohnStossel/2006/07/26/smearing_education_choice |title=Smearing Education Choice | publisher=Townhall.com | last=Stossel | first=John | date=2006-07-26 | accessdate=2007-09-24}}</ref>

Revision as of 17:37, 8 October 2007

John Stossel
John Stossel speaking at the Free State Project's New Hampshire Liberty Forum.
Born (1947-03-06) March 6, 1947 (age 77)
Chicago Heights, Illinois, United States
EducationB.A. in psychology, Princeton University (1969)
Occupation(s)Journalist, author

John F. Stossel (born 6 March 1947) is a consumer reporter, author and co-anchor for the ABC News show 20/20.[1] Stossel practices advocacy journalism, which has resulted in frequent criticism from organizations that disagree with him. His reports, a blend of commentary and reporting, reflect his libertarian political philosophy, his views on economics (largely consistent with those of the Chicago school), and his skepticism of conventional wisdom. In his decades as a reporter, Stossel has received numerous honors and awards for his reports, as well as attracted criticism.

Stossel began his journalism career as a researcher for KGW-TV and later became a consumer reporter at WCBS-TV in New York City before joining ABC News as consumer editor and reporter on Good Morning America. Stossel went on to be a ABC News correspondent, joining the weekly news magazine program 20/20. Stossel has also written two books entitled Give Me a Break and Myths, Lies, and Downright Stupidity.

Biography and work

Education and Early career

John Stossel was born in Chicago Heights, IL, the second of two boys.[2] He overcame a stuttering problem so he could become a reporter. Stossel graduated from Princeton University with a BA in Psychology in 1969 and was a member of Princeton Tower Club while there. He began his journalism career as a researcher for KGW-TV in Portland, Oregon. He later became a consumer reporter at WCBS-TV in New York City before joining ABC News as consumer editor and reporter on Good Morning America.

Personal life

Stossel lives in New York City with his wife and their two children.[3] John's older brother, Tom, is a doctor.[2]

20/20

Stossel joined the weekly news magazine program 20/20 in 1981, initially as correspondent. His "Give Me a Break" segments featured a skeptical look at subjects ranging from government regulations and pop culture to censorship and unfounded fear. The series was spun off into a series of one-hour specials, beginning 1994, with titles including "Stupid in America", "Are We Scaring Ourselves to Death?", "Junk Science: What You Know That May Not Be So", "Boys and Girls Are Different", "Freeloaders", "Greed", "Is America #1?", "You Can't Say That!", "Stossel Goes to Washington", "The Power of Belief", "Sick in America". In May 2003 he became co- anchor.

Publications

Myths, Lies, and Downright Stupidity, authored by John Stossel, was published on May 1, 2005.

Stossel has written two books. Give Me a Break: How I Exposed Hucksters, Cheats, and Scam Artists and Became the Scourge of the Liberal Media is an autobiography documenting his career and philosophical transition from liberalism to libertarianism. It describes his opposition to government regulation, his belief in free market and private enterprise, support for tort reform, and advocacy for shifting social services from the government to private charities. It was a New York Times bestseller for 11 weeks.[4] Myths, Lies, and Downright Stupidity: Get Out the Shovel — Why Everything You Know Is Wrong questions the validity of various conventional wisdoms, and argues that the belief he is conservative is untrue.

With financial support from the libertarian Palmer R. Chitester Fund, Stossel and ABC News launched a series of educational materials for public schools in 1999 entitled "Stossel in the Classroom".[5] In 2006, Stossel and ABC released Teaching Tools for Economics, a video series based on the National Council of Economics Education standards.[6]

Philosophical influences

Contrarianism

Many of Stossel's news reports and writings reflect a disagreement wtih popular beliefs. His Myths and Lies series of 20/20 specials challenges a wide range of deeply held beliefs. He also hosted The Power of Belief (October 6, 1998), an ABC News Special that focused on paranormal claims and people's desire to believe. Stossel supports Steven Milloy's claim that opposition to DDT is misplaced.[7] He is a global warming skeptic, agreeing that the phenomenon exists but arguing that science is not settled on whether it is caused by humans.[8] He argues that the World Wildlife Fund, Greenpeace, Rachel Carson, the Environmental Defense Fund, the Natural Resources Defense Council, and former U.S. Vice President Al Gore engage in environmental scaremongering on the subject.[9] He was one of a handful of media personalities named by environmentalist Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. as "these Flat Earthers, these corporate toadies, lying to you, lying to the American public, and telling you that global warming doesn't exist ...."[10]

Libertarianism

Stossel is one of the few libertarians in mainstream media. As a libertarian, Stossel believes in both personal freedom and the free market. He frequently uses television airtime to advance these views[citation needed] and challenge viewers' distrust of free market capitalism and economic competition. He told The Oregonian, on 26 October 1994:

I started out by viewing the marketplace as a cruel place, where you need intervention by government and lawyers to protect people. But after watching the regulators work, I have come to believe that markets are magical and the best protectors of the consumer. It is my job to explain the beauties of the free market.

Stossel's argues that personal greed creates an incentive to work and to innovate.[11] He has promoted school choice as a way to improve American schools, because he believes that when people are given a choice they will choose the better schools for their children.[12] Referring to educational tests that rank American students lower than others he says:

The people who run the international tests told us, "the biggest predictor of student success is choice." Nations that "attach the money to the kids" and thereby allow parents to choose between different public and private schools have higher test scores. This should be no surprise; competition makes us better.[13]

He has also criticized many government programs as inefficient, wasteful, and harmful.[14]

Awards, praise, and controversies

Awards

Stossel has won many awards, including 19 Emmy Awards. In one year, according to Stossel in his book Give Me A Break, "I got so many Emmys, another winner thanked me in his acceptance speech 'for not having an entry in this category'." Stossel has been honored five times for excellence in consumer reporting by the National Press Club, and has received the George Polk Award for Outstanding Local Reporting and the Peabody Award. In 2006 Ed Sigall, in an article in NewsMax.com, wrote that Stossel had not been given any awards for his work after he began espousing libertarian opinions.[15]

Praise

Nobel Prize-winning economist Milton Friedman once described John Stossel by saying, "Stossel is that rare creature, a TV commentator who understands economics, in all its subtlety."[16] An article published by the libertarian group Advocates for Self Government notes praise for Stossel.[17] Anthony Gregor, writing on LewRockwell.com, described Stossel as a "heroic rogue... a media maverick and proponent of freedom in an otherwise statist, conformist mass media."[18] The Republican Liberty Caucus mentions his "concise libertarian messages"[19] and investment analyst Mark Skousen said Stossel is "a true libertarian hero."[20]

Controversies

In a story on organic food, Stossel claimed that ABC News tests had shown that neither organic nor conventional produce samples contained any pesticide residue.[21] The Environmental Working Group revealed that the produce samples had been tested only for bacteria. The story was rebroadcast with the inaccurate statement uncorrected.[22][23][24] ABC news found the producer to be at fault and suspended him for a month, and also reprimanded Stossel, who issued an apology over the incident.[25] In a story on laissez-faire economics, liberal economist James K. Galbraith said Stossel took a short interview clip out of context and that he was making the opposite point.[26] Stossel defended the overall work but acknowledged the possibility of error. Todd Seavey, the associate producer who conducted the interview, denied that there was any distortion.[27]

In a segment about the extravagant finances and lifestyles of certain televangelists, ABC aired an out-of-context clip of TV preacher Frederick Price originally broadcast by the Discovery Channel. Price sued ABC for defamation and intentional infliction of emotional distress. ABC News has twice aired apologies for the error.[28][29] In an article entitled "Sick Sob Stories" written by Stossel, he described the case of Tracy and Julie Pierce that was explored in Michael Moore's film, Sicko.[30] Julie criticized Stossel's comments saying they were distortions and factual inaccuracies, and that he didn't attempt to contact her or her late husband's physicians before writing about them.[31] Stossel expressed sympathy and responded to some of her criticisms.[32]

Politically progressive organizations such as Fairness and Accuracy In Reporting (FAIR),[33] Media Matters for America (MMfA),[34] and others[35] have criticized Stossel over his political positions,[36] alleged distortion of facts,[37][38][39][40] and balance of coverage.[41][42] Critics also claim a conflict of interest for Stossel donating profits from his public speaking engagements (as per by his ABC contract) to, among others, a charity that produces a program that features him.[43][44][45][46] Stossel has responded to some of the criticism.[47][48][13]

Schults attack

On December 28, 1994, during an interview for 20/20 on professional wrestling, wrestler David Schults assaulted Stossel after Stossel asked if professional wrestling was fake. Stossel claimed that he still suffered from pain and buzzing in his ears eight weeks after the assault.[49] Stossel sued and obtained a settlement from the WWF.[citation needed] Schults maintains that he attacked Stossel on orders from Vince McMahon, the head of the WWF.[50]

Notes

  1. ^ Stossel, John (2007-02-27). "Excerpt: John Stossel's 'Give Me a Break'". ABC News. Retrieved 2007-04-13. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  2. ^ a b "John Stossel". Notable Names Database. Retrieved 2007-09-24.
  3. ^ "John Stossel Biography". HarperCollins. Retrieved 2007-09-24.
  4. ^ "Columns by John Stossel". Townhall.com. Retrieved 2007-09-24.
  5. ^ Rose, Ted (2000-03). "Laissez-Faire TV". Media Transparency. Retrieved 2007-09-24. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  6. ^ "Teaching Tools for Economics from John Stossel". ABC News. 2007-04-29. Retrieved 2007-09-24. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  7. ^ Stossel, John (2006-10-04). "Hooray for DDTS Lifesaving". Real Clear Politics. Retrieved 2007-09-24. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  8. ^ Stossel, John (2007-04-20). "The Global Warming Myth?". ABC News. Retrieved 2007-09-24. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  9. ^ Stossel, John (2006-07-05). "A Convenient Lie". Real Clear Politics. Retrieved 2007-09-24. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  10. ^ Johnson, Richard (July 13, 2007). "Warming War Has Foes on Fire". New York Post. Retrieved 2007-10-02.
  11. ^ Stossel, John (2006-04-26). "Greed is good". Townhall.com. Retrieved 2007-09-24. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  12. ^ Stossel, John (2006-08-30). "Schools need competition now". Townhall.com. Retrieved 2007-09-24. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  13. ^ a b Stossel, John (2006-07-26). "Smearing Education Choice". Townhall.com. Retrieved 2007-09-24. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help) Cite error: The named reference "smearchoice" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
  14. ^ Stossel, John (2006-08-16). "Does Government Stupidity Know Any Bounds". Townhall.com. Retrieved 2007-09-24. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  15. ^ Sigall, Ed (2006-06-03). "John Stossel: Not Afraid to Tell the Truth". NewsMax. Retrieved 2007-09-24. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  16. ^ "Confessions of a Media Maverick: Exposing Hucksters, Cheats and Scam Artists". The Independent Institute Conference Center. 2004-01-30. Retrieved 2007-09-24. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  17. ^ "John Stossel - Libertarian". Advocates for Self-Government. Retrieved 2007-07-10.
  18. ^ Gregory, Anthony (2005-01-11). "Real TV News". LewRockwell.com. Retrieved 2007-09-24. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  19. ^ "Libertarian". Republican Liberty Caucus. Retrieved 2007-09-24.
  20. ^ Skousen, Mark (2003-02-01). "A Year at FEE". Forecasts & Strategies. Retrieved 2007-09-24. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  21. ^ "Give Me a Fake: Stossel Under Fire". Environmental Working Group. 2000-09-06. Retrieved 2007-09-26. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  22. ^ Rutenberg, Jim (2000-07-31). "Report on Organic Foods Is Challenged". The New York Times. Retrieved 2007-09-01. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  23. ^ Rutenberg, Jim (2000-08-14). "MEDIA; Apology Highlights ABC Reporter's Contrarian Image". The New York Times. Retrieved 2007-09-05. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  24. ^ McElroy, Wendy (2000-08-15). "Blaspheming Organic Food: The Persecution of John Stossel". LewRockwell.com. Retrieved 2007-09-26. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  25. ^ Stossel, John (2000-08-11). "20/20: Stossel Apology for Organic Food Report". ABC News. Retrieved 2007-09-26. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  26. ^ http://www.fair.org/index.php?page=1134
  27. ^ Rose, Ted (March 2000) "Laissez-Faire TV: ABC's John Stossel is a man on a mission to teach Americans about the evils of government regulation and the rewards of free enterprise." Brill's Content
  28. ^ Johnson, Gene C., Jr. (2007-08-02). "Price Strikes Back at ABC". Los Angeles Wave. Retrieved 2007-09-26. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  29. ^ Semuels, Alana (2007-07-25). "Preacher sues '20/20,' alleging defamation". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2007-09-26. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  30. ^ Stossel, John (2007-09-13). "Sick Sob Stories". Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 2007-09-26. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  31. ^ Pierce, Julie (2007-09-14). "Open Letter to ABC's John Stossel ... from Julie Pierce, American SiCKO". Michael Moore. Retrieved 2007-09-26. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  32. ^ Stossel, John (2007-09-25). "Stossel Responds to 'Sicko' Letter". ABC News. Retrieved 2007-09-27. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  33. ^ "John Stossel". Fairness and Accuracy In Reporting. Retrieved 2007-09-24.
  34. ^ "John Stossel". Media Matters for America. Retrieved 2007-09-24.
  35. ^ "John Stossel". Media Transparency. Retrieved 2007-09-24.
  36. ^ "Letter from parents to Mr. Stossel" (PDF). Environmental Working Group. 2001-06-24. Retrieved 2007-10-06.
  37. ^ "Stossel Tampers with the Facts". Fairness and Accuracy In Reporting. 2001-07-17. Retrieved 2007-09-26. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  38. ^ Hart, Peter (2007-05). "In Denial on Climate Change". Fairness and Accuracy In Reporting. Retrieved 2007-09-26. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  39. ^ "Stossel's Distortions Finally Catching Up With Him?". Fairness and Accuracy In Reporting. 2007-08-07. Retrieved 2007-10-06. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  40. ^ "Stossel presented skewed 20/20 segment on "stupid" public schools". Media Matters for America. 2006-01-19. Retrieved 2007-09-26. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  41. ^ "In health-care special featuring mainly free-market advocates, Stossel endorsed Health Savings Accounts". Media Matters for America. 2007-09-16. Retrieved 2007-10-06. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  42. ^ Spencer, Miranda (1995-05). "Desperately Seeking Difference: ABC Finds Biology Is Destiny". Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting. Retrieved 2007-10-06. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  43. ^ Mastio, Daivd (2000-02-25). "Prime-time propagandist". Salon Media. Retrieved 2007-10-06. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  44. ^ Dowie, Mark (2001-12-20). "A Teflon Correspondent". The Nation. Retrieved 2007-10-06. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  45. ^ Keeler, Barbara. "John Stossel, Junk Journalism & the Poison Peddlers". The Great Boycott. Retrieved 2007-10-06. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  46. ^ "Palmer R. Chitester Fund". Media Transparency. Retrieved 2007-10-06.
  47. ^ "Does David Brock Have Any Credibility Left?; Is John Stossel Challenging Environmentalists or Slanting News?". CNN. 2001-06-30. Retrieved 2007-10-06. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  48. ^ http://www.ewg.org/node/19634
  49. ^ Kaplan, Peter W. (1985-02-23). "TV Notes;ABC Reporter May Sue Wrestler Who Hit Him". New York Times. Retrieved 2007-09-28. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  50. ^ Johnson, Steven (2006-10-08). "Dr. D dominates PWHF dinner". Canoe. Retrieved 2007-09-26. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)

Further reading

  • John, Stossel (2007). Myths, Lies and Downright Stupidity: Get Out the Shovel - Why Everything You Know is Wrong (Paperback ed.). Hyperion. ISBN 0-78689-393-1.
  • John, Stossel (2005). Give Me a Break: How I Exposed Hucksters, Cheats, and Scam Artists and Became the Scourge of the Liberal Media... (Paperback ed.). Harper Paperbacks. ISBN 0-06-052915-6.

Biographies of, and articles about, Stossel

Articles by Stossel

Stossel Supporters and Critics

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