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[[image:CMDlogo.png|thumb|400px||Center for Media and Democracy]]'''The Center for Media and Democracy''' (CMD), is a nationally recognized watchdog founded in 1993 by [[John Stauber]]that leads in-depth investigations into the corruption that undermines our democracy, environment, and economic prosperity. It is a [[progressive]] organization administrated by Stauber <ref>Center for Media and [[Sheldon Rampton]] (amongst othersDemocracy, see "People" below). According to its [httphttps://www.prwatchexposedbycmd.org/about-cmd/indexAbout], ''CMD'', 2022.html </ref> CMD manages this website], CMD "strengthens participatory democracy by investigating and exposing [[public relations]] [[spin]] and [[propaganda]]SourceWatch.org, and by promoting [[media]] literacy ALECExposed.org. CMD publishes original research and featured documents it obtains on its blog [[citizen journalism]https://www.exposedbycmd.org ExposedbyCMD.org]."

Center for Media and Democracy<br>520 University Ave.<br>Suite 227<br>Madison, WI 53703<br>phone CMD is a 501(c)(6083) 260-9713<br>fax: 608tax-260exempt non-9714<br>Email: email editor AT prwatch.org <br>Web: http://www.prwatchprofit.org/

== Other organizations with similar names News==CMD was founded in 1993. Since then a number of other '''unaffiliated''' organizations with similar names have arisen. They also are named, or have in their name, "The latest news from the Center for Media and Democracy." These different groups include:*[[CMD Pakistan]] - a civil society group in Pakistan, which says can be found on its goal is "to ensure free, fair and transparent holding of upcoming general elections" (in February 2008) blog [httphttps://www.cmdpakistanexposedbycmd.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=24&Itemid=51]*[[Schumann Center for Media and Democracyhere]] - a foundation based in New Jersey, which focuses on the environment, good governance and media issues*[[DeWitt Wallace Center for Media and Democracy]] - a research center at Duke University that supports "democratic free media in the United States and around the globe" [http://www.pubpol.duke.edu/centers/dewitt/about.html]*[[CCTV Center for Media and Democracy]] - a Burlington, Vermont community media center (CCTV stands for Chittenden Community Television) with a mission of ensuring "free speech and opportunity in the increasingly centralized and commercialized world of electronic media" [http://www.cctv.org/index.php?SiteAlias=cctv&PageAlias=CCTV_About]

== Non-Partisan Advocacy and Reporting = Example of CMD's Critiques ===

The group presents itself CMD book ''[[Banana Republicans]]'' documents that the right wing in the United States regards politics as a nonpartisan media research organizationform of "war by other means. Some dispute the characterization" The book notes that notwithstanding self-named "conservatives" have a "stated aversion to 'big government, citing ' when in control of the writings of federal government they did not hesitate to expand its founderpowers in precisely those areas that are most threatening to individual freedoms, through the writer[[Patriot Act I|USA Patriot Act]] and other measures that authorize spying on citizens and detentions without trial. The likelihood that such inherently abusive powers will be misused has increased, political activistmoreover, as the [[conservative]] movement accuses its ideological adversaries of 'treason, ' '[[terrorism]]' and environmentalist John Stauber who describes himself as "a democracy activist in leadership roles since highschool around controversial issues 'un-Americanism,' threatening long-standing traditions of wartolerance and diversity. ... In sum, peacethe direction in which forces in the [[GOP]] are moving looks - at times absurdly, public affairsat times ominously - similar to the 'banana republics' of Latin America: nations dominated by narrow corporate elites, environmental health and social justicewhich use the pretext of national security to violate the rights of their citizens."

In their 2004 The bookwarns that one-party domination of politics carries the danger of "incestuous amplification," a tendency for policymakers to "only listens to those who are already in lock-step agreement, reinforcing set beliefs and creating a situation ripe for miscalculation." It notes that in one-party dictatorships like Hitler's Germany or Stalin'[[Banana Republicans]]''s Soviet Union, "hierarchical, command-driven social systems" were "notorious for their tendency to make disastrous decisions, CMD staff members Sheldon Rampton in the areas of both domestic and John Stauber document that the right wing in foreign policy." With regard to the United States regards politics as a form of , the book argues that "incestuous amplification"war by other meanshelps explain " and how the [[Bush administration]] managed to convince itself that this philosophy[[Iraq]] truly did possess awesome [[weapons of mass destruction]], combined with that it was closely tied to [[Republican Party|Republicanal Qaeda]] control , and that the people of every branch of the Iraq would greet a U.S. federal government, has moved the United States in the direction of becoming a [[The one-party stateinvasion of Iraq|one-party stateinvasion]]of their country as liberation. They write that notwithstanding conservatives "stated aversion to 'big government,' now that they have Much of the administration''become'' the government they have not hesitated to expand its powers in precisely those areas that are most threatening to individual freedoms, through s intelligence information about Iraq actually came from the [[Patriot Act I|USA Patriot ActIraqi National Congress]] (INC), an organization created and other measures that authorize spying on citizens and detentions without trialfunded by the U.S. The likelihood that those powers will be abused has increased, moreover, as government at the behest of the [[conservativeGeorge H.W. Bush administration|first Bush administration]] movement accuses its ideological adversaries for the purpose of 'treason,' 'creating conditions for [[terrorismSaddam Hussein]]' and 'un-Americanism,' threatening long-standing traditions of tolerance and diversitys overthrow. ... In sumNot surprisingly, the direction in which forces in information from the INC and its head, [[GOPAhmed Chalabi]] are moving looks - at times absurdly, at times ominously - similar tended to reinforce the 'banana republics' already-existing assumptions of Latin America: nations dominated by narrow corporate elitespolicymakers in the second Bush administration, which use even when that information contradicted other reports coming from the pretext of national security to violate the rights of their citizens[[Central Intelligence Agency|U.S. Central Intelligence Agency]]."

Rampton The book argues that incestuous amplification can also distort other areas of knowledge and Stauber warn policy, such as science. It notes that one-party domination of Bush administration routinely subordinated science to politics carries the danger of , with potentially dangerous consequences. "incestuous amplificationTo inform its decisions on issues including sex education, environmental health, [[global warming]], workplace safety and [[HIV/AIDS|AIDS]]," the Bush administration has used a tendency for policymakers variety of political litmus tests to "only listens to those create scientific panels stacked heavily with members who are already in lockhave scant scientific credentials but strong industry ties and right-step agreementwing agendas. It had [[web scrubbing|altered]] official government websites, reinforcing set beliefs removing scientific information that contradicts the political views of industry groups and creating a situation ripe for miscalculationthe conservative movement. In some cases, scientists have been ordered to remain silent by their politically appointed higher-ups." They note ==Criticism==Some contend that in oneCMD is not neutral. CMD has been criticized for having an anti-party dictatorships like Hitler'corporate viewpoint by [[lobbyist]]s Germany or Stalin's Soviet Unionsuch as [[Berman & Co.]], a public affairs firm owned by [[Rick Berman]] specializing in creating [[front groups]] for industry clients in the tobacco, food, "hierarchicalbiotechnology and other sectors. [[ActivistCash.com]], commandan [[industry-driven social systems" were "notorious funded organizations|industry-funded]] website run by Berman & Co. and associated with Berman's [[Center for their tendency to make disastrous decisionsConsumer Freedom]], in the areas of both domestic and foreign policyhas run such critiques."

With regard to the United States, Rampton and Stauber argue that "incestuous amplification" helps explain "how the [[Bush administration]] managed to convince itself that [[Iraq]] truly did possess awesome [[weapons of mass destruction]], that it was closely tied to [[Al Qaeda]], and that the people of Iraq would greet a U==Funding==CMD voluntarily discloses its major funders on its website.S. [[invasion of Iraq|invasion]] of their country as liberation. Much of the administration's intelligence information about Iraq actually came from the [[Iraqi National Congress]] (INC), an organization created The following foundations and funded by the U.S. government at the behest of the [[George H.W. Bush administration|first Bush administration]] for the purpose of creating conditions for [[Saddam Hussein]]'s overthrow. Not surprisinglygenerous individuals have donated $5, the information from the INC and its head, [[Ahmed Chalabi]], tended 000 or more to reinforce support the already-existing assumptions work of policymakers in the second Bush administrationCMD since January 1, even when that information contradicted other reports coming from the [[Central Intelligence Agency|U.S. Central Intelligence Agency]].2020:<ref name="about" />

Rampton and Stauber argue that incestuous amplification can also distort other areas *American Federation of knowledge and policy, such as scienceTeachers*Cloud Mountain Foundation*Common Counsel Foundation*Community Shares of Wisconsin*Craigslist Charitable Fund*CREDOMobile*East Bay Community Foundation*Wendy A. In the Soviet Union, for example, agricultural development was seriously undermined when biologists were charged with sabotage, [[terrorism]] and Trotskyism, fired from their jobs and even killed for perceived deviations from the government's official party line. "Under Republican rule, of course, scientists are not being arrested or shot," they write, "but the Bush administration has begun a disturbing process of subordinating science to politics, with potentially dangerous consequencesFearnside*Andrew J. To inform its decisions on issues including sex education, environmental health, [[global warming]], workplace safety and [[HIV/AIDS|AIDS]], the Bush administration has used a variety of political litmus tests to create scientific panels stacked heavily with members who have scant scientific credentials but strong industry ties and right-wing agendasGoodman*Hopewell Fund*Christina Jonsson Charity*Gordon Lafer*Mindy Loiselle & Lanny Levenson Gift Fund*Madison Community Foundation*Marisla Foundation*Mazess Fund*Stewart R. It has [[web scrubbing|altered]] official government websites, removing scientific information that contradicts the political views of industry groups and the conservative movementMott Foundation*Craig Newmark Philanthropic Fund*Park Foundation*Nancy D. In some cases, scientists have been ordered to remain silent by their politically appointed higher-upsPeterson*Piper Fund*Michael L."Schler*Sustainability Group*Sustainable Grantmaking Partners Fund*Tides Foundation*Trehan Foundation*Wallace Global Fund*Wildbasil Fund

CMD has been criticized for having an anti-corporate viewpoint by [[industry]] [[lobbyist]]s like [[Berman & Co.]], a public affairs firm owned by [[Rick Berman]] specializing in creating [[front groups]] for industry clients in the tobacco, food, biotechnology and other sectors. [[ActivistCash.com]], an [[industry-funded organizations|industry-funded]] website run by Berman & Co. and associated with Berman's [[Center for Consumer Freedom]], has run such critiques. ActivistCash.com accuses CMD ===Board of Directors===As of operating February 2022:<ref name="as do most self-anointed progressive watchdogs, from the presumption that any communication issued from a corporate headquarters must be viewed with a jaundiced eye.about" This website also opines, "If someone in a shirt and tie dares make a profit (especially if food or chemicals are involved), Rampton and Stauber are bound to have a problem with it. Unless, of course, that food is vegetarian, organic, certified fair-trade, shade-grown, biodynamic, or biotech-free, in which case>CMD, the sky's the limit!" See the [httphttps://www.activistcashexposedbycmd.comorg/organization_overview.cfm/oidabout-cmd/12 article on About CMD on ActivistCash.com], and the criticisms section of the [http://en''CMD'', accessed February 2022.wikipedia.org</wiki/SourceWatch Wikipedia article on SourceWatchref>*[[Lisa Graves]]., President*Deborah Bey*Ellen Braune*Cosmo Harrigan*Gordon Lafer*Nancy MacLean*Jan Miyasaki*Bo Yerxa

* ''[http://www.prwatch.org/cmd/prwatch.html PR Watch]'', publishers==Contact Information==Center for Media and Democracy<br>520 University Ave<br>Ste 305<br>* [[SourceWatch]]Madison, hostsWI 53703<br>

* ''[http:==Articles and Resources=====IRS Form 990 Filings===<div class="docframe"><p>2020<//www.prwatch.org/books/tsigfy.html Toxic Sludge is Good For You!]''p>* ''[http<p>{{#widget://www.prwatch.org/books/madcow.html Mad Cow U.S.A.]''*''[httpIframe|url=https://www.prwatchdocumentcloud.org/booksdocuments/experts.html Trust Us, We're Experts! How Industry Manipulates Science 20971359-center-for-media-and Gambles With Your Future]'' -democracy-2020-990|width=350|height=250}}</p>*''[http://www.prwatch.org/books/wmd.html Weapons of Mass Deception: The Uses of Propaganda in Bush's War on Iraq]; [http:/</www.bananarepublicans.org Banana Republicans: How the Right Wing Is Turning America Into a One-Party State]'' div>*''[http://www.prwatch.org/books/tbwe The Best War Ever: Lies, Damned Lies and the Mess in Iraq]''{{Clear}}

== People =====Staff=Books==* ''[httphttps://www.prwatch.org/cmdbooks/biostsigfy.php/John_Stauber John Stauberhtml Toxic Sludge is Good For You!], Executive Director''* ''[httphttps://www.prwatch.org/cmdbooks/biosmadcow.php/Judith_Siers_Poisson Judith Siers-Poisson], Associate Director* [http://wwwhtml Mad Cow U.prwatchS.org/cmd/biosA.php/Sheldon_Rampton Sheldon Rampton], Research Director''* ''[httphttps://www.prwatch.org/cmdbooks/biosexperts.php/Diane_Farsetta Diane Farsettahtml Trust Us, We're Experts! How Industry Manipulates Science and Gambles With Your Future], Senior Researcher'' * ''[httphttps://www.prwatch.org/cmdbooks/bioswmd.php/Patricia_Barden Patricia Barden], Webmaster* [httphtml Weapons of Mass Deception://www.prwatch.org/cmd/bios/Blake_Hall Blake HallThe Uses of Propaganda in Bush's War on Iraq], Senior Web Developer'' * ''[http://www.prwatchbananarepublicans.org/cmd/bios.php/Bob_Burton Bob Burton], SourceWatch Editor* [httpBanana Republicans://www.prwatch.org/cmd/bios/Conor_Kenny Conor KennyHow the Right Wing Is Turning America Into a One-Party State], Congresspedia Editor'' * ''[httphttps://www.prwatch.org/cmd/biosbooks/Anne_Landman Anne Landman], TobaccoWiki Editor* [httptbwe The Best War Ever://www.prwatch.org/cmd/bios/Sari_Williams Sari Williams]Lies, Office Damned Lies and Outreach Managerthe Mess in Iraq]''

===Volunteer Board of DirectorsOther organizations with similar names===* [[David Merritt]]* [[Joe Mendelson]]* [[Inger Stole]]* [[Ellen Braune]]* [[Jan Miyasaki]]* [[John Stauber]] (nonvoting)* [[Anna Lappé]]

== Funding ==CMD was founded in 1993. Since then a number of other '''unaffiliated''' organizations with similar names have arisen. They also are named, or have in their name, "Center for Media and Democracy." These different groups include: Over *[[CMD Pakistan]] - a civil society group in Pakistan, which says its historygoal is "to ensure free, CMD has received over $500 from the following foundations: fair and transparent holding of upcoming general elections" (in February 2008) [http://www.prwatchcmdpakistan.org/financesindex.htmlphp?option=com_content&task=view&id=24&Itemid=51] * [[Bydale FoundationSchumann Center for Media and Democracy]]- a foundation based in New Jersey, which focuses on the environment, good governance and media issues* [[Careth FoundationDeWitt Wallace Center for Media and Democracy]]* - a research center at Duke University that supports "democratic free media in the United States and around the globe" [[Carolyn Foundation]http://www.pubpol.duke.edu/centers/dewitt/about.html]* [[Changing Horizons Charitable TrustCCTV Center for Media and Democracy]]* [[CS Fund]]* [[Deer Creek Foundation]]* [[DJB Foundation]]* [[Educational Foundation - a Burlington, Vermont community media center (CCTV stands for Chittenden Community Television) with a mission of America]]* [[Florence ensuring "free speech and opportunity in the increasingly centralized and John Schumann Foundation]]* commercialized world of electronic media" [[Foundation for Deep Ecology]]* [[Richard http://www.cctv.org/index.php?SiteAlias=cctv& Rhoda Goldman Fund]]* [[Grodzins Fund]]* [[HKH Foundation]]* [[Homeland Foundation]]* [[Jenifer Altman Foundation]]* [[Jessie Smith Noyes Foundation]]* [[Litowitz Foundation]]* [[Ottinger Foundation]]* [[Rockwood Fund]]* [[Roy and Niuta Titus Foundation]]* [[Sperling Foundation]]* [[Stern Family Fund]]* [[Town Creek Foundation]]* [[Turner Foundation]]* [[Winslow Foundation]PageAlias=CCTV_About]

The Center does '''not''' accept corporate, labor union or government grants. [http://prwatch.org==References==<references/finances.html][[Category:Real Economy Project]]>