This post is based upon an interview with veteran reporter and author William Greider. Social Security in Perspective, Part III A conversation with William Greider by Trudy Lieberman in the Columbia Journalism review posted on Dec.21,3010. The interview with Grieder is about how the press miss report the condition and the so called “crisis” of social security. For this post I have taken Greider’s points and applied some of them to reporting on school reform. I am relying upon Greider’s extensive knowledge of economics reporting and applying some of the ideas to reporting on school reform where I see a parallel problem.
Why do many reporters not report on the realities of school change?
They too often rely upon the wisdom of selected “spokespersons” and other elites.
They have been sold a framework of a corporate view of accountability. Corporate sponsored networks and think tanks such as the the Thomas B. Fordham Institute, the Broad Foundation, the Bradley Foundation, the Pacific Research Institute, and the Olin Foundation provide “experts” prepared to give an opinion on short notice to meet a reporters deadline. Most reporters assume that these notables are telling the truth when in fact they are promoting a particular propaganda such as in the film “Waiting for Superman”. Who do they not speak with?- Experienced teachers, professionals with experience working to improve inner city schools for decades for equal opportunity.
The Obama Administration’s appointment of Arne Duncan was symptomatic of the problem. He represents the kind of corporate/media approach to reform. So, reporters can go to the corporate funded foundations and provide “balance” by asking the appointees of the government- they get the same story. In particular recently they have been turning to the Gates and Broad Foundations or the conservative Democrats for Education Reform.
