Pubdate: Sun, 01 Jun 2003 Source: Extra! The Magazine of FAIR (US) Copyright: 2003 Fairness & Accuracy In Reporting Contact: http://www.fair.org/extra/index.html Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/146 Author: Stephen Young Note: The original article referenced in this letter did not mention drug policy, so it was not archived. Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mcwilliams.htm (McWilliams, Peter) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mmj.htm (Cannabis - Medicinal) STOSSEL ON DRUGS - AND OTHER CHEMICALS While I can't dispute many of the criticisms of John Stossel's obviously opinionated reporting in the April EXTRA!, I think it would have been appropriate for the authors to mention at least one instance where Stossel uses his unique position at ABC News to push ideas that progressive readers of EXTRA! would likely embrace. Stossel has been an outspoken critic of the US drug war. He makes no pretense of objectivity on the issue, and I admire him for it. Several of his commentaries and prime time specials have exposed the way the drug war has unjustly filled prisons and diminished civil liberties in this country. When the health of AIDS patient Peter McWilliams was further endangered by federal persecution for McWilliams's use of medical marijuana, Stossel was the only network reporter I'm aware of who covered the story. Stossel followed up too, just after McWilliam's tragic death. In the eight years I've been subscribing to EXTRA!, I've noticed only limited criticism of the horrendous mainstream media coverage of drug policy issues, except for the occasional (though certainly admirable) piece by Mike Males, and some analysis of the CIA/crack/Contra cover-up. For the most part, progressive media outlets like EXTRA! have been far too quiet on the disaster of the drug war and the mainstream media's complicity. Until that changes, I eagerly await Stossel's next attack on the fiasco of modern prohibition. Stephen Young, Editor, DrugSense Weekly, Schaumburg, IL - --- MAP posted-by: Terry Liittschwager