Category Archives: The Scoop

by Sandi Dolbee The polarizing notion that the United States is a “(Judeo-)Christian” nation–and the reluctance of politicians and media types to challenge or complicate that idea–is nowhere more apparent than at Ground Zero. First, some background. As Courtney Bender … Continue reading →

by Maura Jane Farrelly The New York Times' Executive Editor Bill Keller struck a nerve when his weekly column in the Times Magazine called for journalists to pay “closer attention” to what the GOP's candidates for president “say about their … Continue reading →

by Nicole Neroulias The ten-year anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks is a few weeks away, and American Muslims, interfaith advocates and the mainstream media are switching to offense against the inevitable Islamophobia kicked up by this tragic day. Life … Continue reading →

by Sarah M. Pike Three young men known as the “West Memphis Three” were released last week after spending half their lives in prison largely because they were teenage outcasts who wore black clothing and listened to heavy metal music. … Continue reading →

Last month hundreds of Israelis launched a protest against the government's economic policies, which have led to sky-high costs for basic necessities. The widening gulf between the country's super-rich and everyone else has placed home ownership out of reach for … Continue reading →

by Judith Weisenfeld Recently in New York, a court-appointed psychiatrist found 35-year-old Levi Aron competent to stand trial for the murder of 8-year-old Leiby Kletzky. Aron has confessed to kidnapping, killing and dismembering the boy, who had become lost while … Continue reading →

by Chris Tokuhama In a widely anticipated move, Texas governor Rick Perry officially declared his candidacy for the Republican presidential nomination this Saturday. Perry's entry into the campaign, coming on the heels of his controversial faith-based rally, “The Response,” reminds … Continue reading →

by Courtney Bender An organization called the American Atheists recently filed suit to block the installation of a crossbeam “cross” within the 9/11 National Memorial and Museum. The press has started to cover the ensuing hubbub, but in the midst … Continue reading →

by Richard Flory Coinciding with the beginning of Ramadan, a new report from Gallup examines “U.S. Muslims' Political, Social, and Spiritual Engagement 10 Years After September 11.” What is most interesting about the results of this study is that, compared … Continue reading →

by Judith Weisenfeld To say that journalistic ethics have drawn unfavorable public attention lately would be an understatement. The media coverage of Casey Anthony's trial reached an unprecedented level of intensity, with live television broadcasts from the courtroom and the … Continue reading →