To the Point

Media Bias and the Middle East Conflict

American interest in the Middle East conflict has reached record levels. But increased interest has brought increased criticism from those most deeply concerned. While Arabs and Palestinians have long complained that American media are biased against them, now Jews and Israelis are saying the same thing. Reports of continuing violence have produced floods of emails, letters, reader boycotts, and cancelled subscriptions. Is the media really biased? How do issues of accuracy, semantics, political ideology and historical perspective complicate reporting? Would either side be satisfied with editorial balance? We hear from supporters of Israel and the Palestinians, and get some journalistic response and analysis. Newsmaker: Slavery Reparations California has become the first state to require insurance companies to compile and publish historical information on slavery. Yesterday, the State Department of Insurance posted the names of more than 600 slaves and 400 slave owners. In the first three hours, its website got 8000 hits. Jason Johnson, who is covering the story for the San Francisco Chronicle, has more on slavery reparations and historical records. Reporter's Notebook: Publishing World's Memoir Mania Leads to Enough About You Memoirs in the publishing business have become big business. But the recent flood of memoir mania has raised questions about why writers are so fascinated by themselves -- and why so many readers care. David Shields, who writes for The New York Times Magazine, Harper's and other magazines, has just published his own memoir, Enough About You. Shields shares his thoughts on culture, literature and his memoir about memoirs.