Media Matters for America#Reception and controversies

{{redirect-distinguish-text|Media Matters|the 2002–2012 radio program hosted by Robert W. McChesney}}

{{Infobox organization

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| caption = Screenshot of website, January 4, 2021

| formation = {{start date and age|2004|5|3}}

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| type = 501(c)(3) nonprofit

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| purpose = "Comprehensively monitoring, analyzing, and correcting conservative misinformation in the U.S. media"{{Cite web |date=February 10, 2024 |title=About Us |url=https://www.mediamatters.org/about-us |access-date=February 11, 2024 |website=Media Matters for America |language=en |archive-date=November 1, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231101171057/http://www.mediamatters.org/about-us |url-status=live }}

| headquarters =

| leader_title = President

| leader_name = Angelo Carusone

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| affiliations = American Bridge 21st Century Super PAC, Media Matters Action Network (501(c)(4))

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| name = Media Matters for America

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| founder = David Brock

| founding_location = Washington, D.C., US

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| tax_id = 47-0928008

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| revenue = $19.6 million{{cite web |title=Media Matters For America - Nonprofit Explorer |url=https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/470928008 |website=ProPublica |access-date=March 26, 2025 |language=en |date=May 9, 2013}}

| revenue_year = 2023

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| expenses = $20.8 million

| expenses_year = 2023

| website = {{Official URL}}

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Media Matters for America (MMfA) is a non-profit left-leaning watchdog journalism organization.{{Cite news |last=Russonello |first=Giovanni |date=February 12, 2021 |title=How Conservative Outlets Are Covering Impeachment, or Not |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/02/12/us/fox-news-newsmax-impeachment.html |newspaper=The New York Times |archive-date=February 23, 2021 |access-date=February 24, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210223155128/https://www.nytimes.com/2021/02/12/us/fox-news-newsmax-impeachment.html |url-status=live }} It was founded in 2004 by journalist and political activist David Brock as a counterweight to the conservative Media Research Center.{{cite news|last1=Rutenberg|first1=Jim|title=New Internet Site Turns Critical Eyes and Ears to the Right|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2004/05/03/business/media/03BROC.html|access-date=February 28, 2017|work=The New York Times|date=May 3, 2004|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151104235311/http://www.nytimes.com/2004/05/03/business/media/03BROC.html|archive-date=November 4, 2015|url-status=live}} It seeks to spotlight "conservative misinformation" in the U.S. media; its methods include issuing reports and quick responses.{{cite news |last=Steinberg |first=Jacques |date=October 31, 2008 |title=An All-Out Attack on 'Conservative Misinformation' |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/01/washington/01media.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090425022542/http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/01/washington/01media.html |archive-date=April 25, 2009 |access-date=April 17, 2010 |work=The New York Times |page=A15}} Two example initiatives include the "Drop Fox" campaign (2011–2013) that sought to discredit Fox News' "fair and balanced" claims;{{cite news|last1=Zengerle|first1=Jason|title=If I Take Down Fox, Is All Forgiven?|url=http://nymag.com/news/media/david-brock-media-matters-2011-5/|access-date=October 19, 2015|work=New York|date=May 22, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151022052753/http://nymag.com/news/media/david-brock-media-matters-2011-5/|archive-date=October 22, 2015|url-status=live}} and a 2023 report about X (formerly Twitter) that highlighted antisemitism on the platform.

Organization overview

= Founding =

Media Matters for America was founded in May 2004 by David Brock,{{cite magazine |last=Hiatt |first=Brian |date=July 28, 2019 |title=The 24/7 Fight Against Fox News |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-features/fox-news-media-matters-watchdog-861914/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200115075727/https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-features/fox-news-media-matters-watchdog-861914/ |archive-date=January 15, 2020 |access-date=February 2, 2020 |magazine=Rolling Stone}} a former conservative journalist. Brock said that a central goal would be to monitor journalists and outlets for misleading conservative claims and then to point them out. Brock argued that existing conservative monitoring groups had been doing this and pushing mainstream journalists, the media, and American politics, to the right as a result. Brock founded the group with help from the Center for American Progress.

=Funding=

In 2004, MMfA began with the help of $2 million in donations. That year MMfA received the endorsement of the Democracy Alliance, a partnership of wealthy and politically active progressive donors. The Alliance itself does not fund endorsees, but many wealthy Alliance members acted on the endorsement and donated directly to MMfA.{{cite news|url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/410000040|title=A New Alliance of Democrats Spreads Funding; But Some in Party Bristle at Secrecy and Liberal Tilt|date=July 17, 2006|newspaper=The Washington Post|first1=Jim|last1=VandeHei|first2=Chris|last2=Cillizza|page=A1|access-date=May 3, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203062534/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/washingtonpost/doc/410000040.html|archive-date=December 3, 2013|id={{ProQuest|410000040}} |url-status=live}}{{cite web|title=Wash. Times op-ed expanded on O'Reilly's false attacks on Soros and Media Matters|url=http://mediamatters.org/research/2007/05/09/dobbs-refused-to-correct-debunked-leprosy-stati/141071|publisher=Media Matters for America|date=May 9, 2007|access-date=March 27, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121009171915/http://mediamatters.org/research/2007/05/09/dobbs-refused-to-correct-debunked-leprosy-stati/141071|archive-date=October 9, 2012|url-status=live}}[http://www.hudson.org/files/pdf_upload/Transcript_2006_11_30.pdf#page=21 How Vast The Left Wing Conspiracy?] {{Webarchive|url=http://webarchive.loc.gov/all/20081024154705/http://www.hudson.org/files/pdf_upload/Transcript_2006_11_30.pdf#page=21 |date=October 24, 2008 }}. Hudson Institute, November 30, 2006. In 2010, George Soros donated $1 million to MMfA citing concerns that the "incendiary rhetoric of Fox News hosts may incite violence."{{cite news|last1=Shear|first1=Michael|title=Soros Donates $1 Million to Media Matters|url=http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/10/20/soros-donates-1-million-to-media-matters|access-date=September 10, 2015|work=The New York Times|date=October 20, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150908005612/http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/10/20/soros-donates-1-million-to-media-matters/|archive-date=September 8, 2015|url-status=live}}{{cite web|last=Smith|first=Ben|url=https://www.politico.com/blogs/ben-smith/2010/10/soros-gives-to-media-matters-publicly-030089|title=Soros gives to Media Matters, publicly|work=Politico|date=October 20, 2010|access-date=November 28, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141113065909/http://www.politico.com/blogs/bensmith/1010/Soros_gives_to_Media_Matters_publicly.html|archive-date=November 13, 2014|url-status=live}} During a 2014 CNN interview, David Brock stated that Soros' contributions were "less than 10 percent" of Media Matters' budget.[http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/1404/27/rs.01.html Transcript of David Brock on Soros contributions to Media Matters] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150225025247/http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/1404/27/rs.01.html |date=February 25, 2015 }}, CNN. Retrieved February 24, 2015.{{cite web |last=Hagey |first=Keach |date=October 20, 2010 |title=Soros gives $1 million dollars to Media Matters |url=https://www.politico.com/blogs/onmedia/1010/Soros_gives_1_million_to_Media_Matters.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150313121935/http://www.politico.com/blogs/onmedia/1010/Soros_gives_1_million_to_Media_Matters.html |archive-date=March 13, 2015 |access-date=March 9, 2015 |work=Politico}}

=Personnel=

John Podesta, the former chief of staff to President Bill Clinton, provided office space for Media Matters early in its formation at the Center for American Progress, a Democratic think tank which Podesta established in 2002.{{cite news|title=Switching allegiances|last=Thrush|first=Glenn|url=http://www.newsday.com/news/switching-allegiances-1.690641|date=September 6, 2006|work=Newsday|access-date=May 3, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121010200617/http://www.newsday.com/news/switching-allegiances-1.690641|archive-date=October 10, 2012|url-status=live}} Hillary Clinton advised Media Matters in its early stages out of a belief that progressives should follow conservatives in forming think tanks and advocacy groups to support their political goals.{{cite news|url=http://firstread.nbcnews.com/_news/2007/11/15/4429164-calling-out-media-matters-bias|title=Calling Out Media Matters' Bias|access-date=May 13, 2010|last=Todd|first=Chuck|date=November 15, 2007|publisher=MSNBC|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120804035251/http://firstread.nbcnews.com/_news/2007/11/15/4429164-calling-out-media-matters-bias|archive-date=August 4, 2012|url-status=live}} According to The New York Times, Media Matters "helped lay the groundwork" for Hillary Clinton's 2016 presidential campaign.{{cite news|last1=Schmidt|first1=Michael S.|last2=Confessore|first2=Nicholas|title=Clinton Friend's Memos on Libya Draw Scrutiny to Politics and Business|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/05/19/us/politics/clinton-friends-libya-role-blurs-lines-of-politics-and-business.html|access-date=September 10, 2015|work=The New York Times|date=May 18, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150907020840/http://www.nytimes.com/2015/05/19/us/politics/clinton-friends-libya-role-blurs-lines-of-politics-and-business.html|archive-date=September 7, 2015|url-status=live}}

Media Matters has hired several of the best known political professionals who have worked for Democratic politicians and for other progressive groups.{{cite web |last=York |first=Byron |date=May 28, 2004 |title=David Brock is Buzzing Again |url=http://www.nationalreview.com/article/210853/david-brock-buzzing-again-byron-york |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150511210304/http://www.nationalreview.com/article/210853/david-brock-buzzing-again-byron-york |archive-date=May 11, 2015 |access-date=September 10, 2015 |work=National Review}}{{cite news|url=https://thehill.com/capital-living/20906-fighting-ire-with-fire/|title=Fighting ire with fire|access-date=May 17, 2010|last=Rothstein|first=Betsy|date=November 3, 2008|work=The Hill|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110622014852/http://thehill.com/capital-living/24113-fighting-ire-with-fire|archive-date=June 22, 2011|url-status=live}} In 2004, National Review referred to MMfA staffers who had recently worked on the presidential campaigns of John Edwards and Wesley Clark, for Congressman Barney Frank, and for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee.

Eric E. Burns served as MMfA's president until 2011.{{cite news|url=http://bullfightstrategies.com/press.htm|work=Bullfight Strategies|title=Former Media Matters President Responds to Beck's Fox News Departure|access-date=November 28, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203020302/http://bullfightstrategies.com/press.htm|archive-date=December 3, 2013|url-status=live}} Burns was succeeded by Matt Butler, and then, in 2013, by Bradley Beychok.{{cite news|last1=Tau|first1=Byron|title=Media Matters names new president|url=https://www.politico.com/blogs/media/2013/05/media-matters-names-new-president-163079|access-date=September 10, 2015|work=Politico|date=May 1, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304215143/http://www.politico.com/blogs/media/2013/05/media-matters-names-new-president-163079|archive-date=March 4, 2016|url-status=live}} In late 2016, Angelo Carusone replaced Bradley Beychok as MMfA's president. Under Carusone, the organization's focus has shifted toward focusing on the alt-right, conspiracy theories, and fake news.{{Cite news |last=Gold |first=Hadas |date=December 6, 2016 |title=Media Matters to pivot away from focus on Fox News, as it names new president |url=https://www.politico.com/blogs/on-media/2016/12/media-matters-announces-new-president-and-new-direction-232228 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170413072421/http://www.politico.com/blogs/on-media/2016/12/media-matters-announces-new-president-and-new-direction-232228 |archive-date=April 13, 2017 |access-date=April 12, 2017 |work=Politico}}

In 2014, the staff of Media Matters voted to join the Service Employees International Union (SEIU). Initially, Media Matters management had declined to recognize the union through a card check process, instead exercising its right to force a union election which delayed the process until July when the vote went in favor of unionization.{{cite news|last1=Jamieson|first1=Dave|title=Media Matters Staff Votes To Join Union|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/07/01/media-matters-staff-votes-union_n_5547540.html|access-date=September 10, 2015|work=HuffPost|date=July 1, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150609022324/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/07/01/media-matters-staff-votes-union_n_5547540.html|archive-date=June 9, 2015|url-status=live}}{{cite news |last1=Gold |first1=Hadas |author-link=Hadas Gold |date=April 29, 2014 |title=Media Matters 'not opposed' to unionizing |url=https://www.politico.com/blogs/media/2014/04/media-matters-not-opposed-to-unionizing-187643 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151224092127/http://www.politico.com/blogs/media/2014/04/media-matters-not-opposed-to-unionizing-187643 |archive-date=December 24, 2015 |access-date=September 10, 2015 |work=Politico |type=Blog post}}

In May 2024, a dozen staffers at Media Matters were laid off amid a series of lawsuits and legal investigations by Elon Musk and Republican state attorneys general.{{Cite web |last=Griffing |first=Alex |date=May 23, 2024 |title=Media Matters Staffers Announce Sweeping Lay Offs: 'There's a Reason Far-Right Billionaires Attack' |url=https://www.mediaite.com/news/media-matters-staffers-announce-sweeping-lay-offs-theres-a-reason-far-right-billionaires-attack/ |access-date=May 23, 2024 |website=Mediaite |language=en |archive-date=May 23, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240523215946/https://www.mediaite.com/news/media-matters-staffers-announce-sweeping-lay-offs-theres-a-reason-far-right-billionaires-attack/ |url-status=live }}{{Cite news |last=Baragona |first=Justin |date=May 23, 2024 |title=Media Matters Lays Off a Dozen Staffers Amid Elon Musk Lawsuit |url=https://www.thedailybeast.com/media-matters-lays-off-a-dozen-staffers-amid-elon-musk-lawsuit |access-date=May 24, 2024 |work=The Daily Beast |language=en |archive-date=May 24, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240524152952/https://www.thedailybeast.com/media-matters-lays-off-a-dozen-staffers-amid-elon-musk-lawsuit |url-status=live }}

Initiatives

=Early research=

Media Matters analyzes American news sources from networks and channels to websites, including NBC, ABC, CBS, PBS, CNN, MSNBC, CNBC, OAN, Breitbart and Fox News, as well as conservative talk radios. Its techniques include content analysis, fact checking, monitoring, and comparison of quotes or presentations from media figures to primary documents such as Pentagon or Government Accountability Office reports.{{Citation needed|date=February 2024|reason=Removed WP:synthesis citation that was supporting this sentence}}

Beginning in 2006, Media Matters for America has released a number of studies which documented that Democrats and progressives were outnumbered by Republicans and conservatives in terms of guest appearances on television news programs.{{cite news |last=Brass |first=Kevin |date=March 23, 2007 |title=Media Watch: Sunday Morning Blues? |url=http://www.austinchronicle.com/gyrobase/Issue/column?oid=oid%3A458467 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930171705/http://www.austinchronicle.com/gyrobase/Issue/column?oid=oid:458467 |archive-date=September 30, 2007 |access-date=September 26, 2007 |work=The Austin Chronicle}}{{Better source needed|reason=The current source is insufficiently reliable (WP:NOTRS).|date=February 2024}}

On September 12, 2007, Media Matters released a comprehensive study of 1,377 U.S. newspapers and the 201 syndicated political columnists the papers carry on a regular basis. Media Matters said "in paper after paper, state after state, and region after region, conservative syndicated columnists get more space than their progressive counterparts."{{cite news |date=September 12, 2006 |title=Black and White and Re(a)d All Over: The Conservative Advantage in Syndicated Op-Ed Columnists |url=http://mediamatters.org/research/oped |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121007014810/http://mediamatters.org/research/oped/ |archive-date=October 7, 2012 |access-date=November 4, 2007 |publisher=Media Matters for America}} John Diaz, an editor at the San Francisco Chronicle, cautioned that the small town columnists leaned significantly to the right, which he felt could explain the rightward slant in columnists even if the trend doesn't hold for papers with the largest readership.{{cite news |last=Diaz |first=John |date=September 29, 2007 |title=John Diaz An Editor's Note/Beyond the right-left labels |url=http://www.sfgate.com/politics/article/Beyond-the-right-left-labels-2537719.php |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203012722/http://www.sfgate.com/politics/article/Beyond-the-right-left-labels-2537719.php |archive-date=December 3, 2013 |access-date=November 28, 2013 |work=San Francisco Chronicle}}

= "Misinformer of the Year" =

An annual feature on the Media Matters website is the title of "Misinformer of the Year", which is given to the journalist, commentator, or network that Media Matters contends was responsible for the most factual errors or claims. Past recipients include Rupert Murdoch,{{Cite web |last=Lekach |first=Sasha |date=December 20, 2017 |title='Misinformer of the Year' award goes to Mark Zuckerberg |url=https://mashable.com/article/mark-zuckerberg-fake-news-misinformer-award |access-date=February 11, 2024 |website=Mashable |language=en |archive-date=October 1, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231001165116/https://mashable.com/article/mark-zuckerberg-fake-news-misinformer-award |url-status=live }} Sean Hannity, Glenn Beck, Mark Zuckerberg, and Steve Bannon.{{Cite web |last=Vossoughian |first=Yasmin |title=Steve Bannon named Media Matter's "Misinformer of the Year" |url=https://www.msnbc.com/yasmin-vossoughian-reports/watch/steve-bannon-named-media-matter-s-misinformer-of-the-year-129945669892 |access-date=February 11, 2024 |publisher=MSNBC |language=en |archive-date=May 26, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240526063340/https://www.msnbc.com/yasmin-vossoughian-reports/watch/steve-bannon-named-media-matter-s-misinformer-of-the-year-129945669892 |url-status=live }}

= Progressive Talent Initiative =

The initiative seeks to train mid-career liberal pundits in media skills like TV interviews using four-day bootcamps.{{cite news|last=Horowitz|first=Jason|title=Media Matters boot camp readies liberal policy wonks for the camera's close-up|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/media-matters-boot-camp-readies-liberal-policy-wonks-for-the-cameras-close-up/2011/03/15/AB4TI9EB_print.html|access-date=June 11, 2011|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=March 22, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120415162325/http://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/media-matters-boot-camp-readies-liberal-policy-wonks-for-the-cameras-close-up/2011/03/15/AB4TI9EB_print.html|archive-date=April 15, 2012|url-status=live}}

= Media Matters Action Network =

In 2010 David Brock established Media Matters Action Network, a 501(c)(4), to track conservative politicians and organizations.{{cite news|last=Luo|first=Michael|title=Effort to Set Up Liberal Counterweight to G.O.P. Groups Begins|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/23/us/politics/23money.html|access-date=May 28, 2011|work=The New York Times|date=November 23, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110902234957/http://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/23/us/politics/23money.html|archive-date=September 2, 2011|url-status=live}}

In 2009, Media Matters Action Network launched the Conservative Transparency website, aimed at tracking the funding of conservative activist organizations.{{cite news|last=Eggen|first=Dan|title=Liberal group eyes conservatives' connections|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/11/03/AR2009110300372_pf.html|access-date=June 19, 2011|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=November 3, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121112160549/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/11/03/AR2009110300372_pf.html|archive-date=November 12, 2012|url-status=live}} Media Matters Action Network established the Political Correction project with the goal of holding conservative politicians and advocacy groups accountable.{{cite news|last=Terris|first=Ben|title=Outside Conservative Ads Overwhelming the Midterm Campaigns|work=National Journal|date=October 28, 2010}}

In December 2010, Media Matters Action Network started EqualityMatters.org, a site "in support of gay equality". At launch the site fully incorporated Media Matters's content on LGBT issues.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/20/us/politics/20marriage.html|title=One Battle Won, Gay Activists Shift Sights|author=Sheryl Stolberg|work=The New York Times|date=December 19, 2010|access-date=February 7, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161207132537/http://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/20/us/politics/20marriage.html|archive-date=December 7, 2016|url-status=live}} Designed to provide talking points for liberal activists and politicians, Brock set up the Message Matters project.{{cite news |last=Zengerie |first=Jason |date=May 22, 2011 |title=If I Take Down Fox, Is All Forgiven? |url=http://nymag.com/news/media/david-brock-media-matters-2011-5/index4.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121022155341/http://nymag.com/%2Fnews%2Fmedia%2Fdavid-brock-media-matters-2011-5%2Findex4.html |archive-date=October 22, 2012 |access-date=June 11, 2011 |work=New York}} Media Matters runs the website DropFox.com and works to get advertisers to boycott Fox News. One target, Orbitz, initially referred to Media Matters' efforts as a "smear campaign",{{cite news|last=Bond|first=Paul|title=Orbitz Backs Fox News Channel Amid Media Matters' 'Smear Campaign'|url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/orbitz-backs-fox-news-channel-190372|access-date=May 28, 2011|work=The Hollywood Reporter|date=May 19, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110523052904/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/orbitz-backs-fox-news-channel-190372|archive-date=May 23, 2011|url-status=live}} but agreed, on June 9, 2011, following a three-week effort by prominent LGBT organizations, to "review the policies and process used to evaluate where advertising is placed".{{cite web |author=Rothaus |first=Steve |date=June 9, 2011 |title=Orbitz agrees to review advertising policies following campaign by LGBT groups |url=http://miamiherald.typepad.com/gaysouthflorida/2011/06/orbitz-agrees-to-review-advertising-policy-on-fox-news-channel-following-campaign-by-lgbt-groups.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203013917/http://miamiherald.typepad.com/gaysouthflorida/2011/06/orbitz-agrees-to-review-advertising-policy-on-fox-news-channel-following-campaign-by-lgbt-groups.html |archive-date=December 3, 2013 |access-date=November 28, 2013 |website=Miami Herald |type=Opinion}} In 2015, the formal Equality Matters program was deactivated and merged with the LGBT Program within Media Matters.{{Citation needed|date=June 2024}}

= American Bridge 21st century =

Brock established American Bridge 21st Century as a super PAC focused on opposition research in 2010.{{cite news |last1=Haberman |first1=Maggie |date=July 17, 2015 |title=David Brock, Key Hillary Clinton Ally, to Work More Closely With Her Campaign |url=https://www.nytimes.com/politics/first-draft/2015/07/17/david-brock-key-hillary-clinton-ally-to-work-more-closely-with-her-campaign/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150824055129/http://www.nytimes.com/politics/first-draft/2015/07/17/david-brock-key-hillary-clinton-ally-to-work-more-closely-with-her-campaign/ |archive-date=August 24, 2015 |access-date=September 10, 2015 |work=The New York Times}}

=Don Imus=

On April 4, 2007, Media Matters posted a video clip of Don Imus calling the Rutgers University women's basketball team members "nappy-headed hoes" and made their discovery known in Media Matters' daily e-mailing to hundreds of journalists. According to The Wall Street Journal, top news outlets didn't mention the incident until objections made to CBS Radio by the National Association of Black Journalists led to an on-the-air apology from Imus. MSNBC, calling Imus's comments "racist" and "abhorrent", suspended Imus' show, and within minutes, CBS suspended Imus's radio show. The Wall Street Journal said Imus's apology "seemed to make matters worse, with critics latching on to Mr. Imus's use of the phrase 'you people.'" Included among those dissatisfied with Imus's apology and suspension were the coach of the Rutgers team and a group of MSNBC African-American employees. After Procter & Gamble pulled advertising from all of MSNBC's daytime schedule, and other advertisers, including General Motors and American Express requested CBS to cancel any upcoming advertising they had bought for Imus in the Morning, MSNBC and CBS dropped Imus's show.{{cite news|url=https://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB117641076468168180|title=Behind the Fall of Imus, A Digital Brush Fire|work=The Wall Street Journal|date=April 13, 2007|first=Brooks|last=Barnes|access-date=September 9, 2007|display-authors=etal|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131204151349/http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB117641076468168180|archive-date=December 4, 2013|url-status=live}}

=Rush Limbaugh "phony soldiers"=

In September 2007, Media Matters reported on radio talk show host Rush Limbaugh saying Iraq War veterans opposed to the war were "the phony soldiers". Limbaugh later said he was speaking of only one soldier, Jesse Macbeth, who had falsely claimed to have been decorated for valor but had never seen combat. Limbaugh said he was the victim of a "smear" by Media Matters, which had taken out of context and selectively edited his comments. After Limbaugh published what he said was the entire transcript of phony soldiers discussion, Media Matters reported that over a minute and 30 seconds was omitted without "notation or ellipsis to indicate that there is, in fact, a break in the transcript."{{cite web|title=Limbaugh falsely recasts 'phony soldiers' smear|publisher=Media Matters|date=September 28, 2007|url=http://mediamatters.org/research/2007/09/28/limbaugh-falsely-recasts-phony-soldiers-smear/139980|access-date=August 12, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121010235353/http://mediamatters.org/research/2007/09/28/limbaugh-falsely-recasts-phony-soldiers-smear/139980|archive-date=October 10, 2012|url-status=live}}{{cite web|title=Limbaugh selectively edited 'phony soldiers' clip, claimed it was "the entire transcript"|publisher=Media Matters|date=September 28, 2007|url=http://mediamatters.org/research/2007/09/28/limbaugh-selectively-edited-phony-soldiers-clip/139979|access-date=August 12, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120925014757/http://mediamatters.org/research/2007/09/28/limbaugh-selectively-edited-phony-soldiers-clip/139979|archive-date=September 25, 2012|url-status=live}} Limbaugh told National Review that the gap between referring to "phony soldiers" and MacBeth was a delay because his staff printed out an ABC news story that reported on what it called "phony soldiers" and that his transcript and audio edits were "for space and relevance reasons, not to hide anything."{{cite web |last=York |first=Byron |author-link=Byron York |date=October 3, 2007 |title=Limbaugh Makes His Case |url=http://www.nationalreview.com/articles/222373/limbaugh-makes-his-case/byron-york |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110512221334/http://www.nationalreview.com/articles/222373/limbaugh-makes-his-case/byron-york |archive-date=May 12, 2011 |access-date=August 16, 2010 |work=National Review}}

The Associated Press, CNN, and ABC reported on the controversy,{{cite web |date=October 3, 2007 |title=Rush Limbaugh Comments Spark Outrage |url=https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/Vote2008/story?id=3683929&page=1 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110430072758/https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/Vote2008/story?id=3683929&page=1 |archive-date=April 30, 2011 |access-date=August 16, 2010 |work=ABC News}} as political satirist and fictional pundit Stephen Colbert lampooned Limbaugh and his defenders saying: "Hey, Media Matters, you want to end offensive speech? Then stop recording it for people who would be offended."{{cite web |date=October 9, 2007 |title=Colbert: "Hey, Media Matters, you want to end offensive speech? Then stop recording it for people who would be offended." |url=https://www.mediamatters.org/stephen-colbert/colbert-hey-media-matters-you-want-end-offensive-speech-then-stop-recording-it |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120928202412/http://mediamatters.org/research/2007/10/09/reporting-on-allard-attending-visa-sponsored-ev/141446 |archive-date=September 28, 2012 |access-date=January 9, 2008 |website=Media Matters for America}}

=Bill O'Reilly Harlem restaurant=

In October 2007 television and radio host and commentator Bill O'Reilly said a Media Matters headline declaring "O'Reilly surprised 'there was no difference' between Harlem restaurant and other New York City restaurants" took out of context comments he made regarding a pleasant dinner he shared with Al Sharpton at a Harlem restaurant.{{cite web|url=http://mediamatters.org/research/2007/09/21/oreilly-surprised-there-was-no-difference-betwe/139893|title=Media Matters: O'Reilly surprised "there was no difference" between Harlem restaurant and other New York restaurants|website=Media Matters for America|date=September 21, 2007 |access-date=August 1, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120925014736/http://mediamatters.org/research/2007/09/21/oreilly-surprised-there-was-no-difference-betwe/139893|archive-date=September 25, 2012|url-status=live}}{{cite news|last=Bauder|first=David|title=Bill O'Reilly Says He's Being Smeared|agency=Associated Press|date=September 26, 2007|url=http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/life/people/2007-09-26-oreilly_N.htm|access-date=September 26, 2007|work=USA Today|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121104180656/http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/life/people/2007-09-26-oreilly_N.htm|archive-date=November 4, 2012|url-status=live}}{{cite news |last=O'Reilly |first=Bill |date=September 26, 2007 |title=CNN Goes Over to the Dark Side |url=https://www.foxnews.com/story/cnn-goes-over-to-the-dark-side/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131215225937/http://www.foxnews.com/story/2007/09/26/cnn-goes-over-to-dark-sid-1410350411/ |archive-date=December 15, 2013 |access-date=October 4, 2007 |publisher=Fox News}} O'Reilly said Media Matters misleadingly took comments spoken five minutes apart and presented them as one.{{cite news |last=O'Reilly |first=Bill |date=September 27, 2007 |title=Media Matters and the Corrupt Press on the Run |url=https://www.foxnews.com/story/media-matters-and-the-corrupt-press-on-the-run/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131215143941/http://www.foxnews.com/story/2007/09/27/media-matters-and-corrupt-press-on-run/ |archive-date=December 15, 2013 |access-date=October 4, 2007 |publisher=Fox News}} On NBC's Today, Media Matters senior fellow Paul Waldman said Media Matters had included "the full audio, the full transcript, nothing was taken out of context".{{Cite web |last=Waldman |first=Paul |date=September 26, 2007 |title=Media Matters' Waldman: "[I]f Bill O'Reilly got caught robbing a bank he would say he was taken out of context" |url=https://www.mediamatters.org/nbc/media-matters-waldman-if-bill-oreilly-got-caught-robbing-bank-he-would-say-he-was-taken-out |access-date=June 4, 2024 |website=Media Matters for America |language=en}}

=Laura Schlessinger racial slur=

On August 12, 2010, Media Matters reported that radio host Laura Schlessinger said the word "nigger" eleven times during a discussion with an African-American woman, although Schlessinger did not use the word as a slur. Schlessinger continued to say the word after the caller took offense, saying she thought the woman was being too sensitive and that a double standard was being used to determine who could say the word. Schlessinger also said that those "hypersensitive" about color should not "marry outside of their race". The caller had earlier in the discussion said her husband was white.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/19/arts/television/19laura.html|work=The New York Times|title='Dr. Laura' Retreats After Use of Epithet|first=Joseph|last=Plambeck|date=August 19, 2010|access-date=February 7, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170812102252/http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/19/arts/television/19laura.html|archive-date=August 12, 2017|url-status=live}}{{Cite web |url=http://mediamatters.org/blog/2010/08/12/full-audio-dr-laura-schlessingers-n-word-rant/169161 |title=Full Audio: Dr. Laura Schlessinger's N-word rant |website=Media Matters for America |date=August 12, 2010 |access-date=November 28, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203064119/http://mediamatters.org/blog/2010/08/12/full-audio-dr-laura-schlessingers-n-word-rant/169161 |archive-date=December 3, 2013 |url-status=live }} Schlessinger apologized for the epithet the day after the broadcast. A joint statement of Media Matters and other organizations noted that although Schlessinger "attempted to apologize for using the epithet, the racist diatribe on Tuesday's show extends far beyond the use of a single word" and urged advertisers to boycott her show. After General Motors, OnStar, and Motel 6 pulled their advertising, Schlessinger said she would not renew her syndication contract set to expire December 2010.{{cite news |date=August 20, 2010 |title=Dr. Laura to end her radio show |url=http://www.cnn.com/2010/SHOWBIZ/celebrity.news.gossip/08/17/doctor.laura.ends.show |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100821032559/http://www.cnn.com/2010/SHOWBIZ/celebrity.news.gossip/08/17/doctor.laura.ends.show/ |archive-date=August 21, 2010 |access-date=August 23, 2010 |publisher=CNN}} In January 2011, her show resumed on satellite radio.{{cite web |last=Russian |first=Demian |date=November 29, 2010 |title=Laura Ingraham |url=http://satelliteradioplayground.com/tag/laura-ingraham |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203022012/http://satelliteradioplayground.com/tag/laura-ingraham/ |archive-date=December 3, 2013 |access-date=November 28, 2013 |publisher=Satellite Radio Playground}}

Schlessinger held Media Matters responsible for the boycott, which she called a typical tactic of the group to fulfill its "sole purpose of silencing people". She said the boycotts' "threat of attack on my advertisers and stations" had violated her First Amendment free speech rights.{{cite news |url=http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/1008/17/lkl.01.html |work=Larry King Live|publisher=CNN |title=Dr. Laura to End Her Radio Show (transcript) |date=August 17, 2010 |access-date=February 28, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110512221325/http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/1008/17/lkl.01.html |archive-date=May 12, 2011 |url-status=live }} Media Matters said that, as the boycott was not "government-sanctioned censorship", her First Amendment rights had not been violated.[http://mediamatters.org/blog/2010/08/19/palin-ratchets-up-absurd-and-offensive-defense/169529 Palin ratchets up absurd and offensive defense of Dr. Laura, claims they've been "shackled" by critics] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203065303/http://mediamatters.org/blog/2010/08/19/palin-ratchets-up-absurd-and-offensive-defense/169529 |date=December 3, 2013 }}, MediaMatters.org. Retrieved January 5, 2015.

="Drop Fox" campaign=

During an interview in March 2011, Brock said MMfA would focus its efforts on Fox News and select conservative websites in a new strategy that Brock described as a campaign of "guerrilla warfare and sabotage" and a "war on Fox."{{cite web|url=https://www.politico.com/story/2011/03/media-matters-war-against-fox-051949|title=Media Matters' war against Fox|first=Ben|last=Smith|work=Politico|date=March 26, 2011|access-date=March 27, 2011|author-link=Ben Smith (journalist)|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110328075934/http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0311/51949.html|archive-date=March 28, 2011|url-status=live}}{{cite web |last1=Hayden |first1=Erik |title=The Weird Case Against Media Matters's Non-Profit Status |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2011/03/media-matters-fox/349123/ |website=The Atlantic |access-date=November 30, 2023 |date=March 28, 2011 |archive-date=December 3, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241203061202/https://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2011/03/media-matters-fox/349123/ |url-status=live }} MMfA said the greater attention given to Fox News was part of an initiative to educate the public about what it regarded as the distortions of conservative media, and the greater attention given to Fox News was in line with its prominence. MMfA said its Drop Fox initiative, for advertisers to boycott Fox, was also part of the organization's educational mission. MMfA said that changing Fox, not shutting it down, was its intention.{{cite web |last=Hagey |first=Keach |date=July 7, 2011 |title=Fox News takes on Media Matters |url=https://www.politico.com/story/2011/07/fox-news-takes-aim-at-media-matters-058468 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131204012302/http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0711/58468.html |archive-date=December 4, 2013 |access-date=November 28, 2013 |work=Politico}}

In December 2013, MMfA's then-Executive Vice President Angelo Carusone said "The war on Fox is over. And it's not just that it's over, but it was very successful. To a large extent, we won," claiming to have "effectively discredited the network's desire to be seen as 'fair and balanced.'" Around that time, Glenn Beck had departed the network and Sean Hannity's time slot was moved from 9 p.m. to 10 pm.Terkel, Amanda. [https://www.huffpost.com/entry/media-matters-fox_n_4433207 "Media Matters Declares Victory: 'The War on Fox is Over'"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231121165557/https://www.huffpost.com/entry/media-matters-fox_n_4433207 |date=November 21, 2023 }} The Huffington Post; December 13, 2013. Retrieved January 6, 2015. Other boycotts of cable news programs continued after the campaign, with PolitiFact suggesting that the boycotts are more successful in raising awareness than having an impact on the companies' bottom-line.{{Cite web |last=McCarthy |first=Bill |date=July 22, 2019 |title=The facts on advertiser boycotts against cable news networks |url=https://www.politifact.com/article/2019/jul/22/facts-advertiser-boycotts-against-cable-news-netwo/ |website=PolitiFact |access-date=February 24, 2021 |archive-date=February 24, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210224111710/https://www.politifact.com/article/2019/jul/22/facts-advertiser-boycotts-against-cable-news-netwo/ |url-status=live }}

=Tucker Carlson audio recordings=

In March 2019, MMfA released audio recordings of Fox News host Tucker Carlson, in which he made remarks demeaning to women between 2006 and 2011 on the call-in show hosted by shock jock Bubba the Love Sponge. Among other comments, Carlson called rape shield laws "unfair", defended Mormon fundamentalist church leader Warren Jeffs, who had been charged of child sexual assault, and called women "extremely primitive". After Carlson's remarks had been widely reported, Carlson tweeted: "Media Matters caught me saying something naughty on a radio show more than a decade ago" and declined to apologize.{{Cite web |last=Cummings |first=William |date=March 11, 2019 |title=Tucker Carlson refuses to apologize amid uproar over past comments on 'extremely primitive' women |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2019/03/11/fox-tucker-carlson-bubba-love-sponge-comments-spark-uproar/3127666002/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190728053203/https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2019/03/11/fox-tucker-carlson-bubba-love-sponge-comments-spark-uproar/3127666002/ |archive-date=July 28, 2019 |access-date=March 19, 2019 |website=USA Today |language=en}} The following day, MMfA released a second set of audio recordings in which Carlson referred to Iraqis as "semiliterate primitive monkeys" and said they "don't use toilet paper or forks." Carlson also suggested that immigrants to the U.S. should be "hot" or "really smart" and that white men "created civilization".{{Cite news |last1=Brice-Saddler |first1=Michael |last2=Rosenberg |first2=Eli |date=March 11, 2019 |title=Fox News host Tucker Carlson uses racist, homophobic language in second set of recordings |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/arts-entertainment/2019/03/12/new-tucker-carlson-audio-released-this-time-using-racist-homophobic-language/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190319225139/https://www.washingtonpost.com/arts-entertainment/2019/03/12/new-tucker-carlson-audio-released-this-time-using-racist-homophobic-language/ |archive-date=March 19, 2019 |access-date=March 19, 2019 |newspaper=The Washington Post}}

The Daily Caller, which Carlson co-founded, responded by resurfacing blog posts made by MMfA's president Angelo Carusone. These blog posts included derogatory comments about transvestites, Jews, and people from Japan and Bangladesh. Carusone responded by saying that the posts were supposed to be a "caricature of what a right wing blowhard would sound like if he was living my life" and apologized for the "gross" remarks.{{cite news |last1=Axelrod |first1=Tal |title=Media Matters president facing scrutiny for derogatory comments, racial slurs in resurfaced posts |url=https://thehill.com/homenews/media/433979-media-matters-president-made-insensitive-comments-used-racial-slurs-in/ |work=The Hill |date=March 13, 2019 |language=en |access-date=March 14, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190314235320/https://thehill.com/homenews/media/433979-media-matters-president-made-insensitive-comments-used-racial-slurs-in |archive-date=March 14, 2019 |url-status=live }}{{cite news |last1=Palmer |first1=Ewan |title=Donald Trump Jr. wants to know where's the outrage over Media Matters president's blog comments |url=https://www.newsweek.com/donald-trump-jr-media-matters-angelo-carusone-blog-tucker-carlson-1362709 |work=Newsweek |date=March 14, 2019 |language=en |access-date=March 14, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190314185730/https://www.newsweek.com/donald-trump-jr-media-matters-angelo-carusone-blog-tucker-carlson-1362709 |archive-date=March 14, 2019 |url-status=live }}{{cite news |last1=Levine |first1=Jon |title=Tucker Carlson Lashes Out at Media Matters Chief Angelo Carusone Over Past 'Racist Blog' |url=https://www.thewrap.com/tucker-carlson-lashes-out-at-media-matters-chief-angelo-carusone-over-past-racist-blog/ |work=thewrap.com |access-date=March 14, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190314215212/https://www.thewrap.com/tucker-carlson-lashes-out-at-media-matters-chief-angelo-carusone-over-past-racist-blog/ |archive-date=March 14, 2019 |url-status=live }}{{cite news |last1=Choi |first1=David |title='Everything is irony': Fox News' Tucker Carlson fires back at progressive watchdog amid resurrected offensive statements |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/fox-news-tucker-carlson-media-matters-blog-posts-2019-3 |work=Business Insider |access-date=March 14, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190328043409/https://www.businessinsider.com/fox-news-tucker-carlson-media-matters-blog-posts-2019-3 |archive-date=March 28, 2019 |url-status=live }}

=Antisemitism on X (formerly Twitter)=

In November 2023, Media Matters published analysis indicating that advertisements of major firms such as IBM were being displayed on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter) next to user posts containing antisemitic content, including praise for Adolf Hitler and Nazis. Several prominent companies suspended their advertising on the platform in reaction to the study and to some of Musk's recent posts.{{cite news |last1=Taylor |first1=Harry |date=November 18, 2023 |title=Elon Musk to file 'thermonuclear lawsuit' as advertisers desert X |url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2023/nov/18/elon-musk-to-file-thermonuclear-lawsuit-as-advertisers-desert-x |work=The Guardian |archive-date=November 19, 2023 |access-date=November 20, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231119192505/https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2023/nov/18/elon-musk-to-file-thermonuclear-lawsuit-as-advertisers-desert-x |url-status=live }}{{cite news |last1=Montgomery |first1=Blake |date=November 17, 2023 |title=White House condemns Elon Musk's 'abhorrent' antisemitic tweets |url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2023/nov/17/white-house-biden-elon-musk-antisemitic-tweet-hate |work=The Guardian |archive-date=November 23, 2023 |access-date=November 20, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231123040538/https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2023/nov/17/white-house-biden-elon-musk-antisemitic-tweet-hate |url-status=live }}{{Cite news |last=Montgomery |first=Blake |date=November 17, 2023 |title=Apple, Disney and IBM to pause ads on X after antisemitic Elon Musk tweet |url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2023/nov/17/elon-musk-antisemitic-tweet-apple-pausing-ads |access-date=November 21, 2023 |work=The Guardian}}

Lawsuit and state investigations

On November 20, 2023, X Corp. owner Elon Musk filed a suit in a Texas court alleging Media Matters defamed the platform with the intention of hurting its advertising revenues. According to the lawsuit, Media Matters had "manufactured side-by-side images depicting advertisers' posts on X Corp's social media platform beside Neo-Nazi and white-nationalist fringe content", falsely portraying the juxtaposition as a routine occurrence on X.{{Cite news |last=Matza |first=Max |date=November 21, 2023 |title=Elon Musk's X sues Media Matters over antisemitism analysis |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-67482231 |access-date=October 21, 2024 |publisher=BBC |language=en-GB |archive-date=November 21, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231121021824/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-67482231 |url-status=live }} Media Matters called the complaint frivolous and an attempt to silence their reporting.{{Cite news |last=Ortutay |first=Barbara |date=November 20, 2023 |title=Musk's X sues liberal advocacy group Media Matters over its report on ads next to hate groups' posts |agency=Associated Press |url=https://apnews.com/article/elon-musk-media-matters-lawsuit-advertising-neonazi-1fe499daa600f513af27ffa68d2e8b91 |url-status=live |access-date=November 21, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231121094525/https://apnews.com/article/elon-musk-media-matters-lawsuit-advertising-neonazi-1fe499daa600f513af27ffa68d2e8b91 |archive-date=November 21, 2023}}{{Cite news |last=Dang |first=Sheila |date=November 21, 2023 |title=X sues Media Matters after report about ads next to antisemitic content |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/legal/x-sues-media-matters-after-report-about-ads-next-antisemitic-content-2023-11-20/ |url-status=live |access-date=November 21, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231121011933/https://www.reuters.com/legal/x-sues-media-matters-after-report-about-ads-next-antisemitic-content-2023-11-20/ |archive-date=November 21, 2023}}{{cite news |last=Matza |first=Max |date=November 20, 2023 |title=Elon Musk's X sues Media Matters over antisemitism analysis |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-67482231 |publisher=BBC news |archive-date=November 21, 2023 |access-date=November 21, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231121021824/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-67482231 |url-status=live }} Legal experts criticized Musk's lawsuit, deeming it "frivolous" or "bogus", and saying that it contradicts the First Amendment.{{Cite web |last=Fung |first=Brian |date=November 21, 2023 |title=Legal critics blast Elon Musk's lawsuit against Media Matters as 'weak' and 'bogus' |url=https://www.cnn.com/2023/11/21/tech/elon-musk-texas-lawsuit-media-matters/index.html |access-date=December 24, 2023 |website=CNN Business |language=en |archive-date=December 24, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231224120542/https://www.cnn.com/2023/11/21/tech/elon-musk-texas-lawsuit-media-matters/index.html |url-status=live }} Judge Reed O'Connor, as of October 2024, has refused calls by some legal experts to recuse himself from the case for owning Tesla stock, disputing the ruling would significantly impact Tesla's share price.{{Cite news |last=Allyn |first=Bobby |date=October 17, 2024 |title=New records show Texas judge on X case didn't sell his Tesla shares after taking the suit |url=https://www.npr.org/2024/10/16/g-s1-28620/texas-judge-elon-musk-x-case-tesla-shares |publisher=NPR |archive-date=November 21, 2024 |access-date=November 21, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241121023327/https://www.npr.org/2024/10/16/g-s1-28620/texas-judge-elon-musk-x-case-tesla-shares |url-status=live }} X has been described as judge shopping by seeking to settle all litigation in Reed O'Connor's district.

On the same day that the X lawsuit was filed, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton opened an investigation into Media Matters for "potentially fraudulent activity", stating that his goal was "to ensure that the public has not been deceived by the schemes of radical left-wing organizations".{{Cite news |last1=Vinall |first1=Frances |last2=Bella |first2=Timothy |date=November 21, 2023 |title=Musk's X sues Media Matters after report shows ads next to pro-Nazi posts |language=en-US |newspaper=The Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2023/11/21/musk-media-matters-x-lawsuit-ken-paxton/ |access-date=November 26, 2023 |issn=0190-8286 |archive-date=November 21, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231121195405/https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2023/11/21/musk-media-matters-x-lawsuit-ken-paxton/ |url-status=live }}{{cite news |last1=Conger |first1=Kate |last2=Mac |first2=Ryan |date=November 20, 2023 |title=X Sues Media Matters Over Research on Ads Next to |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2023/11/20/technology/x-sues-media-matters-antisemitic-posts.html |work=The New York Times}} He also urged other state attorneys general to investigate the group.{{Cite web |last=Belanger |first=Ashley |date=April 15, 2024 |title=Judge halts Texas probe into Media Matters' reporting on X |url=https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2024/04/judge-halts-texas-probe-into-media-matters-reporting-on-x/ |access-date=October 21, 2024 |website=Ars Technica |language=en-US |archive-date=August 26, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240826205145/https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2024/04/judge-halts-texas-probe-into-media-matters-reporting-on-x/ |url-status=live }} Media Matters filed suit against Paxton in federal court days later, alleging he had violated the First Amendment to chill the group's work and engaged in unlawful retaliation to punish the group.{{cite news |last1=Ingram |first1=David |title=Media Matters sues Texas attorney general over response to Elon Musk dispute |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/internet/media-matters-elon-musk-texas-attorney-general-ken-paxton-rcna129402 |publisher=NBC News |date=December 12, 2023 |archive-date=December 13, 2023 |access-date=December 13, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231213005957/https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/internet/media-matters-elon-musk-texas-attorney-general-ken-paxton-rcna129402 |url-status=live }}{{cite web |last=McHardy |first=Martha |date=December 13, 2023 |title=Media Matters fires back at Texas AG in row over Elon Musk's X |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/media-matters-elon-musk-antisemitism-ken-paxton-lawsuit-b2463281.html |work=The Independent |access-date=December 13, 2023 |archive-date=December 13, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231213163509/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/media-matters-elon-musk-antisemitism-ken-paxton-lawsuit-b2463281.html |url-status=live }} In April 2024, Judge Amit Mehta issued a preliminary injunction against Paxton's demand for internal documents from the group.

In December 2023, Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey opened a similar investigation into Media Matters.Rosenbaum, Jason. (December 18, 2023) [https://www.stlpr.org/government-politics-issues/2023-12-18/elon-musks-fight-against-media-matters-gets-backup-from-missouri-attorney-general "Elon Musk's fight against Media Matters gets backup from Missouri attorney general"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231224012651/https://www.stlpr.org/government-politics-issues/2023-12-18/elon-musks-fight-against-media-matters-gets-backup-from-missouri-attorney-general |date=December 24, 2023 }} St. Louis Public Radio{{Cite web |last=Prater |first=Nia |date=November 21, 2023 |title=Does Elon Musk's Media Matters Lawsuit Have a Chance? |url=https://nymag.com/intelligencer/2023/11/does-elon-musks-media-matters-lawsuit-have-a-chance.html |access-date=December 24, 2023 |website=Intelligencer |language=en}} In August 2024, a federal judge granted an injunction to halt the Missouri investigation, saying the suit was "using law enforcement machinery for political ends" against Media Matters, running contrary to the organization's First Amendment rights.{{cite web |last=Johnson |first=Ted |title=Judge Halts Missouri AG's Elon Musk-Triggered Investigation Of Media Matters |work=Deadline |via=Yahoo! News |date=August 26, 2024 |access-date=August 26, 2024 |url=https://www.yahoo.com/news/judge-halts-missouri-ag-elon-214743757.html |archive-date=August 27, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240827010024/https://www.yahoo.com/news/judge-halts-missouri-ag-elon-214743757.html |url-status=live }}

In June 2025, Media Matters sued the Federal Trade Commission, alleging that the FTC's ongoing investigation into Media Matters was in retaliation for Media Matter's scrutiny of Trump administration allies including X Corp., and that the investigation violated Media Matters' First Amendment rights.{{Cite news |last=Nover |first=Scott |date=June 24, 2025 |title=Media Matters sues FTC over advertising investigation |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/style/media/2025/06/23/media-matters-ftc-lawsuit/ |work=The Washington Post}}

Reception

Columnists and writers such as Paul Krugman and the late Molly Ivins cited Media Matters or identified it as a helpful source.{{cite news |last=Ivins |first=Molly |author-link=Molly Ivins |date=May 11, 2006 |title=Developments in journalism's frontier |url=http://www.cnn.com/2006/POLITICS/05/11/ivins.future.journalism/index.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090609093646/http://www.cnn.com/2006/POLITICS/05/11/ivins.future.journalism/index.html |archive-date=June 9, 2009 |access-date=May 5, 2010 |publisher=CNN}}{{cite news |last=Krugman |first=Paul |date=April 30, 2010 |title=The Oil Spill Is Obama's Fault |url=https://krugman.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/04/30/the-oil-spill-is-obamas-fault |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150908002223/http://krugman.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/04/30/the-oil-spill-is-obamas-fault/ |archive-date=September 8, 2015 |access-date=February 7, 2017 |work=The New York Times |type=Opinion}}

In 2008, columnist Jacques Steinberg of The New York Times quoted David Folkenflik of National Public Radio as telling him that although Media Matters has a partisan slant they were still a useful source for leads, partly due to their broad research. Steinberg said the right already had similar outlets looking for stories and feeding them to reporters, and that Media Matters has effectively filled a void on the left. He notes that some journalists like Stuart Rothenberg prefer non-partisan sources. A 2010 opinion piece by "M. S." on the blog of The Economist magazine argued that it carries no weight with conservatives due to its mostly critiquing conservative outlets.{{cite news|author=M.S.|title=Epistemic closure and political disinformation|newspaper=The Economist|date=May 5, 2010|url=https://www.economist.com/blogs/democracyinamerica/2010/05/health-care_reform|access-date=July 20, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170816034937/https://www.economist.com/blogs/democracyinamerica/2010/05/health-care_reform|archive-date=August 16, 2017|url-status=live}}

Some object to the organization focusing its efforts to fact-check conservatives more than liberal commentators.{{Cite news |last=Tavernise |first=Sabrina |date=November 23, 2017 |title=Ben Shapiro, a Provocative 'Gladiator,' Battles to Win Young Conservatives (Published 2017) |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/11/23/us/ben-shapiro-conservative.html |access-date=November 28, 2020 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=February 8, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180208085657/https://www.nytimes.com/2017/11/23/us/ben-shapiro-conservative.html |url-status=live }}{{cite web |last1=Shapiro |first1=Ben |date=June 12, 2019 |title=The Media/Democrat Complex Strikes Big Tech |url=https://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2019/06/12/the_mediademocrat_complex_strikes_big_tech_140544.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191106234111/https://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2019/06/12/the_mediademocrat_complex_strikes_big_tech_140544.html |archive-date=November 6, 2019 |access-date=November 6, 2019 |website=Real Clear Politics}}{{Cite web |last=Levine |first=Jon |date=March 14, 2019 |title=Why Does Media Matters Only Seem to Target Fox News Stars Like Tucker Carlson? |url=https://www.thewrap.com/why-does-media-matters-only-seem-to-target-fox-news-stars-like-tucker-carlson/ |access-date=June 1, 2022 |publisher=TheWrap |language=en-US |archive-date=July 21, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220721131214/https://www.thewrap.com/why-does-media-matters-only-seem-to-target-fox-news-stars-like-tucker-carlson/ |url-status=live }} Media Matters also received some criticism as being too supportive of Hillary Clinton before and during her 2016 presidential bid.{{cite news |last1=Roller |first1=Emma |date=March 27, 2015 |title=Media Matters and the Battle for the Hillary Clinton Narrative |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2015/03/media-matters-and-the-battle-for-the-hillary-clinton-narrative/455403/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180502140343/https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2015/03/media-matters-and-the-battle-for-the-hillary-clinton-narrative/455403/ |archive-date=May 2, 2018 |access-date=May 1, 2018 |work=The Atlantic}}{{cite book|last1=Henwood|first1=Doug|title=My Turn: Hillary Clinton Targets the Presidency|date=2016|publisher=Seven Stories Press|isbn=978-1-60980-757-3|page=34|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=4di7CwAAQBAJ&pg=PT34|language=en}}{{cite magazine |last1=Chang |first1=Clio |last2=Shephard |first2=Alex |date=December 19, 2016 |title=What Happens to Media Matters in a Post-Hillary World? |url=https://newrepublic.com/article/139385/happens-media-matters-post-hillary-world |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170301004305/https://newrepublic.com/article/139385/happens-media-matters-post-hillary-world |archive-date=March 1, 2017 |access-date=February 28, 2017 |magazine=The New Republic}}{{cite news|last1=Calderone|first1=Michael|last2=Stein|first2=Sam|title=The New York Times Corrects Explosive Hillary Clinton Email Story Amid Campaign Pushback|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/new-york-times-hillary-clinton_us_55b2a5cbe4b0224d883252f0|work=HuffPost|date=July 24, 2015|access-date=May 2, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161108225211/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/new-york-times-hillary-clinton_us_55b2a5cbe4b0224d883252f0|archive-date=November 8, 2016|url-status=live}}