Success of "Fahrenheit 9/11" Stems from Public's Search for Answers on Failed Bush Administration Foreign Policies

Interview with Steve Rendall, Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting senior analyst, conducted by Scott Harris

Since its release on June 27, Michael Moore's newest movie "Fahrenheit 9/11" has broken all box office records for a documentary film. From the start "Fahrenheit, " a sometimes humorous film that assembles an arsenal of facts to attack the Bush presidency on its post- 9/11and Iraq war policies, has attracted lots of media attention. In May, the Disney corporation -- citing the political nature of the film in a presidential election year -- ordered its Miramax subsidiary to block distribution. Soon after, Fahrenheit won the Palmr d'Or first prize award at France's prestigious Cannes film festival.

Before the film was even released, "Fahrenheit" was attacked by Republican politicians and some critics for what they claimed were gross inaccuracies and the promotion of conspiracy theories designed to help defeat George W. Bush in November's presidential election. But despite a campaign by groups attempting to keep the film out of theaters and a complaint lodged with the Federal Elections Commission to limit the movie's advertising, "Fahrenheit" has packed movie houses across America.

Between The Lines' Scott Harris, spoke with Steve Rendall, senior analyst with the media watch group Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting who takes a look at the phenomenal success of Moore's "Fahrenheit 9/11" and why many Americans are desperately seeking answers to how and why the Bush administration launched an increasingly unpopular war on Iraq.

Call FAIR at (212) 633-6700 or visit their website at www.fair.org



Related links:

"Incendiary 'Fahrenheit 9/11' Fires Up Crowd at Cannes," Associated Press, May 18, 2004

"Big Part of 'Fahrenheit 9/11' Profit Goes to Charity," Associated Press, July 2, 2004

"Red-Hot 'Fahrenheit 9/11' a No. 1 Hit Across America," by Dean Goodman, Reuters, June 27, 2004

LISTEN to this week's half-hour program of Between The Lines by clicking on one of the links below:

http://www.btlonline.org

*

"Between The Lines" is a half-hour syndicated radio news magazine that each week features a summary of under-reported news stories and interviews with activists and journalists who offer progressive perspectives on international, national and regional political, economic and social issues. Because "Between The Lines" is independent of all publications, media networks or political parties, we are able to bring a diversity of voices to the airwaves generally ignored or marginalized by the major media. For more information on this week's topics and to check out our text archive listing topics and guests presented in previous programs visit: httC://www.btlonline.org

*

"Between the Lines," WPKN 89.5 FM's weekly radio news magazine can be heard Tuesdays at 5:30 p.m. ET; Wednesdays at 8 a.m. ET and Saturdays at 2 p.m. ET (Wednesday's show airs at 7:30 a.m. ET during fundraising months of April and October).

*

For an email subscription of "Between The Lines Weekly Summary" which features a RealAudio link to the week's program for Between The Lines, send an email to btlsummary-subscribe@lists.riseup.net

*

For an email subscription of "Between The Lines Q&A" which features a RealAudio link and weekly transcript to one of the interviews featured on Between The Lines, send an email to btlqa-subscribe@lists.riseup.net

*

betweenthelines@snet.net

*

http://www.squeakywheel.net/

*

Distributed by Squeaky Wheel Productions, Inc.

(c)2004 Squeaky Wheel Productions, Inc. All Rights Reserved.