Changes

=== Mainstream media ===

=== Mainstream media ===

[[File:MSMbyTEA.jpg|thumb|150px|right|Attitude of Tea Party Movement participants toward four MSM outlets]]

[[File:MSMbyTEA.jpg|thumb|150px|right|Attitude of Tea Party Movement participants toward four MSM outlets]]

Coverage by the [[Mainstream Media]] of the Tea Party events has been noticeably lacking, both in quantity and in quality. The three traditional broadcast networks ([[ABC]], [[CBS]], [[NBC]]) have attempted repeatedly to discredit these events as corporate-sponsored or sponsored by the [[Republican Party]] and other conservative or reactionary groups.<ref name=baker>Baker B, "[http://newsbusters.org/blogs/brent-baker/2009/04/16/abc-cbs-nbc-try-discredit-tea-party-protests ABC, CBS and NBC Try to Discredit 'Tea Party' Protests]," ''NewsBusters'', 16 April 2009. Accessed September 16, 2009. Baker does a side-by-side comparison of coverage of the Tax Day Tea Parties and of several pro-immigration rallies held on 1 May 2006.</ref> Furthermore, several news anchors working for [[CNN]] and [[MSNBC]] coined the phrase "tea-baggers," a term that has an off-color connotation, to refer to Tea Party Movement leaders and participants.

Coverage by the [[Mainstream Media]] of the Tea Party events has been lacking, both in quantity and in quality. The three traditional broadcast networks ([[ABC]], [[CBS]], [[NBC]]) have attempted to discredit these events as corporate-sponsored or sponsored by the [[Republican Party]] and other conservative or reactionary groups.<ref name=baker>Baker B, "[http://newsbusters.org/blogs/brent-baker/2009/04/16/abc-cbs-nbc-try-discredit-tea-party-protests ABC, CBS and NBC Try to Discredit 'Tea Party' Protests]," ''NewsBusters'', 16 April 2009. Accessed September 16, 2009. Baker does a side-by-side comparison of coverage of the Tax Day Tea Parties and of several pro-immigration rallies held on 1 May 2006.</ref> Furthermore, several news anchors working for [[CNN]] and [[MSNBC]] coined the phrase "tea-baggers," a crude term used to slur [[conservatives]] and of which has an off-color connotation as an attempt to mock Tea Party Movement leaders and participants.<ref>Michael Patrick Leahy. [http://www.tcotreport.com/obamaslur.html In Pep Talk to Democrats Yesterday, Obama Used Crude Term to Slur Conservatives], ''[[The TCOT Report]]'', November 8, 2009.</ref>

In fact, Tea Party organizers are ''not'' affiliated with the Republican Party, nor do they accept any funding or especially any advice, let alone orders, from the Republican Party, the United States Chamber of Commerce, or any industry trade association or similar group.<ref name=personal>Personal voucher by [[User:TerryH]], who is a member of the Morristown Tea Party Organization, Morristown, New Jersey. <http://themorristownteaparty.org/></ref>

In fact, Tea Party organizers are ''not'' affiliated with the [[Republican Party]], nor do they accept any funding or especially any advice, let alone orders, from the Republican Party, the [[United States]] [[Chamber of Commerce]], or any industry trade association or similar group.<ref name=personal>Personal voucher by [[User:TerryH]], who is a member of the Morristown Tea Party Organization, Morristown, New Jersey. <http://themorristownteaparty.org/></ref>

=== Alternative media ===

=== Alternative media ===