Eric Alterman

Date of Birth: January 14, 1960

Zodiac Sign: Capricorn

Biography

Eric Alterman is an American historian, journalist, author, media critic, and professor. He was born in Queens, New York, and has carved out a significant presence in the fields of media criticism and political commentary. Alterman is perhaps best known for his long-running column “The Liberal Media,” which he wrote for The Nation magazine. He has also contributed to numerous other publications, including The New Yorker, The Atlantic, and The New York Times. Alterman has authored several influential books, such as “What Liberal Media?: The Truth About Bias and the News” and “Why We’re Liberals: A Political Handbook for Post-Bush America.” His work often explores the dynamics of media, politics, and public opinion, offering keen insights into the liberal perspective in American society. Besides his writing, Alterman serves as a Distinguished Professor of English and Journalism at Brooklyn College, City University of New York.

5 Interesting Facts about Eric Alterman

1. Eric Alterman won the George Orwell Award for Distinguished Contribution to Honesty and Clarity in Public Language.

2. He has been a senior fellow at the Center for American Progress.

3. Alterman was named one of the “50 Most Influential Progressives of the 20th Century” by The Nation magazine.

4. He holds a B.A. in History and Government from Cornell University, an M.A. in International Relations from Yale University, and a Ph.D. in U.S. History from Stanford University.

5. Alterman has appeared as a commentator on numerous television programs, including The Colbert Report and Charlie Rose.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from Eric Alterman

1. “The greatest enemy of knowledge is not ignorance, it is the illusion of knowledge.”

2. “Part of the problem with the media is they want to have it both ways. They want to be a business, but they also want to be a public trust.”

3. “The media’s the most powerful entity on earth. They have the power to make the innocent guilty and to make the guilty innocent, and that’s power.”

4. “If the press can be intimidated by the government, then the press is no longer free.”

5. “Liberalism is the most original and powerful American political tradition.”