Spot the Difference [Lying Media Dissected in WSJ]

The Wall Street Journal ^ | 11-12-03 | DAVID W. BRADY and JONATHAN MA

[Pharmboy]

This is the best way to defeat the evildoers: numbers, numbers and numbers. Objective data tallied up and put forth--Anne Coulter does a great job with references as does Bernie Goldberg in his citation of fact after fact.

[Sorry--but I could not get the table to read as easily as I would have liked--but you can still get the point]

It is building toward a tsunami aginst the media elites.

[Pharmboy]

Oh it's Schadenfreude time again! *Ping*

[G.Mason]

What? No "Atilla the Hun" conservatives?

I think I'm under-represented!

[Savage Beast]

I.e., The Propaganda Machine is a propaganda machine.

[Qwinn]

Great article, but -ack-, the link doesn't work!

Qwinn

[Pharmboy]

Whoops--meant to say that this is a subscription and you can't get there from here.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

We actually got something done about "the Reagans" TV smear. Does anyone care about the network news shows and their shrinking audience ?

[Pharmboy]

Here's the correctred link to the home page, but you STILL can't get to the editorial without signing up.

I hope the WSJ considers this post an ad for their fine journalism and they increase their subscription base from Freepers.

[conservatism_IS_compassion]

This is the best way to defeat the evildoers: numbers, numbers and numbers. Objective data tallied up and put forth--Anne Coulter does a great job with references as does Bernie Goldberg in his citation of fact after fact.

Certainly it is necessary, but IMHO not sufficient.

After you have seen enough evidence to satisfy you that there is "bias in the media," the question naturally follows, "What is to be done?" And that question cries out for an analysis of, "Why does 'bias in the media' exist?"

I reached that stage twenty years ago. I started this thread two years ago to get people to challenge my thinking on the issue to help me clarify my opinion on the matter. I am far more interested in clarifying why the problem exists, and what remedies can prudently be attempted, than any other topic which is frequently discussed.

[OESY]

This article offers empirical evidence of what we have observed, but the bias extends much deeper: the selection and framing of issues, the avoidance of embarrassing events (the Rockefeller "Molotov Cocktail" Memo, and Bush's speeches on advancing "The Age of Liberty"), the choice of guest and the counterpart (often to ensure liberal dominance), softball versus hardball questions (Russert decimating Gore and Edwards were notable because such an occurrence was so rare), the failure of the host to cutoff a liberal interrupting or otherwise encroaching on other guest's time, the repetition of unfavorable news for the other side (overemphasis on reporting war deaths and failures in Iraq at the expense of stories about progress made -- Hardball's look this week is unique for MSNBC), the invitation to give the "last word" (more resonance), etc. And that's just off the top.

Here's a Display of Propaganda Techniques

Here's a Polling Site for Those with Much Time

[conservatism_IS_compassion]

Does anyone care about the network news shows and their shrinking audience?

Unfortunately, the people generally have access to broadcast but not always to cable. The effect is strong--and it is not an accident but an effect of government censorship.

[Capriole]

Well, I'm just amazed. Imagine that!

Seriously, I don't know that there is anything that can or should be done about the inequities in major US newspapers. Some papers are going to be conservative and some liberal, just as in the past some were Democrat, some Whig. The Washington Post has the legal right to represent the Imperialist, Stalinist, Trotskyite, Nazi, or left-liberal viewpoint. If we start restricting their ability to print whatever stupidity they wish, the next time they get into power--and they will get into power again--they will have the legal firepower to restrict ours.

What I find interesting and disturbing is that the liberal bias sells. You'll notice that the Washington Times, which is a fine newspaper offering a satisfying accumulation of right-wing columnists and news stories written from the right-wing perspective, can't compete with the Washington Post. Even many conservatives I know read the Post and not the Times. The Times could not survive economically if it didn't have financial backing. Its subscription rates are low and its ad pages a joke.

The fact is that cities, where major US newspaper pick up their subscribers and generate ad revenues, are located in cities, are bastions of Democratic strength. If there's a way to combat this demographic I can't think of it.

I agree that bias in the broadcast media is a much more serious issue, particularly in taxpayer funded sources like NPR. But I am at a loss to know how to alter or regulate this. As long as journalism schools keep graduating lefties and the American public keeps buying their work, left-wing bias is going to be a problem.

[Carry_Okie]

"Why does 'bias in the media' exist?"

Easy, when a democratic government has the power to control property, all it takes to control the marketplace is to manipulate public opinion. Control of communications media to consolidate political forces becomes the means to control the factors of production and the key to the control of wealth.

There's a reason they call it, "our democracy."

[VOA]

bump

[Phaedrus]

Not-News Ping ...

[pgyanke]

Does anyone care about the network news shows and their shrinking audience ?

This is why so many of these media outlets are conglomerately owned. Like Walmart, they can accept losses in this area when the business is bolstered elsewhere. The news is a tool to them, not a business. If they really cared about ratings and viewership, they would learn something from FNC.

[Pest]

bump

[McGavin999]

IMHO this is a dangerous trend in the media. Most of it stems from the "J" schools who pump out poorly educated, poorly prepared people who claim the "journalist" label. What a shame that such a noble profession has decended to this level and no wonder journalists are among the least respected people in this country.

If they are not willing to do something to correct this, they will deserve the disgust and ridicule they receive from the American people.

Too bad most of them aren't bright enough to know how much they are being laughed at.

[BluH2o]

... (overemphasis on reporting war deaths and failures in Iraq at the expense of stories about progress made -- Hardball's look this week is unique for MSNBC)

Speaking of casualities in Iraq, as a former Marine I like to make this comparison. More Marines and Navy personnel died in the first hour on Iwo Jima during WWII then have been KIA in Gulf War I (Desert Storm) and the the Irag conflict to date. This includes all branches of the U.S. military and coalition forces in both conflicts.

[tubebender]

The radio station that carries RUSH and Sean here is a cBS affiliate and the network news on the hour is so blatantly slanted left I could smash the radio. It's the tone of their delivery and their emphasis on key negative words is beyond sanity...