Posted on 11/29/2005 6:04:33 AM PST by John Jorsett
Seems everyone of these techniques have been perfected by the NYTimes and CBS. I copied this to a permanent file for future reference. Thanks John.
Good reference data. Thanks.
If they do actually give equal time to both sides of an issue, they will always end the segment with their side so you will go away with their arguments fresh in your mind.
If a 'rat don't mention it.
Good post. There's another one, although related to the techniques shown: Propaganda by the redefinition of words.
Easier to read bump!
"But in Texas, one of the world capitals of "shit happens," a place where bull semen is worth its weight in gold (and the bizarre long ago became the mundane), I believed it was quite possible that Bill Burkett was finally telling the truth, the whole weird truth, and nothing but the truth."
Good list. I think I would add a very common techniques used by the print media:
False Headline
Often a headline will be presented that is almost the opposite of what the article states. For example, I've seen this a lot with news related to "global warming". A study might come out saying that most glaciers are growing while a few are receeding...but the headline will boldly state: Study Shows Glaciers Are Shrinking Due To Global Warming"
Interesting.
Good to know about but I wonder if there is a coordinated effort to use these techniques, i.e., if the bias in MSM is intentional and who oversees it if it is intentional.
Excellent article. Someone pass this to Rush Limbaugh. I'm sure he'll be interested in this one :)
The clear intent is to give the impression that extremism exists only on the Right; that a danger or threat exists within the politics of Conservatism. On the Left, the opposite is implied; that the Liberal philosophy is accepted, neutral or moderate.
The list is endless like calling conservatives "controversial" and saying "far right" and "hardline." Just today when the Vatican reaffirmed church teaching on homosexuals in the priesthood it was headlined "Vatican renews gay priest ban" on msn.com.
When the Democrat mayor in York,PA got charged with a race riot murder in 1969 back in 2001 his party affiliation was not mentioned in the national news stories and the story died after he was charged. He was acquitted but still his 1960's sympathy with white gangs (handing out ammunition) and shouting "white power" at their rally during the riots (he was a cop at the time) would have made great copy, but he had the wrong political affiliation. Our own hometown version of Robert "KKK" Byrd.
And don't forget the latest, courtesy of the Arizona Star - "ENTRANTS"! (I kid you not).
Media Schadenfreude and Media Shenanigans PING
Bump for later thorough reading.
Another way to the "Token Equal Time" works is by using worthless/phony conservatives to balance compentent hard-core liberals. Works as follows:
1) You put a Chris Matthews on MSNBC - a left-wing partisan hack, who's passionate and good TV - and balance him with a wimpy, wishy-washy, bow-tie wearing, Tucker Carlson.
2) You give a TV show to left-wing moonbat like Keith Oberrmann and balance him off with a bland, inoffensive, sleep inducing former Pol, like Joe Scarborough. You compound the lack of balance by having Joe Scarborough spend most of his time on missing girls in Aruba.
3) Or worse of all you're PBS producing McNeil-Leher, and you counter-balance a Democrat Hack like Mark Sheilds -who ran Mondale campaign in 1984 - with David Gergen. Telling your audience (as PBS did until he went to work for Clinton) that Gergen is a "REAGAN REPUBLICAN"
BTW, I still see Gergen preseneted as the Republican/Conservative balance on talk shows. That he worked for Clinton is never mentioned.
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