Thank you for spelling out how our media have been failing us in such clear terms.
What needs to be drummed into students in journalism schools is that there is no such thing as pure "objectivity." Heisenberg's Uncertainty Principle shows us that to measure something is to change it. Heisenberg, of course, was talking about quantifiable measurements in laboratories. Just think how much more applicable his principle is when it is applied to what a journalist does in trying to paint a picture of an event in words.
The first rule of journalism, rather than attempting to be objective, should be to pursue the truth. It is that pursuit that matters.
Thank you! I cringe every time someone says that journalists should be "objective." As an editor and writer, I know how to state the same fact several different ways, and each way will give readers/listeners a different impression. When it comes to language, objectivity isn't possible so it's a useless goal.
The media is not taken serious any longer. Trump started the fake news in 2015 and it has been driven to such a force that the media has practically turned that way. They report lies, no fact checking and it’s appalling!
If a newspaper is unwilling to issue an opinion on the most important issue facing the nation today, it should end all editorials and not offer opinions on any issue.
Meanwhile, hit Bezos where it really hurt him: Cancel your Amazon accounts. Choosing personal convenience over supporting democracy is lazy and unprincipled.
That's a lovely list. Thanks. I've already cancelled the Times, and WaPo goes away next week (but maybe I'll find a suitable article to share this in before then -- I'll hope so).
Idk when this neutral, both-siding, "objectivity" took hold, but I'm completely fed up. A plague on all their houses!
Great post! I would add the media shouldfocus on substantive issues that affect voters’ lives not the latest Republican hissy fit. Paul Waldman addressed this on Substack today:
“The News Media Have Learned Nothing
The election is just days away, and reporters are making the worst possible choices.”
“……,whenever the media as a whole get a story wrong or fall short, there are always journalists somewhere getting it right. Unfortunately, that doesn’t mitigate the harm done when all the major news organizations stampede together after the most misleading, distracting, irrelevant, and just plain idiotic stories, tossing aside any concern about their mission of informing the public and enabling democracy to function.
And here we go again.
Yes, I’m talking about the frenzy over Joe Biden, who is not currently running for president, saying the word “garbage” in a Zoom call.”
Waldman goes on to say say “The least important story gets the most coverage” and shows how the media chose to cover this story with photos of the headlines of the nine articles the WaPo ran about this non-story in just two days.
In contrast the WaPo (and NY Times) barely covered the story of the World Bank ranking the US economy #1 in the world for the second year in a row, citing the strength of the US economy as the reason they increased their projection of global growth. Then they wonder why people don’t realize our economy is weak and never blame themselves for not informing voters about a crucial issue.
Great post! I would add the media shouldfocus on substantive issues that affect voters’ lives not the latest Republican hissy fit. Paul Waldman addressed this on Substack today:
“The News Media Have Learned Nothing
The election is just days away, and reporters are making the worst possible choices.”
“……,whenever the media as a whole get a story wrong or fall short, there are always journalists somewhere getting it right. Unfortunately, that doesn’t mitigate the harm done when all the major news organizations stampede together after the most misleading, distracting, irrelevant, and just plain idiotic stories, tossing aside any concern about their mission of informing the public and enabling democracy to function.
And here we go again.
Yes, I’m talking about the frenzy over Joe Biden, who is not currently running for president, saying the word “garbage” in a Zoom call.”
Waldman goes on to say say “The least important story gets the most coverage” and shows how the media chose to cover this story with photos of the headlines of the nine articles the WaPo ran about this non-story in just two days.
In contrast the WaPo (and NY Times) barely covered the story of the World Bank ranking the US economy #1 in the world for the second year in a row, citing the strength of the US economy as the reason they increased their projection of global growth. Then they wonder why people don’t realize our economy is weak and never blame themselves for not informing voters about a crucial issue.
Thank you for spelling out how our media have been failing us in such clear terms.
What needs to be drummed into students in journalism schools is that there is no such thing as pure "objectivity." Heisenberg's Uncertainty Principle shows us that to measure something is to change it. Heisenberg, of course, was talking about quantifiable measurements in laboratories. Just think how much more applicable his principle is when it is applied to what a journalist does in trying to paint a picture of an event in words.
The first rule of journalism, rather than attempting to be objective, should be to pursue the truth. It is that pursuit that matters.
Thank you! I cringe every time someone says that journalists should be "objective." As an editor and writer, I know how to state the same fact several different ways, and each way will give readers/listeners a different impression. When it comes to language, objectivity isn't possible so it's a useless goal.
Once again, well worth my time and great reminders of what the Fourth Estate should be doing. Thanks
The media is not taken serious any longer. Trump started the fake news in 2015 and it has been driven to such a force that the media has practically turned that way. They report lies, no fact checking and it’s appalling!
Damn straight!!!!
On the cancellation of endorsements:
If a newspaper is unwilling to issue an opinion on the most important issue facing the nation today, it should end all editorials and not offer opinions on any issue.
Meanwhile, hit Bezos where it really hurt him: Cancel your Amazon accounts. Choosing personal convenience over supporting democracy is lazy and unprincipled.
That's a lovely list. Thanks. I've already cancelled the Times, and WaPo goes away next week (but maybe I'll find a suitable article to share this in before then -- I'll hope so).
Idk when this neutral, both-siding, "objectivity" took hold, but I'm completely fed up. A plague on all their houses!
Great post! I would add the media shouldfocus on substantive issues that affect voters’ lives not the latest Republican hissy fit. Paul Waldman addressed this on Substack today:
“The News Media Have Learned Nothing
The election is just days away, and reporters are making the worst possible choices.”
“……,whenever the media as a whole get a story wrong or fall short, there are always journalists somewhere getting it right. Unfortunately, that doesn’t mitigate the harm done when all the major news organizations stampede together after the most misleading, distracting, irrelevant, and just plain idiotic stories, tossing aside any concern about their mission of informing the public and enabling democracy to function.
And here we go again.
Yes, I’m talking about the frenzy over Joe Biden, who is not currently running for president, saying the word “garbage” in a Zoom call.”
Waldman goes on to say say “The least important story gets the most coverage” and shows how the media chose to cover this story with photos of the headlines of the nine articles the WaPo ran about this non-story in just two days.
https://paulwaldman.substack.com/p/the-news-media-have-learned-nothing?utm_source=post-email-title&publication_id=2037691&post_id=150991710&utm_campaign=email-post-title&isFreemail=false&r=40l5a&triedRedirect=true&utm_medium=email
In contrast the WaPo (and NY Times) barely covered the story of the World Bank ranking the US economy #1 in the world for the second year in a row, citing the strength of the US economy as the reason they increased their projection of global growth. Then they wonder why people don’t realize our economy is weak and never blame themselves for not informing voters about a crucial issue.
Great post! I would add the media shouldfocus on substantive issues that affect voters’ lives not the latest Republican hissy fit. Paul Waldman addressed this on Substack today:
“The News Media Have Learned Nothing
The election is just days away, and reporters are making the worst possible choices.”
“……,whenever the media as a whole get a story wrong or fall short, there are always journalists somewhere getting it right. Unfortunately, that doesn’t mitigate the harm done when all the major news organizations stampede together after the most misleading, distracting, irrelevant, and just plain idiotic stories, tossing aside any concern about their mission of informing the public and enabling democracy to function.
And here we go again.
Yes, I’m talking about the frenzy over Joe Biden, who is not currently running for president, saying the word “garbage” in a Zoom call.”
Waldman goes on to say say “The least important story gets the most coverage” and shows how the media chose to cover this story with photos of the headlines of the nine articles the WaPo ran about this non-story in just two days.
https://paulwaldman.substack.com/p/the-news-media-have-learned-nothing?utm_source=post-email-title&publication_id=2037691&post_id=150991710&utm_campaign=email-post-title&isFreemail=false&r=40l5a&triedRedirect=true&utm_medium=email
In contrast the WaPo (and NY Times) barely covered the story of the World Bank ranking the US economy #1 in the world for the second year in a row, citing the strength of the US economy as the reason they increased their projection of global growth. Then they wonder why people don’t realize our economy is weak and never blame themselves for not informing voters about a crucial issue.