MyDD :: The Failure of the Media

The Failure of the Media

by Tumult, Wed Jun 18, 2008 at 12:19:22 PM EST

We have spent alot of time recently discussing how the media was unfair to one candidate or the other. But watching The Daily show interview with CBS News Chief Foreign Correspondent Lara Logan we see how the media has failed at far more important tasks. How can we demanded an unbiased media reporting on individuals, when we allow the media to distort or unreport facts, that shape our understanding of major obstacles facing our nation. We cannot make accurate decisions as a Democracy without being properly informed. And the media has repeatedly failed in the task of keeping us accurately informed. I am more likely to see reporting on some of these important issues like Iraq and Afghanistan from the History Channel, or the Discovery Channel years from now than I am from 3 different 24 hour news channels. I feel I am getting more informed from a 20 minute show on Comedy Central than I would get from CNN/FOX/MSNBC.

We need to stop worrying about how unfairly our candidate has been treated, and start worrying about how unfairly our nation has been treated. Being too specific in our criticism allows them to get away with everything. We are blaming the media for overcooking our lunch as the house burns down around us.

I have no idea what I am doing wrong on the embed.

Tags: MSM, propaganda, failure of the media (all tags)

Permalink :: 20 Comments :: Post a Comment

tumult... (2.00 / 1)

i think you'll like this.

"Me Fail English? That's Unpossible." Ralph Wiggum

by canadian gal on Wed Jun 18, 2008 at 12:26:56 PM EST

Re: tumult... (2.00 / 1)

Yes I like it, don't know how I missed it when you wrote it.

Victorious warriors win first and then go to war, while defeated warriors go to war first and then seek to win. ~ Sun Tzu

by Tumult on Wed Jun 18, 2008 at 12:58:14 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: tumult... (1.00 / 0)

God she is hot! srry :)

Rise / Repeat / But for god's sake don't spin!

by aliveandkickin on Wed Jun 18, 2008 at 02:36:06 PM EST
[ Parent ]

huh? (none / 0)

"Me Fail English? That's Unpossible." Ralph Wiggum

by canadian gal on Wed Jun 18, 2008 at 02:47:51 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: huh? (1.00 / 0)

the reporter ... :)

Rise / Repeat / But for god's sake don't spin!

by aliveandkickin on Wed Jun 18, 2008 at 03:41:46 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: The Failure of the Media (none / 0)

So, not related to the diary message, but how DO you embed a video into diaries? I've been trying to figure that one out all morning.

Vote Change in '08!

by iowa dem on Wed Jun 18, 2008 at 12:31:43 PM EST

Re: The Failure of the Media (none / 0)

you save the diary, go back to edit, then embed and re-save.

"Me Fail English? That's Unpossible." Ralph Wiggum

by canadian gal on Wed Jun 18, 2008 at 12:35:50 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: The Failure of the Media (none / 0)

Embedding youtube is easy, but redlasso is not accepted by the software this blog runs on.

by DemsLandslide2008 on Wed Jun 18, 2008 at 12:46:37 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: The Failure of the Media (none / 0)

How do you actually embed the video though, or is it an option when you click edit? (for instance, some sites I know use <yt></yt> or other stuff.
Also do you just put in the info of the url after the = or the entire url?

Vote Change in '08!

by iowa dem on Wed Jun 18, 2008 at 12:58:49 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: The Failure of the Media (none / 0)

There is html code on each YT page...to the right...beneath the description of the clip...that states "Embed". Copy that and paste it into the reply box to embed.

should we go outside? / should we break some bread? / are you'nterested?

by Firewall on Wed Jun 18, 2008 at 01:00:46 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: The Failure of the Media (none / 0)

Thanks much all!

Vote Change in '08!

by iowa dem on Wed Jun 18, 2008 at 01:03:54 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: The Failure of the Media (none / 0)

Testing

Vote Change in '08!

by iowa dem on Wed Jun 18, 2008 at 01:03:17 PM EST

Re: The Failure of the Media (2.00 / 1)

I don't understand your dismissal of sexism in the media as an "overcooked lunch." People have more options than ever to search for accuracy in the media. However the media even when inaccurate should not indulge in misogyny and sexism.

The effects of sexism in the media affects more than half of this country's population. Women are underrepresented in positions of leadership in government as well as private industry. Women should never accept sexism as no big deal or stop "worrying about how unfairly" females are represented by the media.

"No self-respecting woman should wish or work for the success of a party that ignores her." - Susan B. Anthony

by feelfree on Wed Jun 18, 2008 at 02:05:25 PM EST

Re: The Failure of the Media (none / 0)

Bigger issues exist then how you feel your candidate was treated. And your taking the specific treatment of Hillary Clinton as a hatred and desire to undermine women on the part of the media, which I do not buy. Even if we assume she was subject to a more hostile type of coverage than others, that is not the same as the coverage being sexist or misogynist.

And while we debate this, which is something that cannot be proven either way. People are dying, and we are at some of our highest troop levels in Afghanistan.

And what I am saying is if we hold the media accountable for everything, then specific coverage will improve, such as a political candidate facing a sexist bias. But only worrying about specific coverage is going to let everything go to hell.

Victorious warriors win first and then go to war, while defeated warriors go to war first and then seek to win. ~ Sun Tzu

by Tumult on Wed Jun 18, 2008 at 02:26:42 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: The Failure of the Media (none / 0)

You write as if sexism is something only Hillary Clinton experienced. You are sadly mistaken. If you don't "buy" that sexism is a problem then I don't "buy" your argument that the media has a problem.

You say hold them accountable for everything except sexism.

What you don't get it that in this country and for women it has already gone to hell.

"No self-respecting woman should wish or work for the success of a party that ignores her." - Susan B. Anthony

by feelfree on Wed Jun 18, 2008 at 05:00:29 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: The Failure of the Media (none / 0)

most likely the media will always FAIL. they are driven by money. and money corrupts all. We can all wish big, but most likely the big money players are the weakest when it comes to corruption. Influence in the media is easy to buy. Americans can no longer rely soley on the news @ 6 on any of the major outlets, they have to supplement it with news articles, and the internet. the 'tv news' age is over.

lemon716, mydd's little lemon drop;

by alyssa chaos on Wed Jun 18, 2008 at 02:24:13 PM EST

Re: The Failure of the Media (none / 0)

I agree, but some of the worse coverage of the last 8 years, was not limited to the television media. On the run up to Iraq my local paper had Freedom Fries as front page news, and the last page of the section had 14 Palestinians killed by the IDF. If Israeli occupation, and military action could not quell insurgency and terrorism, at what point did we think fewer troops over a larger area, with a longer supply line, was going to have a better outcome going into Iraq?

I seek news extensively from all media, and I still feel underinformed. But with the majority of Americans only getting news from the TV, we are going to keep running into problems if we do not find a way to bring the standards up.

Victorious warriors win first and then go to war, while defeated warriors go to war first and then seek to win. ~ Sun Tzu

by Tumult on Wed Jun 18, 2008 at 02:33:50 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: The Failure of the Media (none / 0)

true. but how do we raise these standards? obviously the editors at media outlets have decided to push what sells rather than the boring ol facts, intellectual honesty is overrated. our society doesn't place a huge emphasis on morality, which I think ties in with being honest about being honest, so how can we nip it in the butt. I think that this age of TV is too far gone to be reached, as citizens we have to be more proactive; but a couple of thousand people that hold the media accountable wont do the trick. we wouldn't make a huge difference, $$$ wise, compared to the big dogs.

I dont see a realistic comprhensive solution, becuase the only solution I see is having honest people in charge, that believe in standards. yet i know that those people are few and far between. and they will certainly be fired if they dont yield to big interests.

lemon716, mydd's little lemon drop;

by alyssa chaos on Wed Jun 18, 2008 at 02:43:07 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: The Failure of the Media (none / 0)

We need to stop worrying about how unfairly our candidate has been treated, and start worrying about how unfairly our nation has been treated.

They're one and the same. If the media can get away with treating candidates unfairly, they can also get away with treating the nation unfairly, and vice versa. As long as we let them get away with doing a bad job in one area, they know they can get away with it in others.

We need to force them to be fair -- to candidates, to our nation, and to us as viewers. A free and unbiased press is essential to our democracy.

by LakersFan on Wed Jun 18, 2008 at 04:11:44 PM EST

Great clip (none / 0)

That was a great and revealing interview. I've never seen a correspondent so passionately angry - even Richard Engels, after 5 years, doesn't exude this sort of frustration.

Fav line:

They've been told not to swear about you, then you say "Yo, what's up MFers?" and it's all done

by Neef on Wed Jun 18, 2008 at 07:48:49 PM EST

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