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From	Message
echo3 24-Oct-06, 09:33	Media Distortion Anyone else here sick of their country being run by 'Trial by media'? By way of example, I read an article today about the distorted reports of "devastating" job losses facing several NHS trusts. These of course potentially make terribly damaging headlines for the government. In one case an NHS trust was reported as having to lay-off 20,000 staff , another was "poised" to lay of 15,000. In fact in both cases only a fraction of these numbers had to go. This is one instance where Jo Bloggs on the street will be formulating his views from totally fabricated information. Should we allow this to go on? If so - Why? If not, What do we do to prevent these fabrications in the first place?
kingofpawns 24-Oct-06, 09:48	echo... There is good information and bad information out there. The important thing is that we always allow the honest flow good and bad information. It is up to us to try to sort the good from the bad. Sometimes this can be done by checking sources. Other times it can be done by carefully analyzing the information. Recall our discussion about the 655,000 estimated of the Iraqis who died as a result of the war? Well, we analyzed that study and we both agreed that it was likely an overestimate without further information to back it up.
zorroloco 24-Oct-06, 09:50	free press means that, short of libel, there is not much we can do. in a free country, it is incumbent upon citizens to become informed through a wide variety of sources. this is a case where the medicine (restricting the free press) would be far worse than the illness (media exagerration and bias). it is funny how the left always screams about the conservative media bias while the right always flips out about the liberal media bias.
kingofpawns 24-Oct-06, 09:55	Jeff... we were writing at about the same time! Anyway, we will know we are really in trouble when we no longer read about layoffs and other bad news.
echo3 24-Oct-06, 10:34	The bias certainly affects.... ... us all; left & right. My genuine worry is that we here are the exception are we not? Do the vast majority of people believe most of the ludicrously distorted news stories they read, or do they the trouble to research for facts? If they don't research, then where do they get their information to decide who and what party they want to vote in at election time?
zorroloco 24-Oct-06, 10:49	echo i agree. but, what are we to do? we cannot force people to be educated (believe me...i try everyday...with mixed results! : ) trying to restrict free press so that only 'true' info is published would not only violate the first amendment, but would effectively abolish the press completely as there is nothing that everyone agrees on. the best we can do is write letters to the editor when we disagree, try to educate those around us to the best of our abilities (see...i have been trying to educate you about the way the world really operates, but with limited success!), and keep learning!
proginoskes 24-Oct-06, 11:08	echo ***Do the vast majority of people believe most of the ludicrously distorted news stories they read, or do they the trouble to research for facts?*** Of course they do! Just curious: Where do you get your information?
leo_london 24-Oct-06, 11:22	Jeff..." it is funny how the left always screams about the conservative media bias while the right always flips out about the liberal media bias." Thats spot on, we used to have a biased right-wing press now its supposed to be biased in favour of the liberal-left. The job of the media in a democracy is to critisize the government of the day, we dont want news bulletins beginning with " Our glorious leader said today...". Another point worth mentioning is that " bad news sells "...its just human nature.." No hospitals to close, all NHS jobs are safe " just does not sell newspapers. Plus..even echo must admit, the media have exposed some complete slime-bags over the years and brought out information that would almost certainly have remained hidden for many more years. Whether that excuses their frequent inaccuracies I dont know, on balance I think it does.
echo3 24-Oct-06, 13:33	Jeff / JDH / Leo jeff Yeah I guess you're right, I do have an idea though and I'll start a thread for it   jdh Like most of us I suppose, I get a lot of info here / newspapers / TV / Internet / life experience and if there's something I want to know more about I do the research to get the biggest picture. Leo True but they do a lot of damage as well
qiwi 25-Oct-06, 23:06	Lies and distortion.... There is of course a big difference between shonky reporting by a bunch of journalists and the sort of lies and disinformation put out by the Bush administration to justify the brutal invasion of Iraq..... Lets face it, the reason the journalists resort to the sensational headlines is to sell more newspapers.... On the other hand the reasons behind Bush's "crusade" were far more cynical.
soulcrates 25-Oct-06, 23:14	I do think that there should be fines handed out for intentional misinformation, or just lack of proper research before reporting. For instance, on Fox news there was a story on Mark Foley, and they put a (D) next to his name signifying him being a democrat, yet he was a republican (R). Not all voters know this, and it's easy information to get, so why not punish Fox for making this mistake? I think $10,000 fines/ offense should get them to straighten their acts out.

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