Thursday, January 24, 2013

Media Bias and those who use the power of friendships in the media to manipulate a story



MEDIA BIAS 


Is the term MEDIA BIAS new to you?  Allow me to take a moment to explain.  It is really very simple.

Wikipedia describes MEDIA BIAS as "the bias of journalists in the selection of what they choose to put in stories and what they choose to exclude. Clearly a sign of overt and covert censorship." 

It is the bias of journalists and news producers and their selection of events and stories that are reported and how they are covered.  Unfortunately, media bias is as wide spread and like the common cold... It can be found all over the world.  This is not the first time we have seen Media Bias... Nor will it be the last.

We have seen those who use the power of friendships in the media to manipulate a story into what I shall refer to as MEDIA BIAS AND PROPAGANDA.


I am not alone when I say that WE HAVE ALL SEEN JOURNALISTS WHO FAIL TO REPORT ALL AVAILABLE DETAILS AND FACTS OF A STORY OR EVENT, ESPECIALLY WHEN THEIR FRIENDS AND ADVERTISERS ARE INVOLVED.

You can find media bias in newspapers, radio, and television around the world.

When it comes to reporting stories involving friends, these affiliations may be considered a conflict of interest..

Yet those in THE MEDIA WOULD LIKE YOU TO BELIEVE THEY ARE ABLE TO REMAIN OBJECTIVE and that their reports are fair and accurate.

*** NOTHING CAN BE FURTHER FROM THE TRUTH. ***

We see this time and time again when personal friends of those in the media are directly involved in an event or situation that others consider newsworthy. 

If their friends are involved and they do decide to cover the story you can be sure of one thing.  The facts in those STORIES ARE TWISTED, SUGAR COATED, AND SKEWED.  CRITICAL FACTS ARE OMITTED ALL TOGETHER AND OFTENTIMES THE STORY BECOMES MORE OF A COHERENT NARRATIVE THAN AN ACTUAL NEWS STORY.

It is amazing the lengths they go to in order to protect their friends and/or advertisers from humiliation.    ****** IT IS ALL ABOUT THE MONEY. ******

MEDIA BIAS AND PROPAGANDA ARE NOTHING NEW.   Those in various forms of media have used this as a mechanism for propaganda for many generations. This practice has gone on long before you and I were born and it will continue long after we are gone. 

In his article of June 7, 2011, Stefano Mario Rivolta of #BeyondBias lists three forms of media bias:

1. Gate keeping bias, - deciding whether to release a story or keep it quiet.
2. Coverage bias - deciding to cover a story or pretend its not news worthy.
3. Statement bias - cherry picking, twisting and skewing statements.

It comes as no surprise that all three of these forms of media bias and propaganda were clearly displayed in a recent article.

In the media it is fairly easy to "prove" one side of a story over another.   It is really that simple.  THEY CHERRY-PICK STATEMENTS THAT SUPPORT THEIR FRIENDS AND ADVERTISERS WHILE IGNORING ALL OTHER EVIDENCE TO THE CONTRARY.

What is important, is that media bias does not matter much if no one Is listening or reading anyway because even with their cherry picked statements many already know the truth. 

God Bless,
Dr. Dave

 NOTE:  #BeyondBias is an internationally recognized standard aimed at increasing public understanding of good journalism and encouraging media audiences to become critical users of the news they consume.

TWITTER:  https://twitter.com/Beyond_Bias