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mtnsnake

(22,236 posts)
Mon Nov 28, 2016, 12:52 PM Nov 2016

This is how the US television media outlets stifle the truth about Donald Trump & anything else

It's very simple. They stifle the truth by giving equal time to liars. They blatantly allow liars an equal opportunity platform with which to overshadow the truth.

In 5 easy steps, here is what they do numerous times per day on their so-called news shows:

Example:

1) CNN anchor tells the viewing audience that someone said Trump committed an atrocity ... and then turns it over to the panelists, 1 Democrat and 1 Republican.

2) The Democrat panelist proceeds to prove that Trump is indeed guilty of the atrocity by using facts to prove his or her point.

3) The Republican panelist explains how Trump didn't commit any such atrocity by lying through his or her teeth.

4) The two panelists argue back and forth for a minute or two while the news anchor sits there twiddling his or her thumbs.

5) The news anchor eventually interrupts them, thanks them both for their time, and cuts away to a commercial.

The viewers are left sitting at home with the notion that Trump may or may not be guilty of any wrongdoing, just by virtue of the media giving liars an equal amount of time to stifle the truth with lies.

This is not only WRONG, it is extremely dangerous.

33 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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This is how the US television media outlets stifle the truth about Donald Trump & anything else (Original Post) mtnsnake Nov 2016 OP
and that's the best case scenario where they actually have 1 true democrat and 1 republican unblock Nov 2016 #1
And for the rest of that week, they have on one after another Trump surrogates so that by the end of world wide wally Nov 2016 #18
Yup. They really know how to manipulate the media. unblock Nov 2016 #22
In fact it is the new normal Duckhunter935 Nov 2016 #2
A ratings-focused media promotes false equivalencies and doesn't care to fact check. Garrett78 Nov 2016 #3
this Neil Buchanan opinion piece should be the #1 thread here at DU.... NoMoreRepugs Nov 2016 #16
It's a pretty damn good article. Garrett78 Nov 2016 #26
It happens in other ways too -- e.g., giving equal time to global warming deniers. Buckeye_Democrat Nov 2016 #4
It's the "Teach the Controversy" method. Garrett78 Nov 2016 #5
What about equal time for "creationism" in schools? BSdetect Nov 2016 #6
Yep, that's another example. n/t Buckeye_Democrat Nov 2016 #7
Democrats need to learn to turn these things around or use the situation NewJeffCT Nov 2016 #19
Back in days of real Journalism, my college prof taught that the first job procon Nov 2016 #8
This message was self-deleted by its author subterranean Nov 2016 #30
And THIS is WHY they do it. Clearly stated. CousinIT Nov 2016 #9
exactly Locrian Nov 2016 #10
That is an awesome example of how the truth takes a back seat to money. mtnsnake Nov 2016 #33
That's because vkkv Nov 2016 #11
This has become a horror movie for me angrychair Nov 2016 #12
Well, you have to be fair and balanced to the liars, don't you? tclambert Nov 2016 #13
Its the "We report you decide" bullshit. Zucker at CNN also said it was a Godsend. JimBeard Nov 2016 #14
I quit watching news on the 9th elmac Nov 2016 #15
TV News discovered a long time ago Mr.Bill Nov 2016 #17
turn it off. barbtries Nov 2016 #20
I totally agree rtracey Nov 2016 #27
i haven't got that far. barbtries Nov 2016 #29
When they are pressed to tell the truth, pundits say that is not their job. (Chuck Todd) world wide wally Nov 2016 #21
I'm a moderator on another internet forum. Initech Nov 2016 #23
face it rtracey Nov 2016 #24
BOYCOTT.......n/t HAB911 Nov 2016 #25
My own little battle plan: no more cable news (Except Lawrence) Dr. Mullion Blasto Nov 2016 #28
I like Lawrence, but Joy Reid (on Sat/Sun) and Rachel Maddow (Mon-Fri) are good too (n/t) iluvtennis Nov 2016 #32
they always give the liar the last word. mopinko Nov 2016 #31

unblock

(54,157 posts)
1. and that's the best case scenario where they actually have 1 true democrat and 1 republican
Mon Nov 28, 2016, 12:59 PM
Nov 2016

first, republicans found an advantage when they got disciplined -- the republican would not longer speak their own mind, but would be forced to recite the republican party line. so the democrat sometimes agreed with the republican side, but the republican would never agree with the democratic side.

then they started adding more and more people to the mix, and often there were more republicans and/or right-leaning "independents" than democrats. i have seen this often but *never, ever* seen a panel with more democrats than republicans.


world wide wally

(21,830 posts)
18. And for the rest of that week, they have on one after another Trump surrogates so that by the end of
Mon Nov 28, 2016, 03:41 PM
Nov 2016

the week he is totally exonerated.
Then Trump tweets out another bullshit lie and everyone runs to look at the new one and forgets all about the other one.

Garrett78

(10,721 posts)
3. A ratings-focused media promotes false equivalencies and doesn't care to fact check.
Mon Nov 28, 2016, 01:39 PM
Nov 2016

Neil Buchanan of Newsweek wrote a great piece about just how awful the print media is, too: http://www.newsweek.com/neil-buchanan-cruel-crooked-caricature-doomed-clinton-520125

NoMoreRepugs

(10,535 posts)
16. this Neil Buchanan opinion piece should be the #1 thread here at DU....
Mon Nov 28, 2016, 03:05 PM
Nov 2016

I would love to hear the arguments against what he is saying.... possibly it might help to determine who the true progressives are around here

Garrett78

(10,721 posts)
26. It's a pretty damn good article.
Mon Nov 28, 2016, 04:02 PM
Nov 2016

And he doesn't even really touch upon TV media, though much of the same argument applies.

Buckeye_Democrat

(15,044 posts)
4. It happens in other ways too -- e.g., giving equal time to global warming deniers.
Mon Nov 28, 2016, 01:42 PM
Nov 2016

I'm almost surprised that Republicans haven't yet argued that science journals that omit submissions not backed by evidence are violating "freedom of speech" or some such nonsense.

Garrett78

(10,721 posts)
5. It's the "Teach the Controversy" method.
Mon Nov 28, 2016, 01:46 PM
Nov 2016
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Teach_the_Controversy

Because it's apparently good for ratings.

"Gish Gallop" and "false equivalency" should be household terms.

BSdetect

(9,047 posts)
6. What about equal time for "creationism" in schools?
Mon Nov 28, 2016, 01:50 PM
Nov 2016

Creeping cretinism.

Dinosaurs must have existed with humans - I saw it on the Flintstones.



NewJeffCT

(56,840 posts)
19. Democrats need to learn to turn these things around or use the situation
Mon Nov 28, 2016, 03:44 PM
Nov 2016

Unfortunately, it's usually an Alan Colmes like Democrat and Hannity type Republican.







procon

(15,805 posts)
8. Back in days of real Journalism, my college prof taught that the first job
Mon Nov 28, 2016, 02:00 PM
Nov 2016

of any reporter or journalist was to report the truth and detail the known facts that supported the news stories. We were supposed to ask the five key questions of Who, What, Where, When and How, essentially be the voice, the eyes and ears of the common man who did not have an opportunity to demand those answers directly from our public officials.

When Trump (or anyone else) pops off with some crazy word salad, unless he also provides his sources, then those remarks should be tagged as a bizarre act and include a caveat that it is only an unsubstantiated story that has no credible proof... watch for further developments.

I think everything changed with the "fair and balanced" news model developed by Fox New that attempted to make the news appear to be neutral and non threatening. Reporters no longer needed to be skilled and knowledgeable, network news bureaus disappeared, research depts. vanished, because the new Fox style of reporting was just to hire good looking stenographers who could read Press Releases from opposing sides. So a story about scientists and global warming, would also include a spokesmodel from the fossil fuel industry... and no questions asked so everyone was happy.

It was a custom made opportunity for a person like Trump.

Response to procon (Reply #8)

Locrian

(4,523 posts)
10. exactly
Mon Nov 28, 2016, 02:31 PM
Nov 2016

"Moonves called the campaign for president a "circus" full of "bomb throwing," and he hopes it continues."

People want to talk about "deplorabales"? Here's the rich POS version right there.

mtnsnake

(22,236 posts)
33. That is an awesome example of how the truth takes a back seat to money.
Tue Nov 29, 2016, 03:23 PM
Nov 2016

Wow, it's one thing that we already know that they do it for high ratings which means more money in their pockets, but to see them brag about it in the manner in which the CEO of CBS did in that article you linked to, is simply disgusting.

Thank you for posting that. It's plenty worthy enough that you should consider posting it as a new topic on this forum.

angrychair

(9,748 posts)
12. This has become a horror movie for me
Mon Nov 28, 2016, 02:34 PM
Nov 2016

The "every opinion is valid" is nonsense. Facts are still facts. Deductive reasoning and facts should matter. They don't seem to anymore. Facts and evidence have been replaced with panel "experts" that give their partisan perspective and public opinion polling.

tclambert

(11,136 posts)
13. Well, you have to be fair and balanced to the liars, don't you?
Mon Nov 28, 2016, 02:36 PM
Nov 2016

You gotta give liars equal time, 'cause they have a right to be heard. Besides, truth is so-o subjective. For instance, science is just the opinion of a bunch of nerds. The people who feel more passionately about an issue and yell louder, those are the ones who are right. They win. People who whisper the truth lose.


(I was gonna put the tag on here, but I'm not sure it is sarcasm in a post-Trump world.)

 

elmac

(4,642 posts)
15. I quit watching news on the 9th
Mon Nov 28, 2016, 02:58 PM
Nov 2016

That includes local news. Mostly because I could care less what happens in this country I'm stuck in. Very easy to do since I have no pay TV in my home.

Mr.Bill

(24,803 posts)
17. TV News discovered a long time ago
Mon Nov 28, 2016, 03:05 PM
Nov 2016

That instead of hiring real reporters scattered around the globe to actually investigate and report on news events by writing a story they could back up with facts, it was easier to hire two blowhards to sit in a studio and argue the case of the two major political parties and call it reporting. The really great discovery, though, was that it was more entertaining for the uninformed public. Edward R. Murrow or Walter Cronkite would put today's audience to sleep. It's a sad state of affairs, and I see no way to fix it without stepping on the 1st amendment.

 

rtracey

(2,062 posts)
27. I totally agree
Mon Nov 28, 2016, 04:02 PM
Nov 2016

I was even considering not coming back on here, but I needed a little outlet, because I have COMPLETELY CUT OFF any network TV that has Fuckump news stories. I will not watch MSNBC, CBS, NBC, FOX... only sports on these channels, and the occasional non political show. I even stopped watching Bill Maher. I will not watch any any state of the union addresses, not news conferences, not breaking news that involves Fuckump on TV, not anything.....and I feel great about it. If I am in a room and he comes on, I walk away, if i see a paper or internet blurb, i turn away or delete it.... I love it...

barbtries

(29,814 posts)
29. i haven't got that far.
Mon Nov 28, 2016, 04:56 PM
Nov 2016

after the 1st week of shock and grief, i slowly returned to watching seth meyers, the daily show, stephen colbert...then i turned to alternative media. as a way to hopefully save the 1st amendment i subscribed to the NYTimes and the LATimes, and i donated to Slate, Mother Jones, Daily Kos, NAACP, SPLC, and so on...already a member of TYT and David Pakman, but still haven't been able to sit through a whole program of either one since the election.

i found this great cartoon and printed it and hung it up at my desk. 2 people walking and one says, "My desire to be well-informed is currently at odds with my desire to remain sane."

it's funny but it's also actually true sad to say.

world wide wally

(21,830 posts)
21. When they are pressed to tell the truth, pundits say that is not their job. (Chuck Todd)
Mon Nov 28, 2016, 03:45 PM
Nov 2016

When they are pressed to take a side, they say that is not their job.
They are merely pundits, not journalists.
So, as far as I can see their job is just to "shape" the news.

Initech

(101,976 posts)
23. I'm a moderator on another internet forum.
Mon Nov 28, 2016, 03:49 PM
Nov 2016

Been at it about 3 years now. And I'm to the point where it's really easy to tell when a user doesn't want or care to be moderated. Donald Trump is that user. He bends the rules because he can't stand it when he's wrong. He resorts to other mediums to make his point clear even when he's wrong. He's even been banned from the medium because he can't use it correctly. Time to make that ban permanent.

 

rtracey

(2,062 posts)
24. face it
Mon Nov 28, 2016, 03:55 PM
Nov 2016

Face it - we have 4 years of this...8 unless we come up with a young, motivated John F. Kennedy type democrat that will knock their socks off. Sorry, but time to dump the 70 and above crowd.... Gavin Newsome type democrat is needed......

 

Dr. Mullion Blasto

(104 posts)
28. My own little battle plan: no more cable news (Except Lawrence)
Mon Nov 28, 2016, 04:05 PM
Nov 2016

No purchasing from a red state if it can possible be avoided, no travel through or to a red state and boycott all business that have anything to to with tRump except Amazon which I just can't give up.

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