How Journalism Doesn't Work
Let’s forget the politics here for a second.
I am not all that worried about Fox News – they are so overt that Mara Liason taking a check to appear on their air makes one question even the liberal leanings of NPR – but I am worried about the ongoing drop of journalistic standards.
One of the most self-explanatory examples ever.
First, watch the segment that ran on Fox News…
And now, watch an uncut version of the same encounter…
Those of us, online or in traditional media, who are given trust, and even those of us who are suspect but who people like to read, claiming its entertaining, but then quote the ideas as news over cocktails or dinner, can lie to you without too much effort. We can even hire a body language consultant to give an honest analysis of what the physical movement in a snippet of a longer video means.
Thing is, Bill Moyers IS being patronizing and a little abusive to the producer that O’Reilly sent to this conference. Conversely, O’Reilly edits the tape so that the entire encounter is out of context, not allowing the viewer to decide just why Moyers is being condescending and also so that he (O’Reilly) never has to speak to the offer Moyers puts on the table. If that offer is egregious, in O’Reilly’s mind, wouldn’t the honest (abusive) argument be to argue that Moyers’ offer is disingenuous or whatever… as opposed to slicing off a few seconds and spinning into an attack? Are O’Reilly viewers so unable to think for themselves?
Ironically, I can bet you that some extremists on the left will fret that this extended video makes Moyers look like a high-handed jerk… just as some extremists on the left want to control speech and human interaction just as severely as the extremists on the right.
The irony of the increased availability and openess of the media these days is that the viewer/reader needs to be more careful than ever. The failure of the modern media is a lack of perspective. I have no objection to people making up their own minds. But day after day after day, even in the low stakes game of entertainment journalism, readers/viewers are being sold ideas instead of being engaged with information they can parse for themselves.
And that is, for all its faults, why the blogosphere has become so powerful. There are places that do offer a wider perspective. And even those side that narrow ideas are much more likely to be partisan is an easily discernable way.
A great paper like the New York Times can be amongst the very best the internet has to offer in the future because of the power of their reporting muscle. And they can continue to make money in a narrowed print world. But they have to watch their standards and stand above, not next to the rest… or they too can become part of the blur.
More and more, I feel like I am fighting metaphoric scabs on this industry… things that may not be attractive, but actually will fall off in time… and which are a part of a slow, sometimes painful healing process. Or at least, I have to hope so. And maybe I need to fight less hard, considering that perspective.
I saw a decent version of the incident on Countdown with Keith Olbermann. Priceless.
Wait, they actually tried to edit up that encounter after being online already, uncut, for days? How dumb can this channel get?
Ironically, I can bet you that some extremists on the left will fret that this extended video makes Moyers look like a high-handed jerk…
Uh, I haven’t found any, but I’ll tell you if I do. Odd strawman is odd.
I don’t know of anyone who can defend this, either:
http://www.poetv.com/video.php?vid=37254
But who in their right mind would expect journalistic standards from Bill O’Reilly? Or any blowhard, left or right, for that matter?
The real problem is entertainment shows masquerading as news shows, and that your average Joe can’t really tell the difference.
David-
Speaking of context, are you sure you’re putting O’Reilly’s segment in context? This was a segment on body language— by its very nature, what Moyers is saying isn’t what’s important. Has O’Reilly NEVER shown the segment in its entirety, and addressed the points you raise? That wouldn’t make sense– its HIS producer, after all. Why then would he show the entire encounter again, and talk about Moyer’s offer, or his motivation, for the body language segment? I don’t think he would. Context…
Did you find this “example” of media manipulation on your own, or did you see it, say, on a website? Did your source explain the nature of the segment in which the Moyers clip airs? Or did they make the point you’re making here? Context…
Moyers has every right to patronize this tiny schlub who thinks he’s getting some kind of expose.
O’Reilly has entered Wally George territory.
Anyway, Kucinich, co-sponsored by Wexler, introduced 35 articles of impeachment against our war criminal in chief. Read them and tell me where it’s wrong.
Deafening media silence.
mystery are you really defending Bill O’Reilly? And here I always thought you were a reasonable man.
I’m championing David’s call for context and media wariness by questioning David’s example (one of the most self-explanatory ever, mind you). It just may be that DP has been manipulated by a misleading presentation of the O’Reilly/Moyers incident (as I already detailed), thereby invalidating a portion of his analysis. Mine is the only reasonable comment yet.
Well how nice for you. Pat yourself on the back.
Asshole.