Donald Trump

[Strontium]

Must have missed MediaLens's tirade against The Guardian when it was the Lib Dems being excoriated on increasingly ludicrous grounds every day. Maybe they were too busy with their genocide denial.

[Strontium]

What on Earth...

 

I might say the same to you. How have you not witnessed the prevailing attitude to both the media and the political class on this forum?

[Ne Moe Imya]

I'm always pointing people to this site, but I think it's deconstruction of media bias is unparalleled www.medialens.org

 

Every source you mentioned, including the Guardian is massively subjective in their reporting.

 

I'm astonished that there exists a person who thinks that it is even remotely possible to be completely objective in reporting the news.  It is a complete fantasy that such a thing as 'objective, unbiased reporting' exists or can possibly exist.

[Jairzinho]

I'm astonished that there exists a person who thinks that it is even remotely possible to be completely objective in reporting the news.  It is a complete fantasy that such a thing as 'objective, unbiased reporting' exists or can possibly exist.

 

I don't think many people do. 

 

I think the two main objections are - Mainstream media pretending to be objective, unbiased, and agenda free. The other being a collective mainstream media only representing a small part of the political spectrum.

 

We don't get a balanced media by everyone pretending to be objective. We get a balanced media by having a range of political and economic views. Which, obviously, won't happen within a society where the entirety of the media is owned by half a dozen billionaires.

[Strontium]

I'm astonished that there exists a person who thinks that it is even remotely possible to be completely objective in reporting the news.  It is a complete fantasy that such a thing as 'objective, unbiased reporting' exists or can possibly exist.

 

It goes without saying that the media are biased. Of course they are.

 

For instance, it's often said the media is biased against the likes of Cuba and Venezuela. Of course they are, because those are countries where a free media is banned.

 

I mean, you might as well expect a turkey to be neutral towards poultry farmers.

[Ne Moe Imya]

I don't think many people do. 

 

I think the two main objections are - Mainstream media pretending to be objective, unbiased, and agenda free. The other being a collective mainstream media only representing a small part of the political spectrum.

 

We don't get a balanced media by everyone pretending to be objective. We get a balanced media by having a range of political and economic views. Which, obviously, won't happen within a society where the entirety of the media is owned by half a dozen billionaires.

 

Exactly.

 

My personal preference, besides the diversity of views as you've said, is everyone being open and honest about their biases.  I actually don't think news coverage is slanted as much by the owners - their main objective is to make money, so while they certainly have some interest in certain stories being covered in a certain direction, I think for the most part their influence is more felt than actually expressed.  

 

Where I would like to see more openness is in the reporters and news directors and editors, the men and women who actually decide which stories to cover and how to write about/speak about them.  I don't know how it would work, exactly, but media would be improved if they were more open and honest about their personal perspectives/biases and then the common man/woman would be able to more easily evaluate how seriously to take their coverage.

[Jairzinho]

Exactly.

 

My personal preference, besides the diversity of views as you've said, is everyone being open and honest about their biases.  I actually don't think news coverage is slanted as much by the owners - their main objective is to make money, so while they certainly have some interest in certain stories being covered in a certain direction, I think for the most part their influence is more felt than actually expressed.  

 

Where I would like to see more openness is in the reporters and news directors and editors, the men and women who actually decide which stories to cover and how to write about/speak about them.  I don't know how it would work, exactly, but media would be improved if they were more open and honest about their personal perspectives/biases and then the common man/woman would be able to more easily evaluate how seriously to take their coverage.

 

Mine too.

 

Usually the response to someone attacking the mainstream media, the response that is from people who are largely represented by the views of the mainstream media, is "oh you just want the media to be entirely your political view". Well, I don't. I want centre left media, centre right, far right, far left, centrist, all sorts. 

 

I don't agree with you on the ownership though. I've no doubt they have very little direct impact on coverage, but they don't need to really. Murdoch would never employ a chief editor that differed drastically to his world view, then the chief editor in turn...etc.

 

Whilst their main objective is to make money, long term they also need to retain power. This, in turn, obviously allows them to make money. The media is absolutely essential in limiting democracy.

[Guest Pistonbroke]

Trump going full out on warfare mode. The republicans are just showing their ugly face and handing the democrats a free vote, unfortunately Clinton will walk into office and she's the rich peoples Muppet. 

[Anubis]

I've just watched a video on the Twitter with Cruz's pastor calling for the death of gays right before introducing him. Fucking unreal.

 

https://twitter.com/justin_kanew/status/709044438467612672

 

Kevin Swanson I presume? That intro was 2015 but he's still hanging around the Cruz camp like a bad smell. I understand Cruz Snr. Is wholeheartedly in the eradicate the gay and lesbians camp.

 

 

 

 

And you're spot on, the Republican candidates, save, Kasich, are pretty worrying.

[VladimirIlyich]

Kevin Swanson I presume? That intro was 2015 but he's still hanging around the Cruz camp like a bad smell. I understand Cruz Snr. Is wholeheartedly in the eradicate the gay and lesbians camp.

 

 

 

 

And you're spot on, the Republican candidates, save, Kasich, are pretty worrying.

'He doth protest too much.'

 

Touching a nerve maybe?

[SammyAftershave]

I'd like to ask that Pastor if he 'fancies a bum'.

[Hades]

It goes without saying that the media are biased. Of course they are.

 

For instance, it's often said the media is biased against the likes of Cuba and Venezuela. Of course they are, because those are countries where a free media is banned.

 

I mean, you might as well expect a turkey to be neutral towards poultry farmers.

 

You think the media we have is free? Hahahaha.

[Strontium]

You think the media we have is free? Hahahaha.

We can test the hypothesis. Go and start your own news blog. See if anyone stops you.

[AngryOfTuebrook]

It goes without saying that the media are biased. Of course they are.

 

For instance, it's often said the media is biased against the likes of Cuba and Venezuela. Of course they are, because those are countries where a free media is banned.

 

I mean, you might as well expect a turkey to be neutral towards poultry farmers.

Silly.

 

Most of the print media is owned by a tiny handful of tax-dodging, neoliberal billionaires.  You think their problem with Socialism is a worry that they have about the freedom of the press?

 

Also, the Head of News at the BBC is an ex-Murdoch man who wears his pro-Israeli bias with pride.  Maybe his problem is that he thinks you can't get a fair and balanced newspaper in Gaza.

[Guest Numero Veinticinco]

I might say the same to you. How have you not witnessed the prevailing attitude to both the media and the political class on this forum?

No, it's the strange connection you're making between distrust of politicians and the media and Trump... Somewhat of a stretch.

[Spy Bee]

Anyway, the point I was making was that I find this statement a bit mental!

I find very little "lies, racism and fear" in the UK mainstream media I use.

[AngryOfTuebrook]

It depends how you define "using" the media.

 

I suspect he tends to be very selective about which papers he gives his money to.  Quite right, too.

 

However, glancing at headlines in newsagents, looking at the preview of the papers on BBC news, following links to the websites of newspapers, etc. you soon find yourself up to your ears in fear, lies and racism.

 

I'm going to stick my neck out here and predict that one day this week at least one of the Mail, Star, Express or the Rag will have a screaming headline telling their readers that "the Other" - immigrants, benefit claimants, Muslims, Corbyn, or whoever - is coming to get them.

[Spy Bee]

It depends how you define "using" the media.

Later defined as "BBC News, Guardian, Independent on the web, plus occasionally The Economist and FT"

 

Which are the epitome of fear, lies and racism. 

[SasaS]

Anyway, the point I was making was that I find this statement a bit mental!

 

Well, then I must be a bit mental.

 

Speaking of mental, I really don’t get this new anti-Trump tactic of protesting at his rallies, he can now present himself as a man not only is telling it like it is, but a man others are trying to shut him up.

[VladimirIlyich]

Well, then I must be a bit mental.

 

Speaking of mental, I really don’t get this new anti-Trump tactic of protesting at his rallies, he can now present himself as a man not only is telling it like it is, but a man others are trying to shut him up.

These rallies feature white supremacists assaulting people due to the moron on the podium spouting what could be termed as hate speech. In a 'democracy' people are supposed to be allowed to protest peacefully and in Drumpf's case they should as he's a dangerous man.

[cloggypop]

Or he can say they are from Islamic State and are trying to assassinate him. The massive loon.

 

I wouldn't put it past him to be planting them himself.

[SasaS]

Last video I saw there was someone apparently trying to get on the podium while he was speaking. It’s all playing into his hands as it makes him appear he is under some kind of threat. It’s unnecessary and counterproductive. 

[cloggypop]

He seems to be trying to blame Sanders for it (as well as IS) and is threatening to send his own supporters to disrupt Sanders' events. The massive shithaired loon.

 

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-politics/wp/2016/03/13/donald-trump-says-bernie-sanders-should-be-careful-or-hell-send-supporters-to-his-events/

[Spy Bee]

Last video I saw there was someone apparently trying to get on the podium while he was speaking. It’s all playing into his hands as it makes him appear he is under some kind of threat. It’s unnecessary and counterproductive. 

I would suggest that's because of the media you consume. The last video I saw was of a black guy being sucker punched by a redneck and then subsequently getting arrested for his trouble.

[Spy Bee]

Sanders replied to his tweet with "Send them. The deserve to see an honest politician" or words to that effect.