Media Tracker (3 Viewers)

[SaintForLife]

I figured we needed a thread specifically about the media.

There was a very big correction recently by the Washington Post.


That story was supposedly "independently confirmed" by CNN, NBC News, USA Today, ABC News, & PBS News Hour. How could they all have gotten the quote wrong if they actually independently confirmed the story?






Why do all the errors always go in one political direction and not closer to 50/50?

 

[SaintForLife]

They probably thought they had a good source. And there may have been a limited amount of folks who were on that call.

I'm all for things being as accurate as possible, but you're asking for some real hindsight here. There's no reasonable way they could have avoided this.

Its not like the anonymous sources during Trump's presidency have had a good record of accuracy. You would think after a bunch of misses that the reporters would tighten their vetting, but not quite.

 

[wardorican]

Context matters? Is this the only time that Biden has done anything to make people question his health or his mental acuity?

That tweet does nothing to refute my point.

Even that article states that CNN was making a point about how little they actually know about Trump's health during that time.

You can make your own arguments. Don't just copy things from twitter.

 

[SaintForLife]

That tweet does nothing to refute my point.

Even that article states that CNN was making a point about how little they actually know about Trump's health during that time.

You can make your own arguments. Don't just copy things from twitter.

Lol okay. The tweet is a link from an article showing how differently CNN treated both incidents. Will you not post articles anymore since you criticized me for doing it?

 

[wardorican]

Lol okay. The tweet is a link from an article showing how differently CNN treated both incidents. Will you not post articles anymore since you criticized me for doing it?

I'd like to think you're capable of understanding my point. You posted another article saying essentially the same thing I was already adding context to. So, posting the same thing over again didn't make it any more or less true. It didn't address my point. Hence, my post about making your own argument.

And I'll start by saying, well, duh, CNN is sensationalist. I've been saying that for like a decade. I'm not going to defend them too much. Besides, the original tweet was about the NY Times and my discussion is about them and the overall "Media".

Secondly, I'll repeat myself. The context matters. Trump's declining ramp 'story' was only a 'story' because he went to Walter Reed a few months earlier, and never told anyone what it was really about. No one bought the 'jump start on my physical' story. Then, he had an alarming issue trying to raise a glass of water. People were honestly worried he was having a stroke, or some other issue. There was a pattern established. He and his admin had a history of embellishing his physical health. I hope I don't need to remind you of the comical Doctor's note about him being "healthiest President ever".

Biden stutters and is old. Those things are expected. Just like when Trump would constantly misspeak. You just expect it. Heck, I mix up words too. We all do.

I recall GW Bush butchering the "fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice, shame on me" line... and using words like "strategery" It wasn't his health, they were accidents.

I'd be more concerned about Biden's fall, if they didn't give an updated (they did, said he was fine) and you could see him walk down the steps later just fine.

Now, if he ends up in Walter Reed or some other issue pops up (like he falls again soon), then I think that raises the alarm a bit. Until then, it's sort of silly to compare the news coverage on one stumble, vs the third or fourth issue after being somewhat mislead or misdirected on the truth.

p.s. if I post an article to refute a claim, with no added context, especially if it's the same basic story I already posted that someone is taking issue with, by all means, criticize me for it.

 

[SaintForLife]

I'd like to think you're capable of understanding my point. You posted another article saying essentially the same thing I was already adding context to. So, posting the same thing over again didn't make it any more or less true. It didn't address my point. Hence, my post about making your own argument.

And I'll start by saying, well, duh, CNN is sensationalist. I've been saying that for like a decade. I'm not going to defend them too much. Besides, the original tweet was about the NY Times and my discussion is about them and the overall "Media".

Secondly, I'll repeat myself. The context matters. Trump's declining ramp 'story' was only a 'story' because he went to Walter Reed a few months earlier, and never told anyone what it was really about. No one bought the 'jump start on my physical' story. Then, he had an alarming issue trying to raise a glass of water. People were honestly worried he was having a stroke, or some other issue. There was a pattern established. He and his admin had a history of embellishing his physical health. I hope I don't need to remind you of the comical Doctor's note about him being "healthiest President ever".

Biden stutters and is old. Those things are expected. Just like when Trump would constantly misspeak. You just expect it. Heck, I mix up words too. We all do.

I recall GW Bush butchering the "fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice, shame on me" line... and using words like "strategery" It wasn't his health, they were accidents.

I'd be more concerned about Biden's fall, if they didn't give an updated (they did, said he was fine) and you could see him walk down the steps later just fine.

Now, if he ends up in Walter Reed or some other issue pops up (like he falls again soon), then I think that raises the alarm a bit. Until then, it's sort of silly to compare the news coverage on one stumble, vs the third or fourth issue after being somewhat mislead or misdirected on the truth.

p.s. if I post an article to refute a claim, with no added context, especially if it's the same basic story I already posted that someone is taking issue with, by all means, criticize me for it.

My fault. I was just posting that article about CNN and it wasn't to refute your argument.

I think you are one of the most reasonable posters here especially when considering both sides of an argument. But I just don't buy your statement about CNN just being sensationalist. It's all about ratings or pushing the Democratic narrative just like MSNBC and FOX News for the right.

Biden has had a pattern the last 2 years or so of appearing to be in mental decline and/or developing some neurological problems like Dementia. It's more than just his stutter. I'm not concerned about Biden's fall, but I did notice how the media treated it differently.

Even NBC/MSNBC's Senior Media Reporter Dylan Byers said this Biden story would be an interesting test of the media that highlighted the Trump handrail story.

 

[samiam5211]

My fault. I was just posting that article about CNN and it wasn't to refute your argument.

I think you are one of the most reasonable posters here especially when considering both sides of an argument. But I just don't buy your statement about CNN just being sensationalist. It's all about ratings or pushing the Democratic narrative just like MSNBC and FOX News for the right.

Biden has had a pattern the last 2 years or so of appearing to be in mental decline and/or developing some neurological problems like Dementia. It's more than just his stutter. I'm not concerned about Biden's fall, but I did notice how the media treated it differently.

Even NBC/MSNBC's Senior Media Reporter Dylan Byers said this Biden story would be an interesting test of the media that highlighted the Trump handrail story.

The only reason Trump shuffling down that ramp was in the news for more than one day was because he took to twitter to respond like a middle schooler.

It was the same with all of his dumb little things that were only worth a mention in the news. Trump's inability to let things go, made it so his response to the story dragged the story out for days and days.

 

[UncleTrvlingJim]

Nothing happens in a vacuum. It's really hard to compare equal treatment because the situations are rarely perfectly analogous. As has been mentioned, Trump had a visit to Walter Reed a few months earlier with no good explanation, and then he responds to any question about anything about himself with either childish insults or crazy exaggerations. Which of course, just makes people jump on him all the more. There were questions about his health from day 1 when his personal physician made some statement about him being the healthiest president in history, and his personal info looked to be fabricated (he's shorter than Obama but was listed as taller, and his weight seemed under reported).

So we had a fat man who stumbles his words all the time and then seems to try to hide facts about his health. Then takes to twitter like a hormonal middle schooler. Of course the media is going to pounce on that. That's basically how people work -- if someone makes themselves out to be better than everyone, never admits mistakes and then attacks people, of course people are going to jump all over that.

The simplest explanation of course was that he was just a fat man embarrassed about his obesity and didn't want that widely known, and nothing more. The media did not do a service to the American public by blowing it up. However, it's hard to say that it's because of some "agenda", because Trump's reactions are guaranteed to increase the speculation and not defuse it.

There is a higher level of trust with Biden in that there seems to be a bit more transparency with his health than Trump. But he is nearly 80, and people do not get sharper with age. So, questions about his mental alacrity are fair game.

 

[SaintForLife]

The only reason Trump shuffling down that ramp was in the news for more than one day was because he took to twitter to respond like a middle schooler.

It was the same with all of his dumb little things that were only worth a mention in the news. Trump's inability to let things go, made it so his response to the story dragged the story out for days and days.

I disagree. Trump was #1 on CNN'S agenda. Look at how their ratings are tanking post Trump. They tried to elevate QAnon Green, but that didn't work and now they shifted to Tucker Carlson.

 

[wardorican]

My fault. I was just posting that article about CNN and it wasn't to refute your argument.

I think you are one of the most reasonable posters here especially when considering both sides of an argument. But I just don't buy your statement about CNN just being sensationalist. It's all about ratings or pushing the Democratic narrative just like MSNBC and FOX News for the right.

Biden has had a pattern the last 2 years or so of appearing to be in mental decline and/or developing some neurological problems like Dementia. It's more than just his stutter. I'm not concerned about Biden's fall, but I did notice how the media treated it differently.

Even NBC/MSNBC's Senior Media Reporter Dylan Byers said this Biden story would be an interesting test of the media that highlighted the Trump handrail story.

Pushing Ratings and Sensationalism are the same thing to me. So, I think we agree there.

And that last tweet is what I originally replied to. Let's avoid going back around that circle. I know who he works for. I just don't agree with the point. I think he's being a try hard to come off as fair and balanced, but doesn't see the slight differences in the situations. Or is willingly ignoring it.

 

[samiam5211]

I disagree. Trump was #1 on CNN'S agenda. Look at how their ratings are tanking post Trump. They tried to elevate QAnon Green, but that didn't work and now they shifted to Tucker Carlson.

Trump wanted to be #1 on media’s agenda.

The media is easily manipulated, and Trump played them like a fiddle.

 

[SaintForLife]

Trump wanted to be #1 on media’s agenda.

The media is easily manipulated, and Trump played them like a fiddle.

I would agree with you before he got elected, but since then CNN used Trump as a tactic for increased ratings and it worked.

Jeff Zucker Helped Create Donald Trump. That Show May Be Ending. (Published 2020)

The coziness between the TV executive and Mr. Trump is a Frankenstein story for the cable news era. But then the monster got away.

www.nytimes.com

Post Trump:

 

[samiam5211]

I would agree with you before he got elected, but since then CNN used Trump as a tactic for increased ratings and it worked.

Jeff Zucker Helped Create Donald Trump. That Show May Be Ending. (Published 2020)

The coziness between the TV executive and Mr. Trump is a Frankenstein story for the cable news era. But then the monster got away.

www.nytimes.com

Post Trump:

The media used Trump and Trump used the media.

I am not claiming that one is better than the other. They were both equally pathetic.

 

[MT15]

I wish they had used a different method than comparing a week that was in the thick of the court challenges to the election, with all the suspense of whether Trump would succeed in stealing the election, to the first week in March.

I would be more interested in seeing a comparison of say March 2019 to March 2021. It would hold more weight, I think.

 

[MT15]

SFL, Trump paid attention to little else but the media after he was elected. He used them the whole time, either as a punching bag to score political points or as a bully pulpit, and some outlets were both. His love/hate relationship with the media didn’t stop once he was elected.

 

[wardorican]

I would agree with you before he got elected, but since then CNN used Trump as a tactic for increased ratings and it worked.

Jeff Zucker Helped Create Donald Trump. That Show May Be Ending. (Published 2020)

The coziness between the TV executive and Mr. Trump is a Frankenstein story for the cable news era. But then the monster got away.

www.nytimes.com

Post Trump:

I'd be curious to see how this chart looks after any election cycle, and you had the added drama of Trump not conceding. That has to fuel all of the talk shows.

 

[wardorican]

I wish they had used a different method than comparing a week that was in the thick of the court challenges to the election, with all the suspense of whether Trump would succeed in stealing the election, to the first week in March.

I would be more interested in seeing a comparison of say March 2019 to March 2021. It would hold more weight, I think.

I agree with this as well. Late fall was a historically 'odd' time to put it lightly.

 

[wardorican]

I want to add this about CNN. I really got sour with them after Katrina hit. So much news, but so little information. I, along with many others displaced, were starving for specific information on where it was flooded, what various neighborhood's looked like, etc.

They'd often show a view of downed trees, or flooding, but no landmarks to figure out where they're at, and no maps.

I forget the term a local news guy used, but he said something to the effect of how Cable News will deliberately give you enough information to be curious, but not give you a clear answer, either ever, or until a while passes. It's to string you along and boost ratings. If you're somewhat confused, or inquisitive, you'll keep watching. It's like starting a good story and wanting to know the resolution. It's why cliff hangers can drive us nuts. But you're gonna watch the next episode.

They just don't know how to fill the time when nothing major is going on. And they sure don't want to spend any resources actually cutting through the political muck and explain what is going on. What exactly is in the bill, etc.

It's not just CNN, but 24 hour news just drives me nuts. I haven't watched much of any in years. I might catch a clip here and there.

 

[samiam5211]

I want to add this about CNN. I really got sour with them after Katrina hit. So much news, but so little information. I, along with many others displaced, were starving for specific information on where it was flooded, what various neighborhood's looked like, etc.

They'd often show a view of downed trees, or flooding, but no landmarks to figure out where they're at, and no maps.

I forget the term a local news guy used, but he said something to the effect of how Cable News will deliberately give you enough information to be curious, but not give you a clear answer, either ever, or until a while passes. It's to string you along and boost ratings. If you're somewhat confused, or inquisitive, you'll keep watching. It's like starting a good story and wanting to know the resolution. It's why cliff hangers can drive us nuts. But you're gonna watch the next episode.

They just don't know how to fill the time when nothing major is going on. And they sure don't want to spend any resources actually cutting through the political muck and explain what is going on. What exactly is in the bill, etc.

It's not just CNN, but 24 hour news just drives me nuts. I haven't watched much of any in years. I might catch a clip here and there.

Even local news does it.

"Is a common item in every home causing brain damage to your children?, Tune in tonight at 11 to find out."

I blame capitalism.