- The Main Stream Media have magnified Romney's win by doing what comes naturally: relying on stereotypes of conventional wisdom, rather than fact-based analysis.
- Lies, Half Truths and Bias - the World’s Media and the Venezuelan Election
Amy Fried, Ph.D., opednews.com
American broadcast journalist Walter Cronkite (b. 1916) on television d by Library of Congress
October 9, 2012 | One of the unfortunate by-products of the evolution of the news business to a public service during the era of Walter Cronkite, to the present ratings bonanza competing with the likes of Fox News and Rush Limbaugh, is that - with the exception of a few brilliant, thoughtful, people like Rachel Maddow and Chris Hayes - many in the mainstream media have come to rely on cognitive shortcuts, in which snapshot judgements become over-generalized and stereotyped. Sadly, I have found that to be true even on MSNBC, especially in the daytime. The recent lackluster performance by President Obama in his first debate with Mitt Romney, is a classic case in point. I was reminded of that this morning, when I heard many of the already memes about the debate repeated by Thomas Roberts.
In fact, Robert Wright points out some impressive polling evidence that the media hype after the debate had a greater effect on the popular reaction to the debate, than the debate itself. In other words, the media amplified the difference in performance between the two candidates far beyond what people who simply watched the debate, would have thought. He also points out that the expectations of the media - an Obama win - were not supported by the evidence from past Obama debate performances.
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Related:
Lies, Half Truths and Bias - the World’s Media and the Venezuelan Election, Jorge Martin, In Defence of Marxism
- Once again there has been a remarkably well coordinated campaign of disinformation regarding the Venezuelan presidential elections being held on Sunday October 7.
- When Did Checking the Facts Become Taking a Candidate 'at His Word'?
- Victory for Chávez is a victory for Latin America
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October 15, 2012 | While much of the country is focused on the presidential race, the Wall Street gang is waging a different battle: they are preparing an assault on Social Security and Medicare. This attack is not exactly secret. There have been a number of pieces on this corporate-backed campaign in the media over the last few months, but the drive is nonetheless taking place behind closed doors.
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October 16, 2012 | In the long-running debate about whether organic food is more healthy and nutritious than the conventional variety, the press has shown a preference for covering research rejecting the averred value of organics.
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October 5, 2012 | The whole of the world’s media, with more or less emphasis, has followed the same script: A tired, sick autocratic caudillo, Chavez, is facing the young, dynamic, democratic, centre-left candidate of the united opposition. While Chavez is squandering the country’s oil money, Capriles would maintain the social programmes but bring efficiency to them. While there is no scope for fraud, the campaign has not been free and fair. Chavez commands hysterical support from the mobs in a few big rallies, while Capriles has criss-crossed the country getting his message across to a population thirsty for change. The opinion polls are allegedly showing a technical draw, while some in the last week have shown Capriles to be ahead. Capriles supporters have faced violence from the chavista mob, but the opposition candidate has kept his cool. Chavez has threatened civil war if he loses, while Capriles is the candidate of peace.
September 5, 2012 | It's enraging how mainstream media outlets like Today and People treat the Duggars as though they're just an ordinary family with an extraordinary amount of children — and aren't they so cute! — when in fact, they are not.
October 5, 2012 | Before the first presidential debate, 
