Iraq War Press Bias? You Betcha.

Two anecdotes for you to dote on.

Published on January 11, 2006 By Rightwinger In Politics

I was listening to a talk radio show (conservative, natch) the other morning at work, and the co-host told of a story she'd received from a Marine in Iraq. Seems they were using an abandoned amusement park as a food distribution center, and of course the rides didn't work.
One of the men got the idea to give the kids who were there rides on the Ferris Wheel, though, and all the men who weren't currently doing much pitched in to take turns helping hand-turn the Wheel. This went on for hours.
One of the Marines asked a nearby journalist why he wasn't taking this down and snapping a few pics.

His reply?

"That's not our job." Sweet, isn't it? Swells the heart.

This reminded the other host of a story he'd run several months ago about another food distribution center that ran out of food just before the end of the line. The last four or five people were given vouchers for the next day that would get them in and out first, before everyone else.
According to the soldier who reported this one, the media reps were on these people like white on rice, asking what it felt like to be denied food after waiting for so long.

No press bias? Really? Think again.

Comments

Dr Guy

on Jan 11, 2006

"That's not our job." Sweet, isn't it? Swells the heart.

You really BLEW it! You really did!

The title should have been that quote!

You are a great writer, but you do need an editor for your headlines!

"That is not our Job"

Right! Jerks.

Moderateman

on Jan 11, 2006

the MSM is only printing things that demoralize America or keeps with the agenda of bashing all things bush.

As an entity the MSM has lost all credibility with anyone with more than one brain cell.

Rightwinger

on Jan 11, 2006

The title should have been that quote!

Maybe you're right. Where were you a few minutes ago?+LOL+

You are a great writer, but you do need an editor for your headlines!

A compliment followed very closely by a rebuke. "Dr. Guy", I think you're my wife. Honey, is that you?

Thanks for the compliment, though. Swells the heart.

Right! Jerks.

I think THIS should have been the headline.

Rightwinger

on Jan 11, 2006

As an entity the MSM has lost all credibility with anyone with more than one brain cell.

---Modman

Which explains its appeal to the Lefty Libs.

Dr Guy

on Jan 11, 2006

Maybe you're right. Where were you a few minutes ago?+LOL+

Hey, I only get flashes of brilliance! You write stories of them!

Dr Guy

on Jan 11, 2006

Honey, is that you?

Dont call me Honey!

ParaTed2k

on Jan 11, 2006

Nope it's not there job. The only job they have is doing whatever they need to do to help the bacteria win.

cactoblasta

on Jan 11, 2006

When you think about it reporting on merry-go-rounds isn't their job. Sure, they could send back puff-pieces about how great the US army is, but realistically speaking these journalists are over there to make a name for themselves and sell product.

A good rep isn't built on being positive, it's built on being in a warzone giving the gritty details that other networks don't give.

Blame Murdoch if you dislike the idea of a press based on profit rather than a sacred trust, but it's been an increasing trend for ages to operate in that fashion. You can hardly blame press bias for this style of reporting, unless of course you consider it press bias towards high-selling headlines and a greater profit.

Rightwinger

on Jan 11, 2006

Cacto:

I agree, but when the nice "puff pieces" are steadfastly ignored and purposely overlooked in favor of the "gritty details", like gunfights and explosions and body counts, it is a little biased. Especially when it's your own people doing the "puff".
It might be nice for mom and pop back home to read, for a change, how Junior spent the day helping turn a Ferris Wheel for some kids, instead of spending all his time getting shot at and shooting back. That's pretty much what it sounds like from the steady stream of media gloom and doom.
When the pilots flying into Berlin during the Airlift in 1948 were dropping little parachutes made of hankerchiefs tied to candy bars and packs of gum, it was a big deal in the papers. People all over America started sending them candy and making little parachutes. Kids were breaking open piggy banks to buy candy, string and hankies. The news media duly noted it in detail. Human interest story stuff.

The media today is only interested in the inhumane interest.

Rightwinger

on Jan 11, 2006

A good rep isn't built on being positive, it's built on being in a warzone giving the gritty details that other networks don't give.

---cacto

And another thing; Ernie Pyle built his "rep" by living with, fighting with and travelling with US Marines in the South Pacific.
He reported everything they did, "puff" AND "grit", and he died, in combat, one of the best-loved and most-admired reporters of the war.

cactoblasta

on Jan 11, 2006

Yeah but the media has changed since then. These day puff pieces are on oprah; the news is reserved for 25 mins of death and destruction, 5 mins of kittens and 30 mins of sport. Unless it's a kitten puff a soft story won't get covered. It's all about 'reaching the target audience' and 'focusing on customer needs'; ie satisfy perceived bloodlust, cos those interested in puff pieces don't watch the regular news.

Ernie Pyle was from a time before focus groups and marketing.

If you're talking about editorial selection, which I suppose you are, then you can call conspiracy all you like, but obviously the focus groups and marketing suggest that noone wants to hear much good news from Iraq. Don't ask me why. Maybe all the focus groups are biased against hearing about glorious social victories in Iraq. They're certainly biased against them in every other sphere.

stevendedalus

on Jan 12, 2006

"That's not our job." Sweet, isn't it? Swells the heart. Sounds to me that this is bias reporting. No competent reporter would overlook such a human interest story.

Daiwa

on Jan 12, 2006

but obviously the focus groups and marketing suggest that noone wants to hear much good news from Iraq. Don't ask me why. Maybe all the focus groups are biased against hearing about glorious social victories in Iraq. They're certainly biased against them in every other sphere.

I really find it hard to believe such focus groups are representative then - there is something about the way the media select them, or there is something about how they ignore them in favor of their own agenda, or the media's version of conventional wisdom has become stagnant & solidified in their minds. There are simply too many people upset about the bias against reporting the good with the bad for them to be completely missed by sheer luck. I don't believe there is an overt conspiracy, just a collective mindset that prevents them being objective anymore, whether in their reporting or in selecting so-called focus groups.

Cheers,
Daiwa

cactoblasta

on Jan 12, 2006

But if there really was a significant amount of people who disagreed then they would have their own media sources, catered and designed for their tastes. And it seems there are - Fox News springs to mind. So it seems unwise to complain about a problem with bias when the media simply caters to demand with tailored supply.

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