Great!

[ProSense]

Cenk Uygur
05.07.2006
The Media Isn't Supposed to be Neutral

The media isn't supposed to be neutral - it is supposed to be objective. There is an enormous difference between the two. And this is a difference that has been lost on the mainstream media for quite awhile now.

Snip...

Since liberals didn't make the same complaint for a long time (they've gotten better at this recently), you have had an uneven playing field. Reports that were negative to Democrats would register no complaints. But reports that showed negative results for Republicans would be met with a chorus of bias accusations.

This whining to the refs has worked for years for the Republicans. It has resulted in a press that is gun shy to objectively report bad news about Republicans, but has no similar restraint for reporting negatively about Democrats.

It has also led to the absurd idea of "balanced" coverage for issues like the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth. It is not biased to say that group ran a well orchestrated smear campaign against John Kerry. In fact, you give up your claim to objectivity if you cover that story by reporting their side of the story as equally valid to John Kerry's side. One side was lying, the other wasn't. It is irresponsible and inaccurate to report otherwise.

more..

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/cenk-uygur/the-media-isnt-supposed-_b_20521.html

[_dynamicdems]

1. Wow! This is great!

Good for him. Young Turks are pretty cool. It's about time someone started calling the media on their responsibility for giving credence to lies in the name of being "balanced."

[jillan]

2. Hopefully Colbert gave some reporters a push

to speak out about the media.

Yay!

[karynnj]

3. This is a startlingly clear way to explain this

Because balanced became a synonym for unbiased, the idea that you are fair when you give both sides is a major problem. Asking the media to be objective makes far more sense.

[_dynamicdems]

4. This is also posted on the YoungTurks site and you can comment there.

Unlike the Huffington blog, your comments appear immediately. You do need an account, but it takes minutes to register and you can add a comment. I just added the first comment. It wasn't much of a comment, but I'm doing about 500 things at once today. At least I now have an account there.

Hey folks, come on, jump in and make some noise.

www.youngturks.com

[sandnsea]

5. And the balance of a 90/10 split

It's like when they have a segment on global warming or some such and present two opposing views, never mind that one person represents 90% of thought on the subject and the other represents the 10% fringe. The interviewer treats them as equals, they've been playing that game for a while too.

[_dynamicdems]

6. Or when they debate "Intelligent Design." n/t