Journalism
- Kevin Solway
- Posts: 2766
- Joined: Mon Sep 17, 2001 8:43 am
- Location: Australia
- Contact:
Journalism
A short note about how much crap journalism is, in case anyone needs any reminding.
Case in point: The pope's comments on Islam, when he said that Islam was linked to violence.
Now, the thing I want to know is what did he mean?
One report I saw the other day said that the pope made this statement in an academic lecture, quoting someone from the fourteenth century. The implication being that he might not hold this view himself.
So why not look at this quote in the context of his lecture, so we can find out? Surely that wouldn't be too difficult?
But it's too difficult for our journalists apparently. So much for investigative journalism.
Yesterday I heard the pope's "apology".
And today I heard a report saying that "The pope has apologized for what he said". But in fact, the pope never apologized for what he said - he only said he was sorry about the reaction to what he said. . . . Two completely different things.
This issue is an extremely simple one, but it is about ten times too complicated for journalists to deal with.
Case in point: The pope's comments on Islam, when he said that Islam was linked to violence.
Now, the thing I want to know is what did he mean?
One report I saw the other day said that the pope made this statement in an academic lecture, quoting someone from the fourteenth century. The implication being that he might not hold this view himself.
So why not look at this quote in the context of his lecture, so we can find out? Surely that wouldn't be too difficult?
But it's too difficult for our journalists apparently. So much for investigative journalism.
Yesterday I heard the pope's "apology".
And today I heard a report saying that "The pope has apologized for what he said". But in fact, the pope never apologized for what he said - he only said he was sorry about the reaction to what he said. . . . Two completely different things.
This issue is an extremely simple one, but it is about ten times too complicated for journalists to deal with.
- Diebert van Rhijn
- Posts: 6469
- Joined: Fri Jun 03, 2005 4:43 pm
Re: Journalism
It's more like a casino these days, you might hit the jackpot (actually getting informed) but more likely you're loosing time and money hoping to get it.Kevin Solway wrote:A short note about how much crap journalism is, in case anyone needs any reminding.
Today a mainstream headliner here was: "President Iran wants to rule the world". An hour later changed into: "President Iran present plan to rule the world". The article did not explain much at all.
After a little search, what it was about actually was that Iran wants to propose at the UN meeting a plan to solve the crises in Iraq, Lebanon, Aghanistan and Afrika. This mirrors possibly the speech Bush is gonna give on his vision about how to 'solve' the Middle East and African problems.
And this is how most people are supposed to get an idea of the world affairs? Crap indeed.
- Dan Rowden
- Posts: 5739
- Joined: Sun Sep 09, 2001 8:03 pm
- Contact:
I agree it is like playing lotto somewhat. It's especially bad when not only simple facts have to be translated but language as well. In the current political climate it is easy (and very convenient) to presume the "worst". A good example is that of the widespread belief that the President of Iran has stated his desire that Israel be destroyed. Funny how we presume that to be true when our agenda includes the demonisation of everything remotely Islam related (even if the actual politics isn't, especially from a Persian, not Arab, nation). That such "quotes" come from speaches made by the man in Farsi and quoted in politically and commercially expedient ways doesn't seem to concern us overly much. He's a Muslim, therefore he's mad and dangerous, per se. Well, he's mad by definition, but how dangerous is another story....
One of the reasons, if anyone is interested, that I have been arguing in this fashion about such matters (in the Hezbollah thread) is that I can see all the signs of an even more distorted, disgusting, evil and malignant form of "McCarthyism" creeping into western society.
It's simply, to be punish: bad news.
One of the reasons, if anyone is interested, that I have been arguing in this fashion about such matters (in the Hezbollah thread) is that I can see all the signs of an even more distorted, disgusting, evil and malignant form of "McCarthyism" creeping into western society.
It's simply, to be punish: bad news.
- Elizabeth Isabelle
- Posts: 3771
- Joined: Tue Sep 05, 2006 11:35 am
And the pope was just quoting a book quoting some people from the fourteenth century. here is part of the speech showing that:
I couldn't find the official Vatican release, but I did read the provisionary release a few days ago and this is reasonably similar.
and here is a link to a translation of the whole speech.when I read the edition by Professor Theodore Khoury (Münster) of part of the dialogue carried on - perhaps in 1391 in the winter barracks near Ankara - by the erudite Byzantine emperor Manuel II Paleologus and an educated Persian on the subject of Christianity and Islam
I couldn't find the official Vatican release, but I did read the provisionary release a few days ago and this is reasonably similar.
- Matt Gregory
- Posts: 1537
- Joined: Tue Jun 07, 2005 11:40 am
- Location: United States
Re: Journalism
I tend to look at these things economically. If it were profitable to inform the public, then we would be informed.Kevin Solway wrote:This issue is an extremely simple one, but it is about ten times too complicated for journalists to deal with.
Yeah, I would probably behead some "innocents" or shoot rockets at some scampering crusaders if someone dared to call me violent as well. So, I kinda relate.
Well, at least I would march in the street trying out-yell the dope next to me. It is my way of currying favor with the local imam, who then gives me prestige in the community, which then of course leads to more under-the-table sex and money. I might even get lucky and be shown on TV. Imagine that! Oh, the joys of piety.
Death to America!
Death to Isreal!
Death to anyone who calls us violent!
Well, at least I would march in the street trying out-yell the dope next to me. It is my way of currying favor with the local imam, who then gives me prestige in the community, which then of course leads to more under-the-table sex and money. I might even get lucky and be shown on TV. Imagine that! Oh, the joys of piety.
Death to America!
Death to Isreal!
Death to anyone who calls us violent!
Sensationalism, I mean journalism, I mean...(all right I admit its semantics.) The primary focus of mainstream media in my opinion is about little more than numbers of viewership, i.e. getting attention.
Case in point: In 2003 three of the biggest media headlines were SARS, West Nile Virus and Avian Flu. Deaths attributed to the three aforementioned (U.S. statistics) 0, 264, 0 respectively. A mortality total of 264. Total number of deaths (estimated) from the annual Influenza = 36,000. Courtesy Centers For Disease Control. Link: http://www.cdc.gov/flu/keyfacts.htm The 35,000+ deaths from the boring and trivial annual influenza I guess doesn't warrant front page headlines.
It has been my opinion for some time that many who enter journalism do so primarily as a justified and legitimatized way to get their face in print or television (as opposed to acting?). Their primary underlying reason for obtaining attention...not unlike the media in general. Apparently a perfect match.
best,
Case in point: In 2003 three of the biggest media headlines were SARS, West Nile Virus and Avian Flu. Deaths attributed to the three aforementioned (U.S. statistics) 0, 264, 0 respectively. A mortality total of 264. Total number of deaths (estimated) from the annual Influenza = 36,000. Courtesy Centers For Disease Control. Link: http://www.cdc.gov/flu/keyfacts.htm The 35,000+ deaths from the boring and trivial annual influenza I guess doesn't warrant front page headlines.
It has been my opinion for some time that many who enter journalism do so primarily as a justified and legitimatized way to get their face in print or television (as opposed to acting?). Their primary underlying reason for obtaining attention...not unlike the media in general. Apparently a perfect match.
best,


