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JoeOtterbein

(7,702 posts)
Fri Aug 16, 2019, 10:22 AM Aug 2019

Memo to mainstream journalists: Can the phony outrage -- Bernie is right about media bias


[link:https://www.alternet.org/2019/08/memo-to-mainstream-journalists-can-the-phony-outrage-bernie-is-right-about-media-bias/|

Written by Jeff Cohen / Salon August 16, 2019
8

Mainstream journalists are having a ridiculous hissy fit over Sen. Bernie Sanders’ suggestion that there may be a connection between the owner of a news outlet and the content or biases of that outlet’s coverage.

If Sanders had suggested that Rupert Murdoch’s ownership of Fox News impacts its coverage, few would argue with him. But Sanders referred to Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos’ ownership of the Washington Post — a corporate centrist outlet. And the senator, an Amazon critic, complained that the newspaper “doesn’t write particularly good articles about me.”

Immediately, the Post’s top editor denounced Sanders’ “conspiracy theory” – claiming his newsroom operates “with full independence.” A Post columnist tweeted that she’d never “heard a hint of Jeff Bezos interfering.”

Are they deluding themselves? Or sincerely clueless?

I worked in and around mainstream TV news for years, including at corporate centrist outlets CNN and MSNBC. Unlike at Fox News (where I’d also been a paid contributor), there’s almost never a memo or direct order from top management to cover or not cover certain stories or viewpoints.

More at link

Great read to understanding the true causes of Media Bias!

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Undecided
22 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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Memo to mainstream journalists: Can the phony outrage -- Bernie is right about media bias (Original Post) JoeOtterbein Aug 2019 OP
my father owned and ran a newspaper and he never had any bias... samnsara Aug 2019 #1
My Dad owned a Bakery, and you can be sure, he always made sure... JoeOtterbein Aug 2019 #3
Wow kcr Aug 2019 #7
And the manufactured outrage continues Vegas Roller Aug 2019 #2
This is an excellent read. Uncle Joe Aug 2019 #4
I hope many DUers read it. It's obvious the writer knows... JoeOtterbein Aug 2019 #6
Seems the only "ridiculous hissy fits" are the empty allegations of bias by the BS campaign LanternWaste Aug 2019 #5
So, if it's all unspoken groupthink causing the bias kcr Aug 2019 #8
We just need honest journalism. JoeOtterbein Aug 2019 #9
Sure we do. I'm just not sure how that's an indication of dishonesty. kcr Aug 2019 #19
If you think Bernie's only complaint is how it affects him you are sadly mistaken. Hassin Bin Sober Aug 2019 #21
I've reported on Bernie Sanders for years. A free press won't give him what he wants. Gothmog Aug 2019 #20
**Clang!!** another outrage widget hits the shop floor... SidDithers Aug 2019 #10
None of us here DUers would ever use one of those! JoeOtterbein Aug 2019 #11
We could always spin the Wheel of Outrage... SidDithers Aug 2019 #13
Perfect!!!! JoeOtterbein Aug 2019 #17
Sorry Otterbein.. but Sanders is yesterdays news.. cling to him if you want but he is not getting Peacetrain Aug 2019 #12
It's important that the press is fair to Joe and Bernie. JoeOtterbein Aug 2019 #14
No one was more upset than me, with what happened to Martin O'Malley last time Peacetrain Aug 2019 #15
Brought to you by an outlet that exists because of cash infusions from high wealth individuals.... SouthernProgressive Aug 2019 #16
From Nate Silver-sanders complaints about media coverage do not hold up Gothmog Aug 2019 #18
All of David Sirota's buddies are peddling this myth far and wide nt NYMinute Aug 2019 #22
 

samnsara

(17,625 posts)
1. my father owned and ran a newspaper and he never had any bias...
Fri Aug 16, 2019, 10:27 AM
Aug 2019
If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Joe Biden
 

JoeOtterbein

(7,702 posts)
3. My Dad owned a Bakery, and you can be sure, he always made sure...
Fri Aug 16, 2019, 10:31 AM
Aug 2019

...everything met his standards.

I'm curious. Do you know if your Dad allowed his writers to criticize his advertisers?

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Undecided
 

Vegas Roller

(704 posts)
2. And the manufactured outrage continues
Fri Aug 16, 2019, 10:30 AM
Aug 2019

to keep an irrelevant campaign in the news.

Utter desperation.

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Joe Biden
 

Uncle Joe

(58,378 posts)
4. This is an excellent read.
Fri Aug 16, 2019, 10:43 AM
Aug 2019

Thanks for the thread JoeOtterbein.

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Undecided
 

JoeOtterbein

(7,702 posts)
6. I hope many DUers read it. It's obvious the writer knows...
Fri Aug 16, 2019, 10:52 AM
Aug 2019

...what's up!

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Undecided
 

LanternWaste

(37,748 posts)
5. Seems the only "ridiculous hissy fits" are the empty allegations of bias by the BS campaign
Fri Aug 16, 2019, 10:52 AM
Aug 2019

And sure... I'd call it phony outrage, it's a good ploy by the Sanders campaign to prevent the further erosion of his declining numbers. I don't think it'll work, but a politician's going to do what a politician's going to do.

'Sincerely clueless', indeed.

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Joe Biden
 

kcr

(15,318 posts)
8. So, if it's all unspoken groupthink causing the bias
Fri Aug 16, 2019, 11:13 AM
Aug 2019

rather than direct manipulation by a corporate master, then what could possibly be done to prevent such bias? You want to tell me Bernie's solution is any better? I seriously doubt those Bern Notices are a product of pure, groupthink-free neutrality.

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Joe Biden
 

JoeOtterbein

(7,702 posts)
9. We just need honest journalism.
Fri Aug 16, 2019, 11:27 AM
Aug 2019

There is no way anyone can believe that a newspaper that prints 16 articles in 16 hours about a single candidate, is being honest. They are plainly showing either their pro-candidate, or anti candidate bias.

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Undecided
 

kcr

(15,318 posts)
19. Sure we do. I'm just not sure how that's an indication of dishonesty.
Fri Aug 16, 2019, 04:51 PM
Aug 2019

I'm also confused as to how that's somehow a sign he's being ignored, which is another common complaint. All of Bernie's complaints about the media seem focused on how it affects him. That seems like a biased agenda to me, not an honest reporting of the state of journalism. If I want to read and learn about the state of journalism in America, I'm going to seek out another source, sorry.

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Joe Biden
 

Hassin Bin Sober

(26,331 posts)
21. If you think Bernie's only complaint is how it affects him you are sadly mistaken.
Fri Aug 16, 2019, 05:04 PM
Aug 2019

Furthermore, it is beyond hilarious to see DUers suddenly jump to the defense of the corporate media after witnessing complaints about same on this website for the past 10 plus years.

Complaints about “going after Gore and propping up Bush” to complaints about “horse races” to complaints about “promoting illegal wars” to complaints about “normalizing trump” to complaints about “her emails” stories.

But we get it...


If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Undecided
 

Gothmog

(145,427 posts)
20. I've reported on Bernie Sanders for years. A free press won't give him what he wants.
Fri Aug 16, 2019, 05:02 PM
Aug 2019

This is an interesting article https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2019/02/26/ive-reported-bernie-sanders-years-free-press-cant-give-him-what-he-wants/

Though Sanders understands the problem, his solutions leave something to be desired. The way the senator sees it, the job of a journalist is merely to transcribe his diatribes unchallenged and broadcast his sermons unfiltered.

“He would not be happy with anything that did not basically publish his press release in its entirety — word for word, quote for quote,” said Graff, who spent nearly three decades reporting in Vermont for the AP.

Back when Sanders held regular news conferences in Vermont — it’s been a few years — he typically refused to answer questions unrelated to his chosen topic of the day. That’s problematic for local reporters, who rarely have the opportunity to quiz the members of Congress they cover without spokespeople running interference.

At a 1985 forum on the media, the late Vermont political columnist Peter Freyne complained to Sanders, then the mayor of Burlington, that he had reneged on his promise to hold regular press conferences, pointing out that “When asked a question you don’t want to answer, you leave the room.”
If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Joe Biden
 

SidDithers

(44,228 posts)
10. **Clang!!** another outrage widget hits the shop floor...
Fri Aug 16, 2019, 11:34 AM
Aug 2019



Sid
If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Undecided
 

JoeOtterbein

(7,702 posts)
11. None of us here DUers would ever use one of those!
Fri Aug 16, 2019, 11:36 AM
Aug 2019

Would we?

Thanks for the laugh sid!

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Undecided
 

SidDithers

(44,228 posts)
13. We could always spin the Wheel of Outrage...
Fri Aug 16, 2019, 11:46 AM
Aug 2019


Sid
If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Undecided
 

JoeOtterbein

(7,702 posts)
17. Perfect!!!!
Fri Aug 16, 2019, 12:30 PM
Aug 2019

ROFL!!!!

I'm stealing that one bro!

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Undecided
 

Peacetrain

(22,877 posts)
12. Sorry Otterbein.. but Sanders is yesterdays news.. cling to him if you want but he is not getting
Fri Aug 16, 2019, 11:40 AM
Aug 2019

the nomination.. he has burned too many bridges with the Democrats.. ( I am speaking of Iowa).. they are flocking to Warren and will not be back.. he was just a place holder till Warren stepped in.. and there was no way they were going to back him again after he did that number last time of playing at being a Democrat and then went Indy as soon as it was over..

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Joe Biden
 

JoeOtterbein

(7,702 posts)
14. It's important that the press is fair to Joe and Bernie.
Fri Aug 16, 2019, 11:46 AM
Aug 2019

It will be critical to our winning back the WH in Nov 2020.

Remember: "what about her emails"

I'll never forget!

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Undecided
 

Peacetrain

(22,877 posts)
15. No one was more upset than me, with what happened to Martin O'Malley last time
Fri Aug 16, 2019, 12:14 PM
Aug 2019

you talk about the media doing a number on someone.. they would not even ask him a question.. but it is what it is..he was without a doubt the best to move the country forward.. in fact it scares me a little when Warren has a plan for everything because that was O'Malleys downfall.. he was bright.. have executive government experience and had a plan for everything and that just lost people.. they want simple words of comfort, and you will do something.. and I worked my backside off for HRH after that, but she suffered from the same syndrome.. too many words.. we are a twitter universe now.. and Sanders has the same problem.. it is not the fault of the media.. it is the changing attention spans of the voters..


And now with Sanders complaining they are calling him Trump light.. he does not want that stuck to him.. he has to change how he does this.. Biden is so old, he is new again.. he gaffes and people know he is going to do it.. and it is endearing to them because they know his heart and what he has accomplished..


Blame it on the team he picked.. They are the worst.. they are the snobs who know better than anyone else what we need.. and it irritates the hell out of people.

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Joe Biden
 

SouthernProgressive

(1,810 posts)
16. Brought to you by an outlet that exists because of cash infusions from high wealth individuals....
Fri Aug 16, 2019, 12:25 PM
Aug 2019

Since it's inception in 2007. Hmmmm. I think this is influenced by the one percent.

Just kidding. I'm not that much of a simpleton.

That is the exact argument being made by authoritarian populists as they promote articles and institutions propped up by the one percent.

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Undecided
 

Gothmog

(145,427 posts)
18. From Nate Silver-sanders complaints about media coverage do not hold up
Fri Aug 16, 2019, 04:51 PM
Aug 2019

Senator Warren has just as liberal or even more liberal platform compared to sanders and she is not being hurt in the polls or getting bad press coverage


If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Joe Biden
 

NYMinute

(3,256 posts)
22. All of David Sirota's buddies are peddling this myth far and wide nt
Fri Aug 16, 2019, 05:26 PM
Aug 2019
If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Joe Biden
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