Misleading News

[Deepwater6]

http://www.cnn.com/2015/02/01/politics/huckabee-gay-marriage/index.html

I am staunchly opposed to most of the GOP platform, but I feel CNN is skewing article titles to an extreme to suit their thinking and their ratings. CNN and other news outlets are out of control and dangerous to the true intentions America was founded on. Their ability to sway the masses and change the political landscape is frightening.

 

The BBC, as far as I can see, seems to be the fairest outlet. They seem to aim toward the true story more than most. The title of this article is "Huckabee, homosexuality - like drinking and swearing" is a total twist of the interview he gave. I can't agree with Huckabee's platform any more than I can back the Muslim extremist cause. That doesn't mean I approve of CNN twisting his words so far out of context. Free speech is now a monopoly and the FCC is a joke.

[Eclogite]

The BBC enjoys two advantages:

• Independence of viewpoint as the Corporation is funded by the Licence Fee and its charter protects it from government interference.
• A tradition of journalistic professionalism that was part of the ethos introduced by Lord Reith, the first Director General of the BBC.

This does not make it perfect and there is some evidence of slipping standards in recent years, but I would give its reporting more credence than any other broadcast news source. (Of course, in order to know what my opinion on any matter is I read the Economist.)

[Deepwater6]

Interesting, I don't recall ever hearing about this licensing fee. I did know that the people had some sort of affiliation with the broadcast company, but never investigated the details of what it was. It seems to me this would be a difficult law to enforce in this day and age. Technology has moved so fast so quickly.

Are the slipping standards you speak of a consequence of the corporation's leadership getting decentralized as in too many worldwide offices? or monopolized as in just a chosen few setting the tone?

In this fast paced society we live in most people only have time to read the headlines on their phone or computer. Saying Huckabee equates drinking and swearing with homosexuality was completely out of context. For those who didn't take the time to watch the interview video, their opinion would be severely skewed by CNN's headline. 

I remember something about a scandal in the UK over the last few years. I'm not exactly sure what it all involved (I only read some headlines) but some phones were tapped and it looked ugly. Some media executive's were getting eaten alive by their fellow sharks looking for a great story.

I don't remember the BBC being involved in any of that though. I really enjoy the site, especially the "future" section articles. :smile:  :thumbs_up

Edited February 2, 2015 by Deepwater6

[Eclogite]

Interesting, I don't recall ever hearing about this licensing fee. I did know that the people had some sort of affiliation with the broadcast company, but never investigated the details of what it was. It seems to me this would be a difficult law to enforce in this day and age. Technology has moved so fast so quickly.

On the contrary. Detector vans can determine if someone is operating a TV and a current database can reveal immediately if the property owner has a licence. I experienced the effectiveness of this myself when, because of an oversight, we failed to renew our licence one year.

 

 

Are the slipping standards you speak of a consequence of the corporation's leadership getting decentralized as in too many worldwide offices? or monopolized as in just a chosen few setting the tone?

That is not an easy question to answer. I think each of the following play a role:

• There is arguably a certain laxity in society in relation to what is considered acceptable. The BBC naturally reflects that trend.
• Although they are defined as a "public service broadcaster" and therefore viewing figures are supposed to be of minor interest, competition has driven the standard of some programming downwards.
• Budget constraints have encouraged that move.
• The rigid hand of Lord Reith has never been replaced by someone of comparable vision and commitment. There have been other very good Director Generals, but none of his stature.
• The expansion of the corporation from one TV channel and three radio stations, to nine TV channels and fifteen radio stations, plus a host of local stations make control and maintenance of standards more difficult.

An example of the standards imposed by Lord Reith: under his watch, newsreaders on the radio were required to deliver the news wearing dinner jackets and bow ties. Silly? It created an ambience in which they understood they were engaged in an important and serious enterprise.

 

 

I remember something about a scandal in the UK over the last few years. I'm not exactly sure what it all involved (I only read some headlines) but some phones were tapped and it looked ugly. Some media executive's were getting eaten alive by their fellow sharks looking for a great story.

 

I don't remember the BBC being involved in any of that though.

A number of tabloid journalists, in some instances with the agreement of their editors, had tapped into the phones of politicians, media celebrities and in one instance the phone of an abducted, murdered schoolgirl. The interference with the phone in the latter incident created the false impression she might still be alive, raising the hopes of her family. When this was eventually revealed through a public enquiry, the backlash led to the closure of the responsible newspaper, the News of the World: founded 1843; closed 2011. The paper at that time had a very high circulation, due in part to its focus on sex scandals. That had earned it the nickname News of the Screws.

 

You are correct that the BBC had zero involvement in such practices. The scandal that hit the BBC was suspicion of complicity in covering up concerns about sexual assaults by the major TV personality Jimmy Saville. It emerged after his death that he had used his position and major charity work to gain access to young children.

 

All of that said, the BBC website or news reports are where I obtain most of my news and I have deep admiration for many of the BBC's reporters for their professionalism, honesty, humanity and courage.