Do You Trust The Media?

[dunksworth]

I bring this up because I just watched "Control Room" a while ago and it brought up some interesting points on how the media functions. I'm not sure how popular this movie is in the States (it got practically zero attention in Canada), but for those who don't know about it, it's a feature length documentary film that compares how both the Al-Jazeera network and American media covered the War in Iraq. Unlike a Michael Moore film, Control Room was a lot more objective and a lot less one-sided. I guess the overall message of the film is that although we may think negatively about Al-Jazeera, we learn that both medias are actually very similar, in that they both play into their key audiences. As a US lieutenant put it, "It benefits Al-Jazeera to play to Arab nationalism because that's their audience, just like Fox plays to American patriotism, for the exact same reason... because that's their audience".

In the film, an Al-Jazeera producer states that governments never go to war without the aid of propaganda through the media, and that would include both the Iraqi and American governments. Take for example the coverage of Saddam's statue being brought down shortly after the Americans gained control of Baghdad. The movie discusses how this was a staged event orchestrated by the US Army. They supposedly invited the media to watch as they brought in a bunch of rowdy anti-Saddam citizens from outside of Baghdad to celebrate around al-Fardus (Paradise) square while they bring the statue down.

And in the movie "Bowling for Columbine", which I assume many of you watched already, Moore discusses how the media is no different from any other business in that their main objective is to produce profits. So despite their claims of bringing relavent and substantial news, their main focus is to show whatever gets them the highest ratings.

Moore also brings up a good point about how the media uses fear as a tool to catch the viewers attention. Basically, as long as the audience is scared, then they will listen. It was interesting when he brought up that time when the media all of a sudden focused heavily on sharks attacks, despite the fact that shark attacks were actually down that year.

Anyways, sorry for rambling like that but I'm just wondering what the general consensus is regarding the media.

Do you trust every word they say?
Do you still consider them a reasonably reliable source for information?
Do you listen to what they have to say with an objective ear?
Do you consider them a joke?

 

[Shapecity]

Well in America, media outlets have strong ties to political parties. They will spin the story in their political affiliates favor.

Do you trust every word they say? Absolutely not.

Do you still consider them a reasonably reliable source for information? Nope. There's a lot of misinformation the media spits out and we always hear about words being taken out of context. Print media is notorious for using quotes made out of context. I think the media is a good starting point for information, but you have to verify what they say before you should trust it.

Do you listen to what they have to say with an objective ear? In general yes.

Do you consider them a joke? Pretty much. I consider a lot of the media a joke in the sense they fabricate a lot of the stories they report on. Also you see less and less retractions or accountability amongst media outlets.

 

[monty001]

The Media has its own power. They can divert from a certain event and focus on one thing...say shark attacks, while the viewers may be clueless about what is happening elsewhere, a thing the media, or the government, chooses to hide. There's just so much we don't know about that we should know about, but that's just the way things are.

As Shape mentioned, writers can twist quotes and add words together that change the total meaning of what a person might be trying to say. It's all a business... fear is used as a weapon, brainwashing the public to think a certain way when in reality, the truth may be something else. It happens in politics and even sports. We see it each day.

 

[Trip]

With the recent suspected terrorist arrests in Toronto, I've grown real tired of the media. They spin the words, writing articles that I know are not totally true (brown kids aren't stereotyped as terrorists in schools).

 

[Chutney]

The media is sensationalist. They tend to try and make stories out of nothing, because thats the only way viewers will switch from shows and sports.

Take the recent terrorist plot in the GTA. These people were arguably the most poorly organized terrorists I've ever seen. They openly boasted about their plans, and had the RCMP tailing them for like a month. The bust was efficient and effective. Yet all I've seen is stories about how fertilizer could create bombs and the similarities between our multiculturalism and Europe's segregated immigrant communities.

In America, I've found the news will look to find conflicts and they really infer ridiculous assertions from people's quotes and statements. A CNN interview with the father of a man who was kidnapped and killed by Al Zarqawi's group stands out. The father is now anti-war and drew comparisons between the methods of Al Zarqawi and Bush. He then said something to the effect that Bush is doing a poor job as president. The reporter then asked if that meant that he supported Al Zarqawi. I was just stunned at how desperate she was for some controversy, but it showed how the media only interprets things as conflicts and disputes.

 

[Sasha]

That is very true. They look to divide, rather then unify. Isn't news supposed to be a unifying feature that brings people together to logically present their thoughts and just maybe force their actions upon those thoughts in some kind of manner that is beneficial to society?

If you're not democrat, you're republican and you must suck off Bush. If you're not for the war on terrorism (I realize that's an oxymoron, but bear with me), you're a Frenchie. The such just creates panic, and then they run specials on how divided the "American people" are, why we can't come together and form some kind of opinion on the political front, and more importantly on the humane front. When it's these very people that ask us those questions that are slowley severing us from each other.

I've for the most port tuned out of any kind of media, whether it be entertainment as well, because they're spin doctors in their own nature as well. I'd rather stare at a white wall then listen to these media whores spew their bullshit. They throw together some kind of plot for each of their shows in which they must attack or criticize someone or that night's programming has failed. Can we not, just for once see a mature discussion on our television sets proclaiming both sides of the equation in an intelligent (if this is possible, anywhere) format? Why must we demean and **** on everything that is a product of the society we live in. There surely must be some good in it, right?

I also very much hate the format that the media gives information to their viewers. I'd rather take days and weeks to slowly chip away at some story and try and attempt to uncover the truth rather then be spoonfed some crock of lies in five minutes. It must be my whole fanaticism with questioning authority.

 

[The Dream]

<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Well in America, media outlets have strong ties to political parties. They will spin the story in their political affiliates favor.

Do you trust every word they say? Absolutely not.

Do you still consider them a reasonably reliable source for information? Nope. There's a lot of misinformation the media spits out and we always hear about words being taken out of context. Print media is notorious for using quotes made out of context. I think the media is a good starting point for information, but you have to verify what they say before you should trust it.

Do you listen to what they have to say with an objective ear? In general yes.

Do you consider them a joke? Pretty much. I consider a lot of the media a joke in the sense they fabricate a lot of the stories they report on. Also you see less and less retractions or accountability amongst media outlets.
</div>

Couldn't have said it any better....I suggest turning off the t.v. and reading a book.