BuzzFeed stands by its reporting after Special Counsel Robert Mueller flagged alleged inaccuracies. But I have some thoughts about wavering journalism standards– and how propagandists have learned to exploit our weaknesses to further their narratives.
Love the podcast. Keep them coming!
I have noticed everywhere a persistent, downward trend among Americans in their (lack of) regard for the once widely accepted and practiced rules of the English language. Could this particular ‘weakness’ of ours be among those that propagandists use to exploit their audiences in all different varieties of media?
The examples you cite in this podcast suggest as much, at least to me. Applying the most basic linguistic tools to discern either the existence or absence of facts, to arrive at the truth, is apparently worth the effort only rarely, anymore.
Your analysis and commentaries are always so rational and clearly delivered. They speak volumes about your character, experience and commitment to unwavering professionalism. Thank you.
Keep em coming Sharyl! Your training as a journalist, and your being singled out as a reporter because you didn’t fall in line is inspiring. It’s not the path most choose. There is a moral compass (principle) that supersedes political differences. Your work is helping shed light on the right path to follow.
It’s not sloppiness, it’s an intentional act by CNN, MSNBC, and others in the mainstream media to have an excuse to print unverified rumors. Their hope is not to be held accountable if the rumors turn out to be false.
Jake Tapper claimed that it was made a legitimate story after the White House commented on it.
I doubt Jake would look at it the same way if Buzzfeed claimed it was told by law enforcement that Jake Tapper committed a crime and every other news outlet said, “If true, Tapper is facing the prospect of spending the rest of his life in prison.”
The greatest illusion today is that we have a free press. The media and government have become one in the same. Both being used to stifle free speech and any opposing view which dares to oppose leftist group “think.”
Sixty years of leftist pravda propaganda within the media and education/indoctrination system have created a generation of drones who are no longer capable of using logic or reason. Propagandists like Tapper are enslaving their own grandchildren and they don’t seem to care.
Confirmation bias has become a religion, then repeat a false narrative and keep repeating it until a majority of people accept it as truth.
“The great enemy of truth is very often not the lie–deliberate, contrived and dishonest–but the myth–persistent, persuasive and unrealistic. Too often we hold fast to the cliches of our forebears. We subject all facts to a prefabricated set of interpretations. We enjoy the comfort of opinion without the discomfort of thought.” -JFK-
Thank you for explaining, in a understandable way, what’s happening with the dissemination of fake news by agenda driven interests.
I loved this. I truly did. It didn’t work with Pilate, though. (to switch venues):
“However, the chief priests of the Jews began to say to Pilate: “Do not write ‘The King of the Jews,’ but that he said, ‘I am King of the Jews.’” Pilate answered: “What I have written I have written.” John 19:21
Podcasting is the future. We can listen when we want and pick the best. You will pick up steam very fast. Society really needs this… Please keep them going!!
Well done
I have noticed everywhere a persistent, downward trend among Americans in their (lack of) regard for the once widely accepted and practiced rules of the English language. Could this particular ‘weakness’ of ours be among those that propagandists use to exploit their audiences in all different varieties of media?
The example you cite in this podcast suggests as much, at least to me. Applying the most basic linguistic tools to discern either the existence or absence of facts, to arrive at the truth, is apparently worth the effort only rarely, anymore.
Your analysis and commentaries are always so rational and clearly delivered. They speak volumes about your character and commitment to unwavering professionalism. Thank you.
Wonderful! Keep ‘em coming!
Well done Sharyl, keem ’em coming
Mike
Sounds spot on to me. I’m no journalist but I see that type of mistake all the time. It’s mainly a common sense thing.
Facebook needs you to help them determine ,if not fake news,fairly reported news—with transparent definition of same
Please continue and go formal. Can’t too many journalistic high integrity, high ethics, and absolute duty to report and follow the truth.
Please continue your important work
Thank you… More episodes, please, Sharyl.
It seems clear that academic standards are all but non-existent at this point. Moral relativism serves to reduce the value of objective truth. The term “Justice” is then substituted for “truth”, and a growing swath of society – journalists, academics, and the entertainment industry, bows to whatever is subjectively called justice. Simmer for a generation or two, and the leaders in those areas no longer recognize the value of truth, as they’ve been educated without considering it in a rigorous and consistent manner. Thank you for your work. Are you mentoring any young journalists?
Keep em’ coming, please. Very helpful.
Well Said! I learned these things in my high school journalism class more than 50 years ago. I often wonder what they are teaching in journalism classes these days.
Agree, however, the problem that most of us that read and listen to news reporting has to do with sources. If the source must remain anonymous then it is up to the reporter to qualify the source. Too many stories are publish using anonymous sources which most of the time are providing gossip or water cooler talk and they are not a credible source…thus fiction or fake news. I believe this all started with the Nixon investigation. The rporters were fortunate to have an inside source, that was credible. Now the use of anonymous sources has become a joke. Thus I would suggest that any reporter getting a story before publishing or airing should require that the source if necessary be disclosed. End of problem.