Old Media Bias and the Benefits of Being Popular
By now, you’ve likely heard the tale of Josh Trevino: conservative commentator invited to contribute to liberal publication; commentator endures raft of shockingly vile attacks for past expressed beliefs which, while perhaps hot-headed, are really only objectionable because they defend a conservative viewpoint (in this case, Israel’s right to exist); liberal publication throws out shoulder reaching for some reason, any reason, to fire individual as soon as possible, and, unsurprisingly, does so.
Obviously, I have a personal stake in this matter, regarding a man I have been honored to call a colleague and honored still more to call a friend. What strikes me as particularly ridiculous about this situation is the lack of any anticipation on the part of old media at the highly predictable backlash against them from readers who view the encroachment of inconvenient opinions on their opinion pages territory as a personal insult. What, you thought everyone would greet someone who denounces their opinions with eloquence with candy and flowers as conquering heroes? (Oh, who’s being naïve, Kay.) At least they seem a bit ashamed about it now.
This week, the retiring public editor of the New York Times wrote a little missive about the closed-minded ideological bent of his own old media publication:
“Across the paper’s many departments… so many share a kind of political and cultural progressivism — for lack of a better term — that this worldview virtually bleeds through the fabric of The Times. As a result, developments like the Occupy movement and gay marriage seem almost to erupt in The Times, overloved and undermanaged, more like causes than news subjects.”
When we talk of media bias, we typically mean the reporters. The problem is that this bias extends beyond such things to overtake entire institutions. Niall Ferguson can make his case against President Obama all over the place for months, but when he does it on the cover of Newsweek, why, his tenure ought to be revoked. (Cue Michael Gambon in Layer Cake: “The audacity.”) The only possible way for new voices to endure at these old guard publications is to either become so compromised as to be useless and irrelevant, adopting the opinions of those with whom you once did battle, or so feeble and whimsical that your thoughts are viewed as posing no danger.
Meanwhile, the Guardian is retaining the liberal voice in the pairing, one Glenn Greenwald. I admire Mr. Greenwald’s ideological consistency and his devotion to twelve words where two would do. Yet I must concede that he, at least, is a journalist of the utmost integrity. If only the right could offer more commentators like him, who are popular with all the right sort of people. If you know what I mean.
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Re: Old Media Bias and the Benefits of Being Popular
We are witnessing the last hysterical gasp of a dying political order.
May '10
Re: Old Media Bias and the Benefits of Being Popular
The obvious benefit of the Greenwald hire is economic; the Guardian gets 12 or 13 writers for the price of one!
Jun '12
Re: Old Media Bias and the Benefits of Being Popular
From your keyboard to God's eyes.
Mar '11
Re: Old Media Bias and the Benefits of Being Popular
Jimmie, that wouldn't be a reference to the Glenn Greenwald Sock Puppet Theater Troupe, would it?
Apr '12
Re: Old Media Bias and the Benefits of Being Popular
Your point about promoting a cause rather than reporting news captures what is unsettling about much of American media. I had not seen it that way before and even tonight watching CNN cover Romney, I could sense this cause from people like Wolf Blitzer.
Having a debate is good. That is what changes people's minds and the world is about change.
The opportunity this media style misses is when they have their cause, is to process it through the citizenship by discussion from many views. This newspaper you mention, in particular, gets their cause, they have had their discussions amongst themselves and now they TELL everyone how to think rather than process the topic. I also notice that there is that very large sneer from columnists that anyone who is not at the same direction of thinking is a red neck fool to be despised.
Jun '10
Re: Old Media Bias and the Benefits of Being Popular
The political order of which you speak may have meduim problems (Newsweek so thin it was "blocked by the Higgs boson.") and messenger problems ("You're a racist!" "No, Mr. Matthews, I..." "Yes, you are...racist, racist, racist!). But it is not dying.
A poll released today says 58% of Americans believe the rich are not paying their fair share of taxes. Now, I'm a high-information voter, so - although broke - I know that is so much baloney. But how many of that 58% know that the 1%ers pay 40% of the Fed taxes? But even those who do know, they think it ought to be even more.
The entire public education system, top-to-bottom, is run by progressives.
I'm sorry, Dr. Rahe, but to paraphrase Mr. Clemmons "Reports of their death have been greatly exaggerated."
Edited on August 28, 2012 at 5:53amMay '11
Re: Old Media Bias and the Benefits of Being Popular
Kind of like the backlash when Mike Murphy comes on the podcast.