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Journalistic Fraud On Rise; Industry's Defensive Posture Doesn't Help
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That's what journalism is all about, Charlie Brown
Posted by
Alex Dering
7/19/2003 2:51:40 PM
"You don't have to trust the papers," Rabinowitz reminded the audience. "Why should you confer your God-given analytical powers on the press? Use...
"You don't have to trust the papers," Rabinowitz reminded the audience. "Why should you confer your God-given analytical powers on the press? Use what's there; say to yourself, 'I do, or do not believe it,' and go on."
Perhaps one reason that people are so distrustful of the media is the interchangeability of 'believe' and 'think' in the average journalist's vocabulary.
Perhaps the average person realizes that his or her analytical powers are not adequate and willingly confers them to the press. Do I know about the viability of methane reclaimation on an economically profitable scale? No.
For most of the things I read about in the paper, I am required to surrender temporarily to the reporters and editors my "think for myself" attitude.
No, I don't know about anthrax production. (Here's where the "trust" we all love to bring up comes in.) I trust the reporter to approach the article in question with probity and as a watchdog. Instead, what usually comes along?
"Official A says this. Concerned citizen's group B says this. We can't take sides, that's unethical."
I think, not believe, it isn't taking a side (or perhaps it's taking the side of the truth) when a reporter points out that one group has nothing to back up its position, or that one side's argument is backed up by a lot more facts.
Please, please, stop the mindless parroting of the "I have a right to my opinion" mentality. You have a right to your informed opinion. And journalists should be helping the public spot nonsense when it comes along.
Three suggestions:
1. No more horoscope columns. Ever. They are works of fiction designed to advance a particular flavor of con job.
2. Rewrite the style guide at your paper to ban 'believe' as a synonym for 'think.'
3. Leave God to the religion pages and direct quotes. "Thank God for rescuing me from that burning building. Oh, yeah, and the firefighters too, I guess."
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