Comments on: I’ve said similar things before http://www.saysuncle.com/2005/10/21/ive_said_similar_things_before/ Remember, I do this to entertain me... not you. Tue, 14 Feb 2012 02:36:34 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: tgirsch http://www.saysuncle.com/2005/10/21/ive_said_similar_things_before/comment-page-1/#comment-31498 tgirsch Fri, 21 Oct 2005 14:56:51 +0000 http://www.saysuncle.com/archives/2005/10/21/ive_said_similar_things_before/#comment-31498 You forget the artificial balance issue, that's probably one of the biggest media problems we currently face. So much attention is given to giving "equal time" to both sides of any issue, that you often wind up with a skewed perspective, with the minority opinion getting wildly disproportionate coverage. Look at the evolution/Intelligent Design "controversy" for a good, recent example of this. Global warming is another. In both of these cases, the consensus is <i>overwhelmingly</i> for one side of the issue, and the other gets way too much coverage in the interests of "balance." It plays in to your sensationalism point. "Controversy" makes for better ratings than simply pointing out that side A is almost certainly right, and side B is almost certainly wrong. I've long argued that the media <i>should</i> be biased, but not to the "left" or "right," or in favor of Democrats or Republicans. Instead, they should be biased toward the <i>truth</i>. Unfortunately, truth doesn't get great ratings. You forget the artificial balance issue, that’s probably one of the biggest media problems we currently face. So much attention is given to giving “equal time” to both sides of any issue, that you often wind up with a skewed perspective, with the minority opinion getting wildly disproportionate coverage. Look at the evolution/Intelligent Design “controversy” for a good, recent example of this. Global warming is another. In both of these cases, the consensus is overwhelmingly for one side of the issue, and the other gets way too much coverage in the interests of “balance.”

It plays in to your sensationalism point. “Controversy” makes for better ratings than simply pointing out that side A is almost certainly right, and side B is almost certainly wrong.

I’ve long argued that the media should be biased, but not to the “left” or “right,” or in favor of Democrats or Republicans. Instead, they should be biased toward the truth. Unfortunately, truth doesn’t get great ratings.

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