Lessons for the press...

[Tom 1]

Right. When you don’t investigate DoJ gun running in Mexico there will be business as usual.

Do you have a source for that?

 

[redleghunter]

There’s a bigger picture there though - in the 70’s in the UK some industries had to be curtailed as the long term prospects were bad for everyone. The government at the time took responsibility and stepped in, and did what needed to be done. Do you have a source for analysis of the situation under Obama, re what you mention here?

Yes Obama signed executive orders to curtail industries based on his environmental policies. This is why Trump won the rust belt states in 2016.

 

[redleghunter]

Do you have a source for that?

See you didn’t hear about that. Look up Obama DoJ Fast and Furious

 

[Tom 1]

Yes notice the headline. It’s telling the reader hey this just may be a fluke. Instead of just reporting the facts.

It’s analysis- that’s what newspapers do. They should be cautious - reporting has gone from this looks ok but how solid is it to much more positive reporting as things have played out quite well, over the course of the year, to a more cautious note about sustainability over the next 12 months, more recently. That is what responsible news should be doing - analysing the situation to provide the reader with information, not just parroting what the current administration wants them to say.

 

[redleghunter]

It’s analysis- that’s what newspapers do. They should be cautious - reporting has gone from this looks ok but how solid is it to much more positive reporting as things have played out quite well, over the course of the year, to a more cautious note about sustainability over the next 12 months, more recently. That is what responsible news should be doing - analysing the situation to provide the reader with information, not just parroting what the current administration wants them to say.

I guess they would see any economic over 2.5% as alarming. Given 8 years of stagnation any good news comes as a surprise.

 

[Tom 1]

See you didn’t hear about that. Look up Obama DoJ Fast and Furious

There seems to be plenty of coverage of that in the ‘msm’, e.g here from CNN
Operation Fast and Furious Fast Facts - CNN

I’m more interested in what’s happening now - how the press covered any previous administration is whatever it is. I agree with the OP article that the obsessive reporting of Trump’s tweets and speeches is a bit pointless, they could do a better job of focusing on analysis of what is actually happening, a bigger picture approach. That’s in there though - you just have to ignore the Trump said this/that stuff. On the other hand it is concerning - Trump often alludes to conspiracy theory stuff that people genuinely believe, like that nut who shot up a synagogue. Characters like that listen to Trump and if it seems he believes things like the unfiltered Soros stories they take that as validation. If the US president is irresponsible, then the press needs to report that.

 

[Tom 1]

I guess they would see any economic over 2.5% as alarming. Given 8 years of stagnation any good news comes as a surprise.

Maybe yes - overall there’s a progression from caution to cautious optimism to recognising things are going well, to caution about long-term prospects. The WH might want it all to be positive, but that isn’t what the press is for.

 

[Hank77]

The press did not start covering the economic recovery until recently. There was a purpose for that politically.

Well it wasn't to be helpful to the Dems. It could only hurt them in the mid-term elections.

 

[Yarddog]

Advice for the press from a cognitive scientist-

How the media should respond to Trump’s lies

‘If you’re someone who shares Trump’s worldview, there are certain things that follow from that worldview. In other words, certain things have to be true, or have to be believed, in order to sustain that worldview. The things that aren’t actually true but nevertheless preserve that worldview are “alternative facts” — that’s what Conway was getting at, whether she knew it or not.

The conservatives use those alternative facts all the time, and so does Trump. If he’s talking to his base, he’s talking to people who have already bought into a picture of the world, and his job is to tell them things that confirm that picture — and he knows they’ll believe it for that very reason.

I think we have to understand “alternative facts” in this way, and understand that when Trump is lying, he’s lying in ways that register with his audience. So it may be lying, but it’s strategic lying — and it’s effective.’

The media, for the most part is just trying to report what is said and debunk what "alternative facts" may be out there. I think they know a certain section of voters will believe only what their demigods say but there is a greater number of people who have more ability to reason than those voters. These can be swayed by actual facts.

It is a journalist place to report the truth. It is for the readers to take away from that truth what they wish to believe.

 

[Tom 1]

The media, for the most part is just trying to report what is said and debunk what "alternative facts" may be out there. I think they know a certain section of voters will believe only what their demigods say but there is a greater number of people who have more ability to reason than those voters. These can be swayed by actual facts.

It is a journalist place to report the truth. It is for the readers to take away from that truth what they wish to believe.

I think the guy being interviewed has a point though - continually tracking and reporting on what Trump says seems to play into the chaos. Perhaps a different approach would work - if Trump was ignored a bit more then he might actually make overtures to the press for more attention. Plus, the constant reporting on what Trumo says and does can make it seem like they are ‘out to get him’, as opposed to just being baffled that some people seem to pay no attention to the amount of deception and inflammatory language.

 

[Yarddog]

I think the guy being interviewed has a point though - continually tracking and reporting on what Trump says seems to play into the chaos. Perhaps a different approach would work - if Trump was ignored a bit more then he might actually make overtures to the press for more attention. Plus, the constant reporting on what Trumo says and does can make it seem like they are ‘out to get him’, as opposed to just being baffled that some people seem to pay no attention to the amount of deception and inflammatory language.

Well, the President of the US is the single most powerful position in this country. They have a responsibility to report on what comes out of the WH. Trump doesn't like having his lies plastered all over the papers, TV, etc...

I posted something recently from Psychology Today about the make up of Trump supporters. These people will not turn away from Trump regardless of what he does. There is, though, a large portion of swing voters who voted for Trump which can be reached with the truth. It is those people who decide elections and the media needs to report on the truth.

 

[creslaw]

Trump uses hyperbole very effectively. And he is well aware of his "tone" which is used to cut through to his support base. Words like "invasion" are accurate according to the dictionary which does not necessarily mean a hostile invasion, eg "the crowd invaded the field after the winning goal" where it refers to large numbers.

Accusations of "deception" and "inflammatory language" are thrown around more often because of ideology rather than examining each case, most of which are very petty (eg the box of cereal "lie").

It is quite appalling to try to link Trump with inciting violence such as the attack on the synagogue, particularly so when he is one of the most pro Jewish presidents and has Jewish grandchildren.

 

[The Barbarian]

It is quite appalling to try to link Trump with inciting violence such as the attack on the synagogue,

All he did was rile up the killer with his lies. Trump didn't expect that someone like that would listen to his lies about refugees, and conclude that Jewish people helping refugees should be killed. The thing about stirring up violence is, you never know how it's going to be directed.

Two days earlier, Robert Bowers, motivated by lies about the so-called “migrant caravan” and Jews’ role in supporting it, shot up the Tree of Life synagogue and killed 11 Jews at prayer.
Trump’s Birthright Citizenship Stunt Panders to Zealots Like Pittsburgh Shooter

 

[The Barbarian]

I think the guy being interviewed has a point though - continually tracking and reporting on what Trump says seems to play into the chaos. Perhaps a different approach would work - if Trump was ignored a bit more then he might actually make overtures to the press for more attention.

It's a bad feedback loop. Trump's mental state requires constant attention, so he confabulates all sorts of lies. The press loves the "look what he did this time" stories, so the crazier he acts, the more attention he gets. And the more attention he gets, the more he likes it.

And around and around we go.