Comment by TheBlight
2 years ago
The problem with the news isn't that it's sensationalized, which of course it is, but that an ever increasing amount of it is completely made up.
2 years ago
The problem with the news isn't that it's sensationalized, which of course it is, but that an ever increasing amount of it is completely made up.
Hm, maybe from some news outlets. I think the main issue for big news outlets isn't outright falsehoods, it's the coverage bias. You really can't get a full sense of what's going on if you don't make an effort to get news from divergent sources because each outlet covers the news that fits its preferred narrative.
Amen to that
If we got a full-scale media blitz with pictures every time someone died in a car crash, people would take unnecessary car-related deaths much more seriously. 100 people a day are dying in the USA right now
There's so much fucked up stuff like that going on in the world, and people have no idea about it since it never hits the news
I’m not sure basic transportation is unnecessary. Avoiding cars because they can crash is not realistic.
1 reply →
What are "divergent sources" anyway?
On anything that matters, all sources just copy AP or each other, and maybe splice in some random tweets. Once you're looking at a topic where the news source is providing some kind of opinion, it's a clear sign you're dealing with some thoroughly irrelevant bullshit non-issue, and closing the tab is the best thing you could do now.
I'm referring to sources whose target audiences differ greatly. For example, if you read NYT and NPR, those are not divergent sources. NPR and Fox News, or Reason and either NPR or Fox News are divergent. I don't personally read Fox News myself, but use them as an example here because they are well known for their coverage bias.
For more recommendations, check out the Read Across the Aisle app, [1] which I created to help battle groupthink and the resulting misunderstandings and incivility.
1: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/read-across-the-aisle/id118985...
Ah, the sweet aroma of coverage bias, isn't it just the spice of the journalistic world? The quest to avoid blatant falsehoods is relatively straightforward, much like a game of whack-a-mole. Identify the blabbermouths, the rumor-mongers, the peddlers of deceit, and voila! You've successfully exiled them from your daily news diet. A glorious accomplishment, indeed!
However, when it comes to bias, things get somewhat...messy. It's like trying to play chess on a board that keeps shifting under your fingers. An insidious infiltrator, bias sneakily weaves itself into the fabric of reporting, subtly influencing what gets attention and what doesn't. We're all detectives in this narrative, sifting through data, trying to separate the wheat from the chaff.
News, like science, isn't a perfect process. What's chosen for investigation often matters as much as the ensuing results. News sources, then, become our guides in this complex labyrinth, and their credibility can make or break our understanding of the world. The elusive "objective narrative" might be a mirage, but some news oases are certainly closer to the wellspring of reality than others.
Now, consider the ill-advised adventurer who thinks they're diversifying their media intake by adding a dash of conspiracy theory and a sprinkle of sensationalism. Suddenly, they're questioning whether 5G is responsible for a global pandemic. A fascinating thought, no doubt, but one that's more suited for a science fiction novel, perhaps?
Practicality is key. If you're a trans individual or a parent of a trans child in Florida, news headlines like "Florida's Draconian Measures Against Trans Kids" are crucial for your well-being. If, however, you're more interested in the intricate dance of global finances, a business-centric outlet would be your go-to.
Media mammoths like The Washington Post and The New York Times attempt to cater to this myriad of needs, breaking down their content into neatly packaged sections like sports, economy, politics, culture, and so on. Yet, their own peculiar biases can sometimes stain the narrative (ahem, New York Times and your unfortunate penchant for trans panic stories).
In short, my dear friend, finding balance in news consumption is less like a serene ballet and more like a lively tango. You're constantly adjusting, recalibrating, and challenging your understanding of the world. Bias will always be there, lingering in the shadows. The trick is not to eliminate it, but to dance with it.
> I think the main issue for big news outlets isn't outright falsehoods
I'm not entirly sure:
- Fox outright lied about voting machines (and much more)
- NBC lied about Russiagate (and much more)
- CNN lied about Ivermectin and painted Joe Rogan yellow (and much more)
Outright falsehoods are definitely a thing.