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| Fifth Column |
| News Media: Those Lying Lies and The Lying Liars Who Tell Them? |
| 2004-05-08 |
News media’s credibility crumbling Journalists seen as slightly more believable than used-car salesmen President Bush recently turned to Brit Hume of Fox News and told him flat out that he prefers to get his "news" from White House and national-security staff, rather than as reports from journalists. Though that may have stunned the media elite, many ordinary Americans cheered. For two decades polls increasingly have indicated public dismay at the spin and fantasies of the press. In fact, a recent Gallup Poll says Americans rate the trustworthiness of journalists at about the level of politicians and as only slightly more credible than used-car salesmen. The poll suggests that only 21 percent of Americans believe journalists have high ethical standards, ranking them below auto mechanics but tied with members of Congress. More precisely, the poll notes that only one in four people believe what they read in the newspapers. Chicago Tribune Editor Charles M. Madigan may have put it best when he offered this advice: "If you are a journalist, you should probably just assume that you come across as a liar." ...more... The truth hurts... Lol! Life is hard. It’s even harder if you’re stupid and dishonest. |
| Posted by:.com |
#3 A 1999 survey conducted for the American Society of Newspaper Editors also points out that about 53 percent of the public view the press as out of touch with mainstream AmericaOnly 53%? Wonder what a 2004 poll would show. Another 58 percent believed journalists didn't care about inaccuraciesI can personally testify that they don't. And that's not even about "big" stories that can make careers. A 2002 Harris Poll produced similar results. In the age of Enron and WorldCom disasters, even accountants scored higher on trust than journalistsOuch. But deservedly so. Creating an ethics standard of the sort that Fortune 500 companies require of their employees would "put the fear of God" into reporters, he saysOnly for the ones who actually believe in a God, which leaves the liberal elite (i.e., most reporters) out. The fact that they think someone has to tell them what is right and wrong, else they won't know, speaks volumes about them. None of it good. |
| Posted by: Barbara Skolaut 2004-05-08 12:33:25 PM |
| #2 President Bush...prefers to get his "news" from White House and national-security staff, rather than as reports from journalists. Though that may have stunned the media elite... Who are dumber than they look, if they were stunned by that. The POTUS prefers to get his information from our intelligence services, rather than the newspapers. What a concept. |
| Posted by: Angie Schultz 2004-05-08 10:40:27 AM |
| #1 one in four people believe what they read in the newspapers See? We're raising a bunch of morons. |
| Posted by: Shipman 2004-05-08 10:04:39 AM |