This fake news thing: What will the news media learn?

[Murphy]

There is a row going on right now between the big news outlets and the WH. It's not a war. It's not illegal. But it is very real and has upset a lot of people. The traditional news agencies have been refused admittance to the WH press briefings. That's got them ticked! The outlets that were barred are being told to straighten up and fly right. Report the facts. Tell the truth.

Okay, but what started everything? Simply put, it's the volume of 'fake news' that is being reported by the media. Trump and others want to see it stopped. 'Fake news' is the new name for what was once called yellow journalism. It has been going on for a long time. In the electronic age however, it is more rampant and spreads quicker than when newspapers were doing it. This is thanks to the Internet, cell phones and instant communications via Skype and Facebook.

According to webopedia.com,

"Fake news, or hoax news, refers to false information or propaganda published under the guise of being authentic news."

In a nutshell, the WH is sick of the amount of b.s. reporting going on.

For those of us sitting on the outside looking in, this whole situation is confusing. The media is saying one thing and the WH is saying another. Who is right? What's going to happen? The short answer is that Trump has decided the press needs to be disciplined and has tugged hard on their reins. Not everyone will see it this way, but Trump is doing what our daddies did, he is correcting aberrant behaviour. There is sufficient evidence that the truth is not always being reported.

If your powers of Google Foo are average, you can find this evidence quickly.

Because Joe Public doesn't really understand what's going on, they pick sides. Some are yelling, 'Trump is a dictator!', while others are screaming, 'The press are liars!' It's what humans do. They rationalize why their side is the only right one and dig in their heels. But the average American, and the world in general, can scream all they want. We don't have any say on how things will play out...but we do get to watch!

The media counters, saying that it is doing its job properly and that the president is undermining the freedom of the press. Well, the truth be told, President Trump or the WH haven't broken any laws. What he is doing is meting out punishment. If you wish to sit in the media room at the WH, do your job correctly and behave yourselves.

The media, unused to being shut out of the WH, is flabbergasted. A few journalists have questioned the validity of the president's actions, but that's just posturing. It's the press beating their chests. They are angry that they cannot simply flash a press card and be admitted. They are no longer on the list.

Is there any threat to democracy? Hardly! As long as there is a media presence receiving the daily brief, then the system is still working. Information gets disseminated. And really, before this latest blow up, not everyone could gain admittance to the daily briefings anyway. There was only so much space. What the WH did in the past was to allot space to the larger news agencies. But there is no law saying that CNN or MSNBC gets to push aside others and take that space.

Now, it's just different, smaller media that will send their feeds to CNN or Fox, and not the other way around. And that's unlikely to last long unless the big news organizations do not learn a lesson, which is, report the facts.

It is extremely unlikely that the WH will completely stop false information from being reported, but they should try. It is reasonable to assume that it will be slowed, and the big agencies will learn a valuable lesson: Verify your sources, and double check what is being reported. Don't be a liar - even an accidental one.

Certainly, Trump is playing his cards in a way that the press corps has never seen before. But the senior staff and corporate bosses of the big news organizations should learn something from this event. Report the facts. Let the public decide how and what to make of it. Do not interpret, explain, embellish, hide or skew anything.

A simple lesson, but one which the press will fight until they finally realize that news is not created. It just happens.

 

[davesmom]

I think the media does need to clean up its act. It seems like the competition from the internet has them trying to compensate by sensationalizing everything.
Too many reporters are editorializing. They report stories without thoroughly checking them out for truth. They replace words and put their personal slant into the news. They fill their reports with nuances, speculation and innuendo, using words and phrases like, 'might be', 'looks like', 'is possibly', 'is believed that', all of which lead the listener to believe that what they are reporting is actually so.

 

[Curious Cdn]

I think the media does need to clean up its act. It seems like the competition from the internet has them trying to compensate by sensationalizing everything.
Too many reporters are editorializing. They report stories without thoroughly checking them out for truth. They replace words and put their personal slant into the news. They fill their reports with nuances, speculation and innuendo, using words and phrases like, 'might be', 'looks like', 'is possibly', 'is believed that', all of which lead the listener to believe that what they are reporting is actually so.

We have this funny concept in Western Constitutional Democracies. It's a libtard thing called "freedom of speech" and it is a far more worthwhile thing to fight for than a mentally ill President who has surrounded himself with billionaire cronies.

 

[davesmom]

We have this funny concept in Western Constitutional Democracies. It's a libtard thing called "freedom of speech" and it is a far more worthwhile thing to fight for than a mentally ill President who has surrounded himself with billionaire cronies.

Something else we respect in Western democracies is honesty. Where does the Constitution say it's okay to lie?
Misleading people is the same thing as fraud.

 

[Curious Cdn]

Something else we respect in Western democracies is honesty. Where does the Constitution say it's okay to lie?
Misleading people is the same thing as fraud.

That's why he needs to be impeached and the sooner the better.

We finally agree on something.

 

[MHz]

So far the media takes orders from the advertisers, that would include 'unnamed' Government sources or Wall St insider. Trump has just mentioned something about that. I believe that was just put up today.

We were headed for control by big business anyway, at least this way the 'middlemen' are eliminated. It is hard to find something to bribe a billionaire with. Kennedy spent a fortune trying to go to the moon to satisfy the bankers and the need to spend a lot of money starting in that decade. Today Trump is in a similar position but the bankers would have to be left out like the original design of the 'rules' promoted. There is no shortage of money, the fault lies in that 6% banking fees means $94 stays in circulation forever rather than $106 being collected for every $100 the people earn through being 'for hire'. That is a purchased rather than a rental thing as justification for the 94% staying in circulation.

That money, and the interest that was illegally collected reversed would erase the debt for most of the countries on the globe. Where there is money people are 'doing things'. Giving it up is something the ones at the top are unwilling to do for some unknown reason.

The plans for the US is to work on the internal structures so they are the standard for 'minimal housing standards' that makes the 'rat free', (ferrets being the cure might raise a few eyebrows until the results are visible).
There is a computer program out right now that does a 360deg view of some northern EU city as it looks today and in the next swing it looks like some Syrian city instead. Why not get the scan of actual Syrian areas so that 3D landscaping and home remodeling with an eye towards stiff foam and plaster as the covering on the building whose concrete inner core is sturdy enough to be safe for civilian use. Running new lines down the old sidewalks would be the best way to modernize the lines that are normally underground. Lay them out on top of the sidewalk and use the rubble to cover them and the new sidewalk can be elevated a few feet above the old level.
For the unsound ones a tank firing a whaling harpoon into a structure and then winching it back to the tank. If one tank isn't enough then 6 can pull together and be far enough away to be out of harms way.
I wonder if there is a crossbow attachment for tanks yet?

That's why he needs to be impeached and the sooner the better.

We finally agree on something.

That would mean somebody who is not close to being a traitor would have to step up to make the complaint. That might put their life under investigation and that might make a lot of crooked people nervous.
In the short time Donal has been privy to 'CIA briefings' how many times was it 'false news'. The CIA used to get the EO's before and do whatever editing they wanted and then send it back to get signed. Trumps signs the EO and then sends them a copy of it in a 'read and obey' mode, or 'read and weep' mode depending on various factors.

 

[taxslave]

We have this funny concept in Western Constitutional Democracies. It's a libtard thing called "freedom of speech" and it is a far more worthwhile thing to fight for than a mentally ill President who has surrounded himself with billionaire cronies.

Freedom of speech does not give the media the right to lie. Facts go in the news section and opinions go on the editorial page.Shoddy journalism should not be tolerated by the papers owners if they had any pride at all in their product.

That's why he needs to be impeached and the sooner the better.

We finally agree on something.

I don't think you can impeach a newspaper or even a reporter.

 

[Curious Cdn]

That would mean somebody who is not close to being a traitor would have to step up to make the complaint

It will be an easy complaint to make when Trump's treason is fully in view.

Hint: Follow the money ... all the way to Russia. No one else would back the crook after serial bankruptcies made everybody's money disappear (except Trump's, of course) but Russian criminals needing to launder their loot. The Chinese weren't going to invest in him. They are far too pragmatic. The Arabs ... maybe. Trump's love of Israel would make that problematic. Americans? Bloomberg said it in front of tens of millions ... that he and his Wall Street cohorts think that Trump is a Con man. That leaves tens of millions of Mas and Pas emptying out the change from their coffee tins or ... Russian Billionaires.

 

[MHz]

East Russia is opened up for homesteads. Pick a place along the new route for the rail and pipelines and the grand-kids will than you if you live that long. Showing up with $5M to invest in development might increase the amount of ground you can purchase. Reindeer instead of cattle and the shipping can be local and international as it is as lean as Buffalo. The shed hair would make warm blankets etc.

If somebody would clue the Japanese in that area would be filled up by them alone rather than going extinct over a few generations which is their current destiny.
Notice how a little increase is a big deal in the EU but not for Japan??.

 

[damngrumpy]

The media will be around long after the Trump gang are sent packing
and they will be sent packing. In mid terms if the Democrats win and
blunt the tilted nonsense going on Trump will be a one term President
if he survives the term. The powers behind the throne are preparing
Mike Pence to take over right after Donald fails the sanity test

 

[Jinentonix]

That would mean somebody who is not close to being a traitor would have to step up to make the complaint

It will be an easy complaint to make when Trump's treason is fully in view.

Hint: Follow the money ... all the way to Russia.

I did. It had Hillary's name all over it.

No one else would back the crook after serial bankruptcies made everybody's money disappear

6 equates to serial bankruptcies? The man owned or had controlling interest in over 500 companies and 6 went under.
If you look at the national average, I'm willing to bet quite few more than 6 businesses per 500 end up failing.
Wall St. doesn't trust him because they never trusted anyone who wasn't on the take. If you can't be bought, Wall St. isn't going to like you.
As for the "news" organizations that weren't allowed, from what I could tell they were CNN, the NYT, Politifact, Buzzfeed and the LA Times. I'm not familiar with the the LA Times but the rest of them are junk. Hell, CNN practically campaigned for Clinton. If the media is going to complain about being stifled, then quit picking sides during an election, it's not very professional.
All the big networks were there though, although I do question some of the other outlets, like FoxNews for example, that were in attendance if he's worried about bullsh*t "news". Cutting them out too would at least send a clear message.

 

[Bar Sinister]

Something else we respect in Western democracies is honesty. Where does the Constitution say it's okay to lie?
Misleading people is the same thing as fraud.

Given the Dumpster's tendency to attempt to silence critics by threatening to sue them I'm guessing that whatever the media has been saying about him is probably true. Note that the various complaints made about him during the election campaign have not met with any legal action.

 

[pgs]

The media will be around long after the Trump gang are sent packing
and they will be sent packing. In mid terms if the Democrats win and
blunt the tilted nonsense going on Trump will be a one term President
if he survives the term. The powers behind the throne are preparing
Mike Pence to take over right after Donald fails the sanity test

Which powers are those ? Remember Trump didn't have to sell his soul to get elected . Your girl on the other hand spent 1.5 billion trying . I am sure a lot of powers that be , are behind that 1.5 bill .

 

[Curious Cdn]

Which powers are those ? Remember Trump didn't have to sell his soul to get elected .

Sure he did. he sold it to the Russians along with the safety of his people. He should be executed.

 

[Murphy]

Well done to those who have managed to remain on topic about the media and the problem of fake news. To the rest: this isn't about elections, or thinking up another way to bash Trump.

When will the news media realize that they aren't going to get their way?

Yesterday, I heard Jake Tapper's rebuttal (if you could call it that) about mainstream media being kept out of the briefing. He said that they weren't airing fake news. The president is wrong. Really? As if Tapper saying that constitutes any proof. He certainly didn't offer any.

Tapper said that CNN not being there was "UnAmerican". I disagree. Not having any news media would be unAmerican, I suppose. Not having CNN there just wasn't important. They are upset and feel that CNN not being there is subversive somehow. You could hear the hurt in his voice.

 

[Curious Cdn]

There are so many ways to bash Trump as we haven't seen an 55hole as big as this take power in. major country since Benito Mussolini.

You don't get that? You must have been one crap soldier.

 

[Murphy]

And you must have a hating problem. This isn't about the military or Trump being elected. It's about mainstream media being disciplined by the WH.

Find MF, Cannuck or Cliffy if you want to waste time bashing on old news. You're a whiny, old wash woman.
---

Time and the Associated Press boycotted the briefing. It was their form of protest. To me, this is an indication of how self centred the media has become. Why would a big news org not go to a briefing where the usual players were not in attendance? That gives them a special peak into a WH function that their competition doesn't get! Talk about a scoop!

As well, you'd think that a major news org would want to cover an important story from the inside. A missed opportunity.

 

[Curious Cdn]

And you must have a hating problem. This isn't about the military or Trump being elected. It's about mainstream media being disciplined by the WH.

Find MF, Cannuck or Cliffy if you want to waste time bashing on old news. You're a whiny, old wash woman.
---

Time and the Associated Press boycotted the briefing. It was their form of protest. To me, this is an indication of how self centred the media has become. Why would a big news org not go to a briefing where the usual players were not in attendance? That gives them a special peak into a WH function that their competition doesn't get! Talk about a scoop!

As well, you'd think that a major news org would want to cover an important story from the inside. A missed opportunity.

It's about piss-poor judgement and not being able to smell a rat.

 

[EagleSmack]

The media will be around long after the Trump gang are sent packing
and they will be sent packing. In mid terms if the Democrats win and
blunt the tilted nonsense going on Trump will be a one term President
if he survives the term. The powers behind the throne are preparing
Mike Pence to take over right after Donald fails the sanity test

Let me guess... you are predicting yet another Democrat victory.

And you must have a hating problem. This isn't about the military or Trump being elected. It's about mainstream media being disciplined by the WH.

Find MF, Cannuck or Cliffy if you want to waste time bashing on old news. You're a whiny, old wash woman.
---

Time and the Associated Press boycotted the briefing. It was their form of protest. To me, this is an indication of how self centred the media has become. Why would a big news org not go to a briefing where the usual players were not in attendance? That gives them a special peak into a WH function that their competition doesn't get! Talk about a scoop!

As well, you'd think that a major news org would want to cover an important story from the inside. A missed opportunity.

Hey Murphy... ask Curious Cdn about his combat action while in the Canadian Navy. He tried to claim he saw combat until we called him on it.

 

[davesmom]

That would mean somebody who is not close to being a traitor would have to step up to make the complaint

No one else would back the crook after serial bankruptcies made everybody's money disappear (except Trump's, of course) .

The high finance people who are boosting the stock market sure don't think that way!


And incidentally, I believe a move for impeachment has to come from the Congress, doesn't it? Not just some sore-head who doesn't like the guy.

Well done to those who have managed to remain on topic about the media and the problem of fake news. To the rest: this isn't about elections, or thinking up another way to bash Trump.

When will the news media realize that they aren't going to get their way?

Yesterday, I heard Jake Tapper's rebuttal (if you could call it that) about mainstream media being kept out of the briefing. He said that they weren't airing fake news. The president is wrong. Really? As if Tapper saying that constitutes any proof. He certainly didn't offer any.

Tapper said that CNN not being there was "UnAmerican". I disagree. Not having any news media would be unAmerican, I suppose. Not having CNN there just wasn't important. They are upset and feel that CNN not being there is subversive somehow. You could hear the hurt in his voice.

Tapper is the worst bulls xxx ter on CNN. Self-righteous prig who thinks he knows everything.
Remember when the fuss was on about Trump's 'locker room talk", Tapper declared he had NEVER heard any men talk that way. Made me wonder what rock he has been hiding under all his life. Men start talking like that when they are just boys in the schoolyard FGS!