Ari Fleischer

The only problem I have with Fleischer's book is his solution: that journalism schools do a better job of teaching what journalism is. That's like the old saw: physician heal thyself. There has been so much in-breeding in what passes for the media now that it is clear very many (far more than half) wait to see what others write and then repeat it in hair-raising style. To start with, I'd banish the term "mainstream media" and replace that term with "the left-leaning media" and then just ignore that faction as your choice may be.
Are there prevarications on the right? Well, sure. No one should deny that. But it is a question of balance. Currently, the left-leaning media puts heavy emphasis on the wrong-doing of the right while essentially ignoring the many wrongs of its own side. I'm all for exposing disinformation but selective reporting is every bit as bad.
I think some who read this work will concentrate on the suppression, deception and bias in the title but will ignore the snobbery. There is no value in journalism that addresses itself to its peers -- with peers being the establishment.… (altro)

This book covers a lot of the same ground as [a:Sharyl Attkisson|1416138|Sharyl Attkisson|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png]'s [b:Slanted: How the News Media Taught Us to Love Censorship and Hate Journalism|53546156|Slanted How the News Media Taught Us to Love Censorship and Hate Journalism|Sharyl Attkisson|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1608520237l/53546156._SY75_.jpg|83879773], though it is better-written, better-researched, less histrionic, and with fewer personal scores to settle. I more-or-less agree with much of the content: yes, the media sometimes gets details wrong, is often quicker to report than to retract, picks and chooses what to report based on a narrative, and individual reporters and news outlets do have biases. The media has a responsibility to do better. And yes, the demographics of the media should better reflect the demographics of America ideologically and culturally. Where I have a problem with this book is that all of the author's vitriol is directed at the left-of-center media, while ignoring the even-more-extreme journalism right-of-center.

Like Slanted, this book fails to grapple with the problem of what to do with misinformation. When a politician lies or distorts the truth, is the media supposed to blindly pass along those untruths to their audience, without comment? Should lies be given just as much weight as the truth? When there's a truth imbalance between political parties, how should the media cover that? These are not easy questions to answer.

I try to consume media from across the political spectrum, even when that is painful or unpleasant. I find the "AllSides" website useful, as it rates the bias of most mainstream media, with roughly equal representation from left to right.

I think this book is a valuable entry in the media studies conversation. It has it's own perspectives and biases, which is fine. It is thought-provoking, at least.… (altro)