Is the media intentionally causing close elections in the name of big ratings, and even bigger revenue?
I’m going to ask you to do something very difficult: put your opinions of the candidates away for a moment and look at this election from another angle. I think I've got it figured out now, it's not pretty, and I hope I’m wrong.…
Article comments
26 - Jet
If you think about it, in the elections since 1998 the Democrats were always the underdog.
Could that be the reason that they gave so much attention to them, in order to even things up? They couldn't give a damn who won the elections, just as long as things were close, so they tried to help the Dems gain poll numbers to get close to even...
Remember how everyone was glued to their sets waiting to see if the Dems could take back either house of Congress?
The news media succeeded, even at the risk of being branded biased and liberal... of course afterward they laughed all the way to the bank.
27 - Ruvy
Jet,
This is the first article I've seen that actually deals with something that most folks writing about this election are managing to ignore - reality.
Since the Democratic Convention, most of the articles have been lambs set at the feet of St. Obama, or more recently a wet t-shirt party for Sarah Palin. But as for the
overfed pricksfine journalists who make up the "mainstream media", I think you have the whole thing right on the money.28 - Jet
Thank you Ruvy, much appreciated my friend
29 - Jet
I'm surprised no one's commented on the two shot of Palan and Walker
30 - Baronius
Jet, I don't see a need to believe that the press collectively stages the news. Maybe it's true. But this is one of those Occam's Razor things. In your theory, you have to assume bad intentions. In mine, they're largely just inept. Also, your theory wouldn't explain why they treat everything like a horse race.
31 - Jet
Fair enough Mr. B
32 - Cindy D
lol @ troll :-)
Jet,
I loved Fame!
33 - Lisa Solod Warren
Not a problem, Jet. All is forgiven. After all, Rosh Hashanah is coming up:)
34 - Condor
Jet, thanks for the article.
I had this media bias explained to me once as mere dialetical materialism (DM). Could be, but in a capitalistic society (like it or not), I tend to think this bias is a mix of DM along with advertizing dollars in the mix.
Anyone familiar with the Annenberg Foundation? It was founded to "advance the public well-being through improved communication" and has spoken out regarding some poor judgement by major news sources in releasing stories which were not researched and conveyed inaccuracies that could only harm journilistic validity. Why, some writers here tend to project their own jaded opinions in the interest of "educating" the readers. But in essence is just a promotion of propaganda that has been injested and thereby propagated, without research, trusting anecdotal sources of information over scholorly/researched sources.
The real hoot is when some writers are called on their faulty research, they either shrug it off, or deflect it away from slipshod writing and research methods.
I find it all quite amusing.
35 - Jet
Has anyone noticed that now that Obama showed a clear lead, suddenly the news agencies are saying the polls have them nearly tied?
...as I predicted.
Now if McCain begins showing strength, you can be Obama will begin climbing in the polls.
36 - Jet
Can anyone else explain why this election is so completely tied?
37 - pablo
I could try Jet, but you would not believe me. I do however take issue with your thesis that the primary function of the MSM is to sell advertising, by increasing ratings. The main purpose of the MSM is to program human beings for the people that own the MSM. That in itself is far more profitable in the long run then increased advertising revenue, and they are damned good at it.
38 - Jet
After writing an Anti-Obama article, I remained undecided for a while. Three factors have changed that.
1. Colin Powell's endorement carried a lot of weight with me.
2. John McCain's age makes the thought of Sara Palin and her "first dude" becoming President in a few years, with the keys to the CIA, FBI and the Nuclear arsenal too much to even consider her being competant.
3. John McCain's age and his sudden attempt to curry favor of the far-right that would influence his appointment of supreme court justices.
39 - Jet
Point taken Pablo... to a point.
40 - Jet
If I'm right about this, McCain should have a sudden surge in the polls today so we'll all be tuning in tomorrow night?