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Roger Loeb's avatar

I don't think they teach what you are suggesting in J-school anymore. It's all about attracting attention. TV news destroyed real journalism because the only stories they used had video and you had to be able to tell the entire story in a minute. Now we're down to telling the entire story in a headline. No one even bothers to read the first graf anymore...

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NubbyShober's avatar

This.

The Trump-manufactured crisis in LA *has* succeeded in moving attention away from Elon's claim that the Epstein pedo files haven't been released precisely because DJT features prominently in said files. Michael Wolff on the Daily Beast a few days ago said he'd been shown at least two photos seized from the safe at Epstein's NYC brownstone, where Trump is with undressed and *very* underage girls.

Burning LA to the ground seems a fitting response to distract the public from such a revelation, yes?

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John Sheehan's avatar

I wish you and Will Bunch were the co-managing editors of ALL of our media. I'm serious. What a vast improvement it would be over the current management.

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Becky Daiss's avatar

Thank you for letting us know what corp media is reporting since the vast majority of discerning readers us no longer consume their propaganda. Thanks also for explaining how journalism is supposed to work. I fear your efforts are lost on them but I applaud you for trying. Maybe you can get through to some. Here's hoping.

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RickRickRick's avatar

Another thing, which should be Journalism 101 — don’t use passive voice! Don’t say “X accused of Y.” Say, “Z accuses X of Y.”

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Claire Atkinson's avatar

These are great thoughts. Had also noticed coverage severely lacking in context. However I did see some great attempts at figuring it all out on @Substack.

Thanks so much for sharing this.

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Dan McGinnis's avatar

Excellent piece — came across it while writing my recent article on protest movements and civic action. Linked to it in a section about how the media often misrepresents these moments. Grateful for the clarity here.

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Marycat2021's avatar

Why are so many news outlets so afraid? Is it because of Trump's propensity to sue the media, or is it because they're afraid of losing readers or ratings?

Why is cowardice the default for news coverage? Why do I have to find my news on Substack and The Intercept?

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Janette McClelland's avatar

Because it's all about placating corporate overlords. And shareholders. And sponsors. Selling Budweiser,Viagra and Chevrolets are more important than telling the actual truth. At one point Fox News was using digitally enhanced video of the 1992 LA uprising and stores burning along Vermont Ave,and claiming that it's "LA right now". And they tried to pass off last year's protests in Paris against Macron as "LA riots". WTF? Most of LA is thriving. Business as usual. I'm so damn fed up with the one-sided racist coverage of my hometown that I turned off the local stations in favor of the BBC. Our local stations here in Albuquerque did stories on the upcoming No Kings Day protests. All of them slanted towards Trump. No surprise. Turned them off also.

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Anna Marín's avatar

Briliant !

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Bob Keener's avatar

Right on! This is critical! Journalists need to stop following the FOX News framing and approach. Is that really the dude they want to be on in this moment?

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RickRickRick's avatar

My exact thought when I heard the reports! And this is how Noem and/or Bondi are answering questions about the extent of violence—citing the number of arrests.

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Dan Adams's avatar

Thanks (again) Dan! I've been screaming at the TV demanding better coverage! Your experience in reporting is very helpful. Regards, Dan in California.

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k.paschal's avatar

do you make these suggestions to journalists

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