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Re: [Phys-l] journalism



News services are closing down foreign stringers for their news gathering operations. NPR is still hanging in presently, by all accounts. The avenue for fast breaking news is increasingly, the output of bloggers, which offer immediacy, and video on the spot from cell phones etc. Amusing to recall the comments from a few years back - that the DoD was getting its front line data from CNN News.

Brian W

On 1/19/2011 1:01 PM, Dr. Richard Tarara wrote:
I[have] written this before for other lists, but IMO it is almost impossible to know the facts on any issue (and becoming more difficult even on scientific topics). Most of our information comes through the
media--TV/Radio/Print/Internet. We still have scientific journals for the
science, but access and even understanding can be difficult outside one's
own field. The problem with the mainstream media is that only SELECTED
facts are presented, some 'facts' aren't, and whole stories and issues are
omitted by selective outlets. This latter is probably the most used form of
manipulation used by the mainstream media. My dismay on this dates all the
way back to the Viet Nam years when I tried to really determine what was
going on and did so by reading everything--from the far left to the far
right. Everyone presented 'facts' to support their views--problem was that
A's facts were not the same as B's. It was not necessarily that either was
lying, just selecting. Problem is, how do you uncover ALL the facts to make
a reasoned decision. I just don't think you can in many situations.
Therefore I've taken the view that if the issue is really important to you,
go with your instincts and best reasoned ideas based on available
information while with everything else--don't bother. ;-(

Rick