"But Jurkowitz says readers and viewers have a short memory for any specific mistake. Just as the public doesn't remember which news outlet got a story first, it also doesn't remember which one got the story wrong, he says. 'I'd be skeptical that there is lasting damage for any news organization unless they made a habit of this,' Jurkowitz says."
"On the other hand, the bad news about bad reporting, he says, is that mistakes damage the media generally. 'To the extent that people are aware of the mistakes, it just reinforces the public's distrust' of the media, he says. 'It just amplifies the sense that the media doesn't care about getting things right, that all it cares about is ratings, that accuracy doesn't matter. . . . The public's opinion of the media isn't high to begin with. And this doesn't help.'
"News websites dedicate far more time and resources to propagating questionable and often false claims than they do working to verify and/or debunk viral content and online rumors. Rather than acting as a source of accurate information, online media frequently promote misinformation in an attempt to drive traffic and social engagement."
Who do you believe? Walter Cronkite was "the most trusted news man in America." But how about now? Do you trust the "O'Reily Factor" The "National Inquirer"? "CNN.com"? "Fox News"?
One of the most important issues in Credibility is "bias". However, as we discussed in Psychological Noise, we're more likely to follow media channels that reflect our opinions. And we're more likely to believe sources that reinforce our existing ideas. So is the media biased or are we forcing our personal bias on the media?
"Our nation has always relied on a press that is free, considering it nothing less than a foundation of our democracy. But we have always paid the price for that freedom, allowing voices that are reckless or bigoted or plain wrong to be heard too. Finding the news you can trust has always been every citizen's job. It has just gotten more complicated. And above all, remember that media is biased because people are biased. Every one of us is biased; we all see the world through the lenses of our personal beliefs and predispositions, and we all like to hear news in a way that supports our own preexisting views, reinforcing our own biases that we may not even know exist. As Gladstone puts it, "News consumers say they want objectivity, but they choose news outlets that reflect their views." That's just human nature."
Is that hurricane REALLY going to hit? Do cell phones REALLY cause brain cancer? Am I going to catch anthrax? Will the terrorists attack tomorrow?
The front page on the right, from the "Los Canvases Daily News", has two major "scare" headlines featuring the words "crash" and "toxins". The major photo story is about a tragic crime.
The Module 2 reading, "The Other Parent" painted a dire picture of childhood. The media bombards us with warnings of "video game addicts" and "rampant drug use and sexual behavior" among teens.
But the reality is different from the media hype. According to the Center for Disease Control, teen violence has declined by 40% from 1995. Teen deaths by homicide have also declined since 1992. In 2014, teen pregnancies were at a historic low. Over the last twenty years, male and female teen sexual experience also declined significantly. The media continues to stress the danger, however, rather than emphasizing the reality.
Can AIDS be cured by magnets?
Is the kidnap victim alive?
Is the recession over?
Can I be cured by this treatment I saw on TV?
"In many cases, investigators found that specific details on the magnitude of benefit or harm and the cost and
inconvenience of following recommendations were lacking, and evidence supporting them was contradictory or
absent. Viewers had little basis for informed decision making."
Only really important people or events are covered in the media.
And the media only covers really important people or events.
In the front page to the right, which is the more important story - the bruises or the possible attack?
"The Kardashians are brilliant when it comes to the art of the personal brand. They know how to get themselves straight into the spotlight and leverage their personal brands into money-making machines."
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