Some Recent Concerns About "The Media"

Look, there are lots of newspapers, magazines, television stations, and radio stations in the U.S., not to mention the world, and lots of major websites as well.  There is no monolithic "Media" acting in concert. Most major media outlets are motivated first and foremost by trying to sell their media, either to consumers or advertisers or both. Credibility at some level is usually their stock in trade, and, though they pander to target certain audiences and their preferences (and are loathe to publish anything that will offend their core audience), they are hesitant to go to far out lest they offend too many or damage their credibility.

But some recent actions by some "mainstream" media outlets have to make us concerned.

In San Diego:  Above right is John Lynch, who, with Douglas Manchester, a real estate mogul, purchased the San Diego Union-Tribune, the largest paper in San Diego, and began by running a front page forecasting doom if President Obama is re-elected. Obama, they say, is the worst President in history. Evidently to prevent local opposition to such extremism, they also bought the second largest paper in the San Diego area and then folded the print edition into the San Diego Union-Tribune, renaming it "U-T San Diego."

Another editorial said that if Obama is re-elected tax rates on paying tax payers will be 60 to 70% but over 65% will not pay any taxes and that Obama will try to tax at 100% and have everything done by the government, that "Arab terror states" will attack Israel and "Israel’s very existence will be in jeopardy," that seniors will be required to go to Mexico for health care and that health care will be rationed and decided by "death panels," and that "In God We Trust" will be removed from U.S. symbols and currency. It concludes "The year 2016 with Obama [having been elected] is frightening, but many will embrace the 'misery for all, when being on the dole is comfortable for them!'"

In Seattle: The Seattle Time purchased a full page advertisement (from itself!) for the Republican candidate for Governor.  Yes: the paper is advertising for free for one candidate: a Republican.  Imagine if a major U.S. newspaper gave an ad to a Democrat. The Gubernatorial campaign in Washington is in a dead heat.

In Cleveland and Milwaukee: Clear Channel, one of the largest media conglomerates in the world, ran billboards in Cleveland and Milwaukee (photo left). Clear Channel has been accused of racism and bias and agreed to take the billboards down.  Clear Channel has a long history of supporting Republican and conservative christian causes. It was taken public by Bain Capital.

These are just a few events in a few cities. We have a free press, and a diverse press, in this country. It is true that conservatives have an extraordinary media presence, from Fox News which makes little effort to conceal that it is a Republican mouthpiece (even as Rupert Murdoch's dubious practices in the United Kingdom have come to light), that folks like Rush Limbaugh and Glenn Beck are put forward as "leading" pundits and political commentators, and that Cox Communications -- another huge media conglomerate -- has taken conservative bent as its super wealthy principal owner (Anne Cox Chambers, who has a net worth in excess of $10 billion) has aged (she is 93).

We should examine news stories for their accuracy -- which requires looking at multiple sources -- not the politics of the owner or the journalist. But we should be horrified when major publicans make themselves mouthpieces for one party.