RE: Fetuses are people. Unless it costs the church money
February 9, 2013 at 8:39 pm
(This post was last modified: February 9, 2013 at 8:41 pm by Gabriel Syme.)
(February 9, 2013 at 7:58 pm)Stimbo Wrote: I agree that the news media, particularly the less reputable tabloids, can often be criticised for sensationalising a story to shift papers, or printing misleading information to the same end.
Good show stimbo!
This is, of course, not limited to reporting on religion, or any one topic, but can be seen across the spectrum of news. And I would include the liberal media as some of the worst offenders, as well as the tabloid media.
(February 9, 2013 at 7:58 pm)Stimbo Wrote: However, words like "reportedly", "apparently", "seemed to", etc, while they may be a "dead giveaway", they also don't automatically equate to outright lying. Or rather, if you are of the opinion that such reportage is less than honest or accurate, yours is the onus of presenting evidence to support the claim.
I absolutely agree.
The qualifier words are only a give away that the information which a news report contains is not established fact, they do not necessarily indicate the presence of lies.
You are right to say that it doesn't automatically equate to lying. Usually by presenting selective facts and alluding to conclusions (leading the reader on, like a donkey lol) is sufficient to achieve the goal of the article.
What the sections of media aim to achieve is a constant drip-drip feed of stories of Catholicism which - by reporting only partial facts, or by presenting facts in a distorted or very selective way (as in this story) -
regularly reinforce a vague but negative impression of Catholicism, such that individuals are more likely to be influenced by the media, celebrity culture, advertising, popular culture, political parties, activists and the like.
[I would not for one minute deny that at times Catholicism deserves negative press articles; the Church is not above criticism and news in recent years about failings to deal properly with abuse in catholic institutions is a good example of deserved criticism.
However its fair to say that the Church rarely receives a fair crack of the whip, in terms of popular media analysis of its stances and activities]
I am quite literally astounded at times by what people will willingly swallow from the media.
Cheers
