I came across this insight and I found it refreshing. I thought I'd share it with you:
As interesting and horrifying as the upcoming elections are, as bitter as the attacks between candidates have become, it's the media itself that is has left the most negative and enduring impression on me.
Amusingly enough, it's not the bias of the outlets that gets to me. It's been long acknowledged that CNN leans to the left, while FOX News leans happily to the right. No, I'm pessimistic enough to accept the reality that every writer, reporter or interviewer has his/her own opinions that will come through their work.
What's really killing me lately is how the news outlets (With a few exceptions) are dedicated to remain completely useless and insignificant when it comes to relaying important information.
Take for example the story from last week, about a girl named Ashley who was 'attacked' in Pennsylvania by an Obama supporter. This huge, 6"4 colored monstrosity of a man not only beat and sexually abused this innocent white woman, he also mutilated her by carving a B on her cheek.
This story was everywhere, on the front of every news page, in papers, magazines, on television. McCain and Palin were both outraged at the attack, and both took the time to call the victim to offer their support and share in the grief.
No more than 24 hours later, after some bright detective thought to wonder why exactly the B on her cheek was carved backwards, as if, she did it to herself with a mirror, it was announced that Ashley fabricated the entire ordeal.
For a couple of hours, the story appeared on outlets, and then was immediately buried.
Tell me, where is the outrage now? Why has McCain not mentioned this act in any of his rallies, to condemn such hate mongering behavior? Whether Ashley is mentally ill or not is not the question, the question is why is no one talking about this anymore? Why is CNN still talking about Palin's wardrobe, and not this?
Another example.
I am completely horrified at the murder of 3 people, one of them being a 7 year old child, but these atrocities happen every single day, around the globe. Often times exponentially worse crimes aren't even noted, let alone reported on. Why is this the news that gets shoved down our collective throats?
Because the victims are related to an American Idol contestant and Oscar winner.
These are just two instances. Believe me when I say I could provide more.
It's not what they say, it's what they're not saying. It's not what they ask, it's what they're not asking.
With 9 days to go until the election, I wonder when the media is going to start talking about what's important, and start asking real questions.
For that matter, when will we, the people, start forcing them to?
