The Blog @ Spolitics

CNN’s Shades of Truth

by Heywood U. Reedmore -- November 21, 2008 at 11:18 am | In No, Seriously | No Comments

Anyone who believes media outlets simply report facts seriously underestimates the editorial power they exercise. Not only do they choose what to report in the first place (as opposed to what stories to kill) where to report them (front page or last) and how often and in what detail to cover the story, but in addition to all that — and perhaps more importantly — they frame the story. They “set up” what you’re about to see or put it in “context.” In doing so, they can (and often do) leave out facts that don’t fit into their narrative and add comments to shade what you do see.

CNN (via Hot Air) provides a choice example of this. First, the original report:

The only fact here is that Bush walked by world leaders without shaking their hands, while others were shaking hands. But CNN’s Rick Sanchez puts it in context for us: it’s sad; Bush is unpopular; he’s being snubbed, maybe as retribution for all his years of bullying. Sanchez then tries to legitimize his commentary by backing it up with Google hits as if that’s proof.

But how truthful was it:

Kudos to CNN for correcting Sanchez’s bogus report, but unfortunately as the saying goes (and their follow-up notes) a lie can travel halfway round the world before the truth even gets its pants on. Since Sanchez’s report, if you Google Bush and bully now you get over 6 million hits. You can bet the story of Bush getting snubbed will live on.

That said, (putting a little twist on Ed’s idea), if you Google Sanchez and hack you get 1.56 million hits. But don’t expect Sanchez to run a story on that.