By: Joe P.

Joe P. — Thu, 20 Dec 2012 18:58:00 +0000

True, reportage on the Twitterverse is lazy and manufactured journalism — much like writing about polls (“the horserace”) or politicians’ “gotchas” all through the election season,rather than real reportage on issues and substance. It’s pervasive, unfortunately. I’m also irked by the notion that reporting must always be “balanced”. There was a study released recently by two researchers at the (conservative!) Heritage Foundation that showed that the quantity of untrue assertions during the last campaign were far from “balanced” — they were overwhelmingly Republican and by a substantial amount. (Yes, I said the Heritage Foundation. No joke.) Yet “fact-check” journalists always seems to feel the need to dig up a Democratic untruth for every Republican one in order to appear (to borrow a disreputable slogan) “fair and balanced.” It’s not true that “both sides” are equally culpable always — why do they feel obliged? It’s like, why doesn’t reportage on the topic of evolution simply report the science and not feel obliged to give voice to creationism? In this case, this was a lazy story on people’s skepticism of realtors — but why is there an obligation, real or implied, for “balance” in what is a “some people go their own way” story? When there are a legitimate two sides to a story, of course, it’s good journalism to report them. but isn’t it self-evident by the very existence of the realty industry that some people trust them? This story WAS “the other side” — a “duh” one, to be sure, but what balance does it require? (SCIENCE SAYS THE EARTH IS ROUND –OTHERS DISAGREE” being the imaginary headline…. some things just ARE and need no rebuttal.)

By: Roger Green

Roger Green — Wed, 19 Dec 2012 20:54:00 +0000

I HATE that content that is “created” by a bunch of tweets or FB posts. LAZY journalism – not even journalism. It’s not just the TU, of course.

Comments on: Realtors: “WAAAAAAAAAHHHHHH” George Hearst III: “NONONOO SSSSHHH IT’S OKAY, it’s okay…here. Here’s a pacifier.” Kristi: “#oops.”

By: Joe P.

By: Roger Green