Caveat Emptor
Media’s liberal attitude outside the bounds of objectivity

There was a time in America when news reports could be counted on for truth and accuracy. These days, that would be a risky premise indeed. Whether it is the print or electronic media, it is imperative for news consumers to adopt a stance of "caveat emptor" -- buyer beware.

Few could convincingly argue that the modern news media is a pillar of objective truth. It is easier to argue that today’s news media is an institution with an attitude. That attitude is a liberal bias that promotes value-free tolerance, government expansion, more taxes and governmental control at every turn. It is generally hostile to achievement, business, free enterprise and the western culture.

This attitude shows up every day in news reports, not merely on opinion pages where it rightfully belongs. And, this attitude helps explain the low esteem in which the news media is held. Language manipulation and word choice for headlines and news stories provide the slant that corrupts the integrity of honest news reporting.

Once upon a time, print and electronic reporters interviewed people who made the news. These days, it is equally common for "news" reporters to interview each other, expounding on their own views and feelings.

The media trend toward elevating sentimentality and compassion over objective truth is illustrated even with sportscasters. They often cut short their coverage of athletic events in order to give more air time to the personal trials and tribulations of the contestants.

A 1997 national survey of Americans’ opinions of the media shows distrust of journalists and belief that news stories are often biased, inaccurate and sensationalized. Readers want more in-depth reporting and solid information. They want personal opinions eliminated from news stories and limited to commentary pages.

Analyzing the news reports on Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan’s message to Congress in late July demonstrates pervasive, extreme news media bias. Various Associated Press (AP) reports filed at intervals that day carried headlines such as: "Greenspan Suggests Delaying Tax Cut" and "Greenspan Cautions Against Tax Cut".

Please note AP’s complete omission of Greenspan’s caution on new spending. The AP headlines and reports carried misleading headlines and story content, which hardened throughout the day as each subsequent story was filed. The clear intent was to influence public support in favor of President Clinton’s scheme to use the surplus for new spending.

What Greenspan actually said was that his first priority for the surplus is debt reduction. Failing that, he preferred a tax cut over spending the surplus on new programs such as expanded Medicare benefits proposed by Clinton. He also said that while he opposes a big tax cut, the GOP tax proposal is a small tax cut and would not adversely affect the economy.

News services such as AP and network newscasters, including CBS’s Dan Rather, profoundly misrepresented the thrust of Greenspan’s message. Apparently they would have you believe Greenspan’s main opposition was to tax cuts when, in reality, it was using the surplus for new spending on government programs.

During the Cold War, Americans chuckled with amusement at Russian government controlled news that manipulated facts and history to advance the Communist agenda. That government had no shame in lying to its people and turning the truth upside down. Also, Americans made fun of the "yellow journalism" of countries to the south of us. People in those countries had little possibility of getting factual information on which to base sound judgments. Surely that could not happen here in America. Or could it?

News consumers must serve as stern critics of reporting. A record of inept or misleading reporting should be rewarded with a diminished audience.

Too often, our news media seeks to emotionalize, dwelling on celebrities and scandals. The media’s "dumbing down of America" helps to create a nation of sheep. According to one of America’s most pre-eminent economists, Thomas Sowell, "A gullible people cannot indefinitely remain a free people."

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