Truth in Politics on "The Connection"

[Xipe Totec]

Weeks after many Americans learned what a swift boat is, the presidential campaign remains stuck in the past. Accusations that George Bush shirked his National Guard service are five years old and the authenticity of documents purporting to prove those claims is now in question. The debate over their legitimacy has replaced the content of the accusations, but in the mud of this campaign, one smear invites another. As reporters race to record the "he said, he said" of this fight, there seems little time or interest in separating truth from all the political noise.

An excellent radio program aired today on WBUR Boston analyzing the weaknesses of journalism and how they are exploited by political campaigns. The program gives a historical perspective going back to the 60's and reviews the Willy Horton fiasco. Calls modern media coverage of the elections a "runaway train".

With a news cycle that has been compressed from 24 hours into 4-5 hours, feed by live coverage, and a bias for entertainment, first impressions are seldom corrected by the media. Investigative reporting, a la Woodward & Berstein, is now dead.


Guests:

Walter Robinson, Editor of the Boston Globe's Investigative team

Bryan Keefer, assistant managing editor of Columbia Journalism Review's Campaign Desk and co-author of "All the President's Spin"

Michael Lynch, Professor of Philosophy author of True to Life: Why Truth Matters

Tom Patterson, Ben Bradlee Chair of Political Science at the JFK School of Government

http://www.theconnection.org/shows/2004/09/20040913_a_main.asp

[stellanoir]

1. I heard this and almost posted about it.

It was excellent.

The best analogy I recall, and I don't know who said it, was that, as of the Jennifer Flowers incident in '92, and with the proliferation of the 24/7 news cycle, research went out the window. Prior to that, research was done before statements were made. That is no longer the case.

(paraphrasing here) The commentator said, the first report and most often uncorroberated view of any situation is the locomotive. It is what gets peoples attention. The truth of the matter lies in the caboose. They are far apart and never connect.

People lose focus and pay more attention to the locomotive than the caboose. It was a silly yet apt analogy and spoke to my unsettling feeling that no one is innocent until proven guilty any more. It's so sad.

[Xipe Totec]

2. One Caller Mentioned Fact Check

As a reference to validate facts and wondered why the media does not make better use of this resource.

http://www.factcheck.org/

First time I had heard of it. I have it bookmarked now. :thumbsup:

[stellanoir]

3. yeah

was pleased to hear that reference as well. Good one.

[lukasahero]

4. "Investigative reporting, a la Woodward & Berstein, is now dead."

No kidding. I was thinking exactly that while getting frustrated listening to NPR on the way in to work this morning. Even NPR reporters simply "report" what's news these days. Wish I had heard this broadcast, but I'll catch it on the computer. Thanks for the link.