Fake Balance In News

The media has a problem with presenting issues with a fake balance. The need to give an opposing viewpoint even if it does not exist.

via Paul Krugman:

"Long ago I said that if liberals said the Earth was round, while conservatives said it was flat, the news headlines would read “Shape of the planet: both sides have a point.” But I encountered a new wrinkle today.

I was tentatively scheduled to be on a broadcast dealing with — well, I won’t embarrass them. But first they had to find someone to take the opposite view. And it turned out that they couldn’t — which led to canceling the whole segment."

People see these talking heads on cable news would assume it's a 50/50 argument, but it's not. All it does is enable the Right Wing to kick up dust and confuse. "Fair and Balanced" is their Trojan horse. Sadly, sacrificing fact and truth for the sake of "balance" is not just Fox anymore. Their ratings have forced others to follow.

I suggest Ed Schultz or Rachel Maddow is you are looking for a good source for news. Keith Olbermann is you can handle his ego.

Source: Bob Cesca