65 online
 
Most Popular Choices
Share on Facebook 39 Printer Friendly Page More Sharing
OpEdNews Op Eds    H2'ed 7/30/11

Mainstream Reporters: Too Close to the Field and Teams to Get the Debt Story

By       (Page 1 of 2 pages)   1 comment
Message Jeff Cohen
Become a Fan
  (1 fan)

If you were a spectator in a sky box seat looking directly down on the Washington debt debate, you'd be seeing a contest both narrow and off to one edge of the field -- like watching a football game being played entirely between the 10-yard line and the goal line.

The big items that added trillions to the debt are not even on the field of debate. Because the two teams are not contesting them.

** WARS:   When Obama expanded the Afghan war and asked for the largest military budget in world history, the GOP largely applauded.  It was bipartisan.

** BUSH TAX CUTS FOR THE WEALTHY:  Obama extended them in December

** BANK BAILOUTS:  Bipartisan.  

** DECLINING TAX REVENUE:  Resulted from recession and financial meltdown caused by years of bipartisan (Reagan/Clinton) deregulation of Wall Street. And by big companies like General Electric (whose CEO is Obama's jobs chairman) dodging their taxes.

That's the broad view -- a perspective that sees our country in extreme debt and extremist "debate" because the leaders of the two teams collaborated in putting it there.

But this would NOT be your view if you were a mainstream reporter. Because reporting in elite U.S. media is not so much about relaying obvious and important facts as it is about positioning.

It requires placing yourself equidistant between the two opposing teams.

It means your vantage point is not an elevated or broad view, but down on the field. At the 5-yard line.

From down on the field, you easily miss how the two teams had collaborated to push the game toward the edge. Instead, 

you see real rancor and animosity between the two teams.  You see differences in rhetoric and strategy. 

From down on the field, you wouldn't want to irritate either side or you might get hurt yourself.

Next Page  1  |  2

(Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher).

Well Said 2   Supported 1  
Rate It | View Ratings

Jeff Cohen Social Media Pages: Facebook page url on login Profile not filled in       Twitter page url on login Profile not filled in       Linkedin page url on login Profile not filled in       Instagram page url on login Profile not filled in

Jeff Cohen was director of the Park Center for Independent Media at Ithaca College, where he was an associate professor of journalism. He founded the progressive media watch group FAIR.org in 1986.

Go To Commenting
The views expressed herein are the sole responsibility of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of this website or its editors.
Writers Guidelines

 
Contact AuthorContact Author Contact EditorContact Editor Author PageView Authors' Articles
Support OpEdNews

OpEdNews depends upon can't survive without your help.

If you value this article and the work of OpEdNews, please either Donate or Purchase a premium membership.

STAY IN THE KNOW
If you've enjoyed this, sign up for our daily or weekly newsletter to get lots of great progressive content.
Daily Weekly     OpEd News Newsletter
Name
Email
   (Opens new browser window)
 

Most Popular Articles by this Author:     (View All Most Popular Articles by this Author)

The Mystique of “Free-Market Guy” Obama

Will Joe Biden Be a Rerun of 2016 Tragedy?

Let's Not Restore or Mythologize Obama

Stepford Republicans: All Caught on Tape!

Snowden Coverage: If U.S. Mass Media Were State-Controlled, Would They Look Any Different?

RootsAction.org: New Independent Progressive Group

To View Comments or Join the Conversation:

Tell A Friend