Monday, December 20, 2004
My bias is better than your bias
Honest(sic)Reporting
I often take part in letter writing campaigns against media bias, which is obscenely favourable to Israel, even in the light of evident misdeeds and crimes. I think that accurate and fair reporting is the fundamental condition so that the "fourth power" retains any vestiges of objectivity or usefulness. Yet, true objectivity is a panacea. Any event that takes place is going to be reported by a human being. Each person carries with him- or herself a series of all too human qualities such as sensitivity, perception and perspective. Whatever he or she sees, hears or reads is of course going to be processed using the tools of judgment, placing events in context and attempting to present them to those who are not first hand witnesses or who are not busy reflecting on the material.
So, it is no wonder that such a condition as "bias" exists. When one continually witnesses a certain act, or there is a trend which always points in the same direction, a sense of purpose arises in the chronicler whose duty is to inform and to create consensus.
Yet, in these days, I have been focussed on the campaign to remove Neil MacDonald from the CBC which has been launched by HonestReporting. They say they are agains bias… Yup, sure……. take a look at their about us page if you are an unbeliever:
"Israel is fighting an uphill battle and needs all the help it can get. Much has been achieved, yet there is much more yet to do. One person alone may not make a difference, but thousands united can...
Join HonestReporting.com and help Israel win the media war.
Why is the fight against media bias so important?
The media sways public opinion, which directly affects foreign policy - and, ultimately, the outcome of the conflict.
Since October 2000, in addition to fighting an anti-terror war, Israel has been fighting a media war. In news outlets around the globe, journalists regularly misrepresent Israel as the aggressor and Palestinians as the victims.
In response, HonestReporting was established to scrutinize the media for anti-Israel bias, then mobilize subscribers to respond directly to relevant news agencies.
HonestReporting's seminar, "Israel's Battle Against Media Bias," has been presented to groups throughout North America and Israel, and is a key component of the Hasbara Fellowships program to train college students in pro-Israel activism."
So, someone please explain to me the difference between "anti-Israel bias" and "pro-Israel activism" which HonestReporting actually has developed seminars to train college students about? If it's bias for the goose, it's bias for the gander, or no?
I often take part in letter writing campaigns against media bias, which is obscenely favourable to Israel, even in the light of evident misdeeds and crimes. I think that accurate and fair reporting is the fundamental condition so that the "fourth power" retains any vestiges of objectivity or usefulness. Yet, true objectivity is a panacea. Any event that takes place is going to be reported by a human being. Each person carries with him- or herself a series of all too human qualities such as sensitivity, perception and perspective. Whatever he or she sees, hears or reads is of course going to be processed using the tools of judgment, placing events in context and attempting to present them to those who are not first hand witnesses or who are not busy reflecting on the material.
So, it is no wonder that such a condition as "bias" exists. When one continually witnesses a certain act, or there is a trend which always points in the same direction, a sense of purpose arises in the chronicler whose duty is to inform and to create consensus.
Yet, in these days, I have been focussed on the campaign to remove Neil MacDonald from the CBC which has been launched by HonestReporting. They say they are agains bias… Yup, sure……. take a look at their about us page if you are an unbeliever:
"Israel is fighting an uphill battle and needs all the help it can get. Much has been achieved, yet there is much more yet to do. One person alone may not make a difference, but thousands united can...
Join HonestReporting.com and help Israel win the media war.
Why is the fight against media bias so important?
The media sways public opinion, which directly affects foreign policy - and, ultimately, the outcome of the conflict.
Since October 2000, in addition to fighting an anti-terror war, Israel has been fighting a media war. In news outlets around the globe, journalists regularly misrepresent Israel as the aggressor and Palestinians as the victims.
In response, HonestReporting was established to scrutinize the media for anti-Israel bias, then mobilize subscribers to respond directly to relevant news agencies.
HonestReporting's seminar, "Israel's Battle Against Media Bias," has been presented to groups throughout North America and Israel, and is a key component of the Hasbara Fellowships program to train college students in pro-Israel activism."
So, someone please explain to me the difference between "anti-Israel bias" and "pro-Israel activism" which HonestReporting actually has developed seminars to train college students about? If it's bias for the goose, it's bias for the gander, or no?
