Lies are bad. A press corps enabling liars is worse.

[kpete]

John Stoehr/Editorial Board:

It’s conventional wisdom among newspaper reporters that we should let readers decide. Don’t come to conclusions. Just present the facts objectively. Leave the rest to the op-ed page.

But that conventional wisdom is running into trouble, namely a period in our history in which normal isn’t normal anymore. The more we cling to this conventional wisdom—to these normal reporting conventions—the more harm we do to the people we claim to serve.

That paradox is put into sharp relief by coverage of the aftermath of the January 6 insurrection. Its one-year anniversary is Thursday. The press corps had a year to soul-search, but it’s still treating the event—still treating treason—as if there are two sides. The result is elevating lies to the level of truth, making everything seem as good or bad as everything else, and giving the impression that nothing matters.

........

MORE:
https://www.editorialboard.com/lies-are-bad-a-press-corps-enabling-liars-is-worse/

[Midnight Writer]

1. "Just present the facts" is not the problem. Presenting "alternative facts" is the problem.

[Ponietz]

2. "These stories brought to you by our network sponsors..."

It’s what a large part of corporate America wants.
Profit is still the principal driver of policy for many.
Walmart feudalism.
It’s unconscionable, and a reckoning is coming one way or the other.

https://www.nytimes.com/2022/01/06/us/politics/congress-corporate-donations-2020-election-overturn.html

[dchill]

3. And the "Shame of it All" award goes to an editorial board...

...that took a fucking year to reach this conclusion. Gonna need to see their CVs.

[ShazamIam]

4. I agree but what I admire his website name, smart to have grabbed that name.

*agre/agree

[MissMillie]

5. Thank you for sharing this. It's a good read. (n/t)

.