Noise in the Media

Yeah if we havn't got any news ..let's create some.

If they confined them selves to reporting facts not 'projections' and rumour.

Like House Prices are Falling... when there weren't... the rate of increase was slowing, when eventually they did start falling the media reported it like it was the end of the world when it was just a few % and they are still stupidly overpriced against wages compared with 10years ago.

It's all a bit like Chicken Little...

THE SKY IS FALLING IN _{(according to projections from our financial think tank after a heavy luncktime session)}

Del

Another annoying example went along with this past summer's spikes in gas prices. The media would predict that a hurricane in the Gulf of Mexico would lead to another increase in gas prices. The prediction would trigger commodity purchases in the stock market which would drive up the price of oil thus making the prediction true despite the fact that the loss of production due to the storm was minor.

Time and time again they reported that foreclosures "doubled" in the month of X compared to the same month last year (or the previous month).

I don't recall the exact percentage of homes in foreclosure, but it is on the order of 5%. So, if it goes from 2 1/2 to 5% it doubles, but when reporting they omit the numbers. What most only take away from the statement is "doubles" so in their mind they now think every other home on their block in in foreclosure.

The spot we're in now was created by politicians and made worse by a sicaphantic media. We are going to hear a steady drum beat of how bad things are right up until Jan 20, 2009. By reporting things are much worse than they really are they can then turn around and begin to tell us how much better things are getting once that SOB Bush is gone and we now have the Lord Barac Oboma, the Most Merciful.

Travis
KB0PWP

And Del makes the point well that the percentage change (small) is INTERPRETED as a crisis (large). To my mind this defines SUBJECTIVE.

Does anyone remember the tube show " Max Headroom"?? The gathering and interactions of the crew with the "news" subjects were the story... As it is Sunday morning here in our end of the world, there is no lack of "Talking Heads" on the morning news shows! And you can always tell if it's going to be a slow news day: they start interviewing each other...

Yes, it truly is a case of 'yelling "FIRE" in a crouded theater'.

I think 'the powers that be' (not at all sure who that is) like it that way.

They dont get rich during times of calm and serenity. It takes change to make money (now isn't that a double-entendre). It doesn't matter if the change is for the better or the worse.

I'm convinced there have been 2 changes to the AP (and other networks) writing guidebooks...

1) All nouns and adjectives have been stripped except for superlatives,

2) All numbers have been forbidden except for meaningless comparative percentages; ie, doubled, 50%, 200%, etc).

This even includes medical story reporting which just drives me nuts.

For example:

If you eliminate transfats you will be 50% less likely to die of heart disease! 50% less likely than what? 1 in 100,000? So does that mean 1 in 150,000? Ooooh, wow, I'm impressed.

And what effect will eliminating transfats have on my chances not to get run over by a bus if I forget to look both ways while crossing the street?????

Grrr, ranting again. Sorry. I shouldn't this close to Christmas.

Hooker