Patroklos
Deity
- Joined
- Feb 25, 2003
- Messages
- 12,721
...in the media. All forms do it whether is is print/TV/internet/radio, and all flavors do it whether it is conservative/liberal/whatever.
Sometimes it is not so much intentional but rather a difference of perspectives, people of a certain viewpoint naturally find different things interesting and thus tailored media outlets like trade publications will favor certain facets over others. Those of us listening to media not tailored to us will naturally find their focus absurd. Sometimes though, you listen to stories and have to think to yourself WTH, why did you report/characterize it that way?
So, knowing that our members here come from myraid backgrounds and listen to all sorts of media of every flavor possible, when watching/reading/listening to your daily news sources today, list some of the blatant exaggerations/sensationalism you hear.
In my case I was driving to work this morning and heard two that inspired this thread. I get my morning news from the radio, which consists almost entirely of NPR except when I switch to a local channel to get the weather/traffic.
1.) There was a story about celebrities preaching against vaccinations and the harm this is having on children in California. There was a doctor who was saying that we are already seeing a resurgence of some diseases and this anti-vaccination scare is not helping. He stated that currently we are suffering an epidemic of measles. I thought to myself "wow, an epidemic, I didn't now that. Sounds pretty serious." Then he said nationwide we had 135 cases.
Now, technically this is correct. Any instance of disease above the expected number of cases is using a strict definition an epidemic. However, we all know that in common parlance that word means much more than 135 cases. Having been bombarded with Bird Flu, SARs, and AIDS for years when someone invokes it most will instantly see images of "Outbreak" or "Andromeda Strain," even if we then rationally dial down our expectations after a little thought.
Its made worse because in order for us to truly gauge the scale of epidemic even if we know the true use of the term, we need to know the normal incidence rate, which wasn't given. In any case, I thought it was an odd use of the word. Maybe the doctor can get away with it, but the NPR journalist should have known better.
2.) Then they had a story about the foreclosure crisis. Foreclosures are up 300% over the same time two years ago! Well, while technically correct, that number doesn't mean anything unless you know what the foreclosure rate was two years ago and do the math. If you did, you would know that over 97% of US mortgages are NOT in foreclosure. That number sounds a whole lot less catastrophic than "OMFG 300 PERCENT INCREASE!!!" This one really bothered me because of the perception of the people around me who seem to really think MOST people are in dire financial straights and looking at home loss and poverty, when if you ask them to name one person they know in foreclosure very few can.
There is certainly a story here to report, but it isn't the 300% increase in foreclosures, it is the fact that individuals/institutions/government are living so close to the chest that a mere 3% foreclosure instance can throw the nation into such a tailspin.
So, has anyone else encountered anything that struck you as odd today?
Sometimes it is not so much intentional but rather a difference of perspectives, people of a certain viewpoint naturally find different things interesting and thus tailored media outlets like trade publications will favor certain facets over others. Those of us listening to media not tailored to us will naturally find their focus absurd. Sometimes though, you listen to stories and have to think to yourself WTH, why did you report/characterize it that way?
So, knowing that our members here come from myraid backgrounds and listen to all sorts of media of every flavor possible, when watching/reading/listening to your daily news sources today, list some of the blatant exaggerations/sensationalism you hear.
In my case I was driving to work this morning and heard two that inspired this thread. I get my morning news from the radio, which consists almost entirely of NPR except when I switch to a local channel to get the weather/traffic.
1.) There was a story about celebrities preaching against vaccinations and the harm this is having on children in California. There was a doctor who was saying that we are already seeing a resurgence of some diseases and this anti-vaccination scare is not helping. He stated that currently we are suffering an epidemic of measles. I thought to myself "wow, an epidemic, I didn't now that. Sounds pretty serious." Then he said nationwide we had 135 cases.
Now, technically this is correct. Any instance of disease above the expected number of cases is using a strict definition an epidemic. However, we all know that in common parlance that word means much more than 135 cases. Having been bombarded with Bird Flu, SARs, and AIDS for years when someone invokes it most will instantly see images of "Outbreak" or "Andromeda Strain," even if we then rationally dial down our expectations after a little thought.
Its made worse because in order for us to truly gauge the scale of epidemic even if we know the true use of the term, we need to know the normal incidence rate, which wasn't given. In any case, I thought it was an odd use of the word. Maybe the doctor can get away with it, but the NPR journalist should have known better.
2.) Then they had a story about the foreclosure crisis. Foreclosures are up 300% over the same time two years ago! Well, while technically correct, that number doesn't mean anything unless you know what the foreclosure rate was two years ago and do the math. If you did, you would know that over 97% of US mortgages are NOT in foreclosure. That number sounds a whole lot less catastrophic than "OMFG 300 PERCENT INCREASE!!!" This one really bothered me because of the perception of the people around me who seem to really think MOST people are in dire financial straights and looking at home loss and poverty, when if you ask them to name one person they know in foreclosure very few can.
There is certainly a story here to report, but it isn't the 300% increase in foreclosures, it is the fact that individuals/institutions/government are living so close to the chest that a mere 3% foreclosure instance can throw the nation into such a tailspin.
So, has anyone else encountered anything that struck you as odd today?
