All Cable Talking Heads Are Not Equal

by: Jim Moss

In response to the Arizona Silver Belt staff writer, Tyler Kent’s November 11 editorial, titled, “Change the Channel” — I say both Amen!  &  Oh, NO!

I shout out a wholehearted Amen! to Kent’s recommendation of The News Hour with Jim Lehrer, on PBS.  For serious, in-depth coverage of important news, The News Hour has no rival on television.  It serves as a role model for the journalism profession.  And, I agree with Tyler Kent, that the ‘talking heads’ on cable TV are as much about commentary as news.  HOWEVER, I emphatically assert a big Oh, NO! to the suggestion that all cable TV ‘talking heads’ are created equal.  Oh, NO! There are crucial and monumental differences between the cable news shows — differences other than political viewpoints.

To suggest that FOX and MSNBC are just ‘two peas in a pod’ — falls prey to the dangerous intellectual trap of setting up a false, moral equivalency.  In an effort to satisfy both ends of the political spectrum, some in the media misunderstand their role as journalists.  They strive to display their impartiality by giving equal time, or equal weight, or equal legitimacy to all sides of an issue/debate.  In doing so, they create a false equivalency.  Critical thinking is required to discern that ALL sides in a debate do not  always merit equal time, equal weight, or equal legitimacy.  Also required from the viewer/listener, is the vigilant practice of fact-checking from a variety of reliable sources.  ‘Journalistic’ organizations that purposefully create false impressions to advance their political ideology, or disregard facts that interfere with their preferred storyline, or promote ideas intended to appeal to the darkest side of human nature (bigotry, prejudice, hatred) — these so-called journalists are in a class all their own.  So, please, let’s not denigrate Keith Olberman, Rachel Maddow, or MSNBC — by suggesting they merely represent one journalistic stripe — but, essentially provide the same cable TV circus act — as Glenn Beck, Sean Hannity, or FOX.

There are huge qualitative and ethical differences between the journalistic practices of MSNBC and FOX.  Yes, they both engage in lively political commentary — one on the ‘Right’, the other on the ‘Left’ — BUT, they are not ‘two peas in a pod’.  Oh, NO!  Their ‘pods’ represent two entirely divergent journalistic universes.  Political commentary on MSNBC leans ‘Left’, but seeks the truth.  Political commentary on FOX runs ‘Right’ — right over an ethical cliff in pursuit of false propaganda, truth-be-damned.

The travesty is that because FOX ‘News’ holds such a prominent, powerful place on our TV screens, their journalistic style & substance influences media outlets far & wide.  Fox gives voice to small-town publishers, radio and TV stations all across America.   Could this help explain why so many of our local media do not consistently distinguish between fact & opinion, between news & commentary, between truth-telling & truth-be-damned?  Bedrock journalistic standards too often are sacrificed on the altar of ideology and expediency.  Apparently, there is a marketplace for faux ‘news’.  Facts & truth are too often supplanted by fiction & false propaganda.  Is a ‘rocket science’ intellect required to figure out that even journalistic commentary demands a factual basis?

Not long ago, I wrote a letter to the publisher of a weekly paper in Tonto Basin, to complain about a story reprinted from the internet.  The story claimed that the Obama Team was upset with Tiger Woods because of the speech Tiger delivered to the pre-Inauguration ceremony in January.  Wood’s speech focused on his respect and appreciation for the U. S. Armed Forces.  The purpose of the story was to undermine Obama’s  role as Commander-in-Chief.  The Publisher responded to my critique by exclaiming that I was obviously a fan of President Obama, but that she was entitled to her own opinion!  In asserting the right to her own opinion, she glossed right over the fact that the entire story was bogus!  This illustrates how some in the media apparently believe that if a story advances their personal ideology or world view — it is ethically acceptable to reprint it, or repeat it over the airwaves — regardless of the story’s factual basis.

It is high time we ‘call sin by its right name’ — media giants like FOX, World Net Daily, Rush Limbaugh Radio —play by their own set of corrupt journalistic rules.  These unethical media giants have inspired countless  copy-cats —- who think there is a moral and intellectual equivalency between FOX on the ‘Right’ and MSNBC on the ‘Left’.

Oh, NO! — Oh No!  There is Not.