Why does ABC News lie?

Question

http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalradar/2007/08/edwards-calls-c.html#comment-79923787

This news item is full of lies. Coulter wasn't flustered at all. Chris Matthews basically let Edwards go on and on, and then gave Coulter a couple of seconds to respond, and she said, 'So, you want me to shut up and stop speaking, to silence my constitutional rights to free speech? No.'

It is transparent attempt for once pretending to be centrist Edwards, his campaign failing, to raise dollars and appeal to far left primary voters. But the media shouldn't be complicit in his efforts.

The headline should have been, 'Campaign Running Low on Cash, Edwards Lashes Out at Coulter'

(which is what it would have been if the party identities were reversed)

Answer 1

It's not a matter of lies really, it's more a misinterpretation of facts. It all comes down to bias. The harsh reality is, bias is a nearly innate thing. The media is one area where we expect objectivity, and we expect too much. We all have biases and that certainly includes those who write and report the news.

That being said, according to a survey conducted for the Washington Times in 1996, 91% of Washington DC based journalists consider themselves to be liberal or modetate, while only 2% consider themselves conservative. Based on those numbers, it is easy to determine which direction the bias will direct the news in.

To truly understand this phenomena I would recommend reading Bernard Goldberg's book "Bias."

Answer 2

I have found, if I want a more broad look at things catch the BBC news (UK) , or CBC (Canada). They have no real interest in twisting the news one way or the other.

It also gives me more of a global view of how the news is presented, being less biased in either direction. CNN (Clinton News Network) is THE worst, followed closely by ABC.

Fox news was once more unbiased than they are now, Since the propaganda machine here in this country has kicked into high gear, it is very difficult to get pure news, and no political agenda.

Looking at the news from outside this country is more interesting, by way of finding out how other countries view what's going on here, too.

As far as the campaign funds raised, it makes me wonder if we are auctioning , or electing a president. Which is it?
The offices seem to be up for the highest bidder.

Answer 3

I am confident the noble employees at ABC would prefer we characterize any misstatement of fact as an error, or any interpretation of fact as simply that, interpretation. All people, you, me, and journalists included, prefer information which does not conflict with our world view. Most journalists tend to have a collectivist, socialist, or left-of-center world view. That is nothing new, simply the truth. Whether that makes them less than honest brokers I guess is the question. And that question is as valid for right-leaning journalists as left-leaning.

The best of mankind tries, with differing degrees of success, to identify actual facts, and draw reasonable conclusions based upon those facts. The intellectually dishonest, who are unfortunately more common than we like to believe, attempt to make the facts fit their point of view. These same people have a deep seated hope that if they can just get enough people to believe something to be true, then it will be true. It is up to you to determine who is intellectually honest and who is not.

Answer 4

All the large networks and news agencies have ceased to report the news. They edit and shape it to fit their liberal agenda, They foolishly believe that the public is too stupid to realize what is happening, i.e. minority race is never reported when the crime is against a white person, the terrorist simply becomes a gunman.
Look elsewhere for the truth, to the network you are nothing more than a drone.

Answer 5

I partially disagree . It is quite obvious nowadays that the media as a whole has the tendency to at least stretch the truth or tip-toe around dangerous truths but I would definitely not recommend FOX news as a substitute for the more liberal channels. Conservatives tend to think that FOX is the beacon of hope and truth for them but this, for any objective viewer, is again obviously not the case. To really understand the world around us we have to watch all of the news channels and compare and contrast them. (yes, I know that seems tedious but it is our job to draw the best conclusion from many sources of information )

people tend to like watching news that fits their political ideology. Its easy to believe things that are easy for us to swallow but we must not let any one news source dictate our beliefs.

Answer 6

As a former journalist and the holder of a bachelor's degree in communication, media and journalism, I can confidently answer your question by saying, "What in the world are you talking about?"

A lie and an interpretation are two different things.

I highly suspect that you, like most conservatives, don't like what you hear/read/see from the mainstream media and thus have chosen to label it as "biased" and "left-wing".

But by all means, if you prefer Fox News, stick with them. Lord knows Rupert Murdoch needs more money.

Answer 7

Newspapers and other media are suppose to have "objective" reporters. However, these reporters are human and their emotions get in the way of their work. So (excuse my cynicism) many news reports are of a subjective nature trying to sway readers in one direction or another.

Answer 8

ABC News probably 'lies' just to keep pace with Fox "News", Rush Limbaugh, and the rest of the conservative-biased media. Reporting accurate, fair, balanced news today just isn't part of the equation. It's all 'shock-jock' sensationalism without regard for facts, tact, clarity, credibility, integrity, honesty or truthfulness. -RKO- 08/18/07

Answer 9

Because ABC News is part of the liberal media and is not interested in true debate. They simply want to continue with their liberal bias and to push the liberal agenda.

Answer 10

for god's sake, ALL news is biased.

But I seem to hate Fox news the most, and that's just cus I dislike their side of politics. Every news station will spin its news. You don't like ABC, watch something else.