Truth in Advertising- public media

                              Give the Media a Break

                 In public forums, discussing errors in the mainstream media reporting, one is reminded of the famous “Dewey defeats Truman” headline, published just after the 1948 election that Truman won. “To Err is Human” is a trite phrase, but factual. Everyone drops the ball sometimes, in spite of their best intentions.

The media is like any other business. It needs to make a profit. It’s worth is driven by viewers and subscriptions. Those are enhanced by excellence in reporting and having on staff those astute reporters, like former Buffalo News Editor Margaret Sullivan, who usually get it right and get it early. The temptation for most scriveners is always there to make the call quickly and be the first with the scoop. Thereby lies the potential bear trap.

Reputations and careers are made by the right call, made before one’s competitors. I see nothing wrong with this. Reporters are just like everyone else. They want to succeed in their field and appear as one of the revered cognoscenti, whom people will listen to or view for their opinions on matters of the day.

The media however does not operate in a vacuum. They are subject to the same influences that everyone is. Alternative media reports, whispered confidences, leaks and a host of other devices that color and often create the image of what we see and hear. Writing or reporting on an article, before all of the facts are in, can lead to an account that is less than the whole story.

And I would be disingenuous if I didn’t mention that every political operative, worthy of his or her salt, tries to play the media like a twelve-string banjo. Leaks, op-ed pieces and other devices don’t just happen. They are composed and artfully distributed like an artist at his easel, always painting the images that the campaign or group wishes to be seen. Truth isn’t always real. Perception is. Those who do it best get their message across and often come away with the best image, fair or not.

Witness the spin rooms after major electoral debates or events. A professional teller of tall tales would be embarrassed, at the facility of the spin-mesiters, to create the images that they wish believed. The members of media are just as susceptible to these auditory and visual bombardments as anyone else. Indeed, it is easier to “spin” those who know or think they know what is going on, than those of the great viewing and reading public. Ask any magician. He will tell you that the power of suggestion is much more easily managed among those who think they know how the trick works. Each party or organization  only howls loudly when an opposing group is more successful in getting their message out there.

I wouldn’t be too harsh in judgement on any of the media. They are only human. No one bats a thousand. Operating in the vineyards of the vote, on any debatable point, I used to call up a dozen or two people in whose opinions I found merit. I would then make a decision, based upon the consensus of their collective wisdom. Sometimes I would get it right, sometimes not. I don’t know who wrote the “Dewey defeats Truman” headline. It doesn’t matter. Some hard-working professional made a judgment call and came up wrong. It happens to the best of us. 

Keep plugging away, scriveners. Do the best, most honest job that you can. America is a much better place for your efforts.

                                                  -30-

                                          (596 words)

                                    Joseph Xavier Martin