Comments on: One Reason the Press is Always So Statist

By: obloodyhell

obloodyhell — Fri, 01 Mar 2013 06:47:00 +0000

Nope. Not buying it. Because the media has, on many levels, FAR more power than the police do. You want to squeeze us out? Well, here's an interesting rumor we've heard about you. And here's another. And another. We also have these complaints by citizens. And this one. And this one. And this one. This group argues you're not providing proper support for the poor. And blacks. And ... Police don't want BAD PRESS. If they tried to pull this crap the press would rip them a new ASSHOLE if they were actually interested in TAKING ON the Statists. No, there's a much, much simpler reason why the media is so often pro-statist.... **THEY'RE FREAKING STATISTS**

By: Dan Sherman

Dan Sherman — Thu, 28 Feb 2013 03:55:00 +0000

This theory falls apart when you consider that the press is almost NEVER deferential to conservative government or entities. Just liberal ones. And your Sheriff Joe analogy is thin because I see WAY more negative press about him in our local newspapers than I do positive press. And I live in Gilbert where we actually love the man, despite his many faults.

By: Jess1

Jess1 — Thu, 28 Feb 2013 03:19:00 +0000

"Why is the media always so deferential to the state" You say that as if somewhat surprised. Newsflash, but that's been SOP since the scribe, busily pressing the sharp end of a papyrus stalk into a wet clay tablet recording official malfeasance, was startled by the king's exclamation of "off with his head". To be sure, there was a period in American journalism (say, 60s to 1990) in which phrases like "speaking truth to power" and "afflict the comfortable" were bandied about, but there was no truth in that news...

By: MingoV

MingoV — Wed, 27 Feb 2013 22:46:00 +0000

I don't buy the better access explanation. Surveys of new journalism students show that they are almost exclusively left-wingers. Journalism faculty and peer pressure reinforce their left-wing beliefs.

Left-wingers strongly favor large, powerful, paternalistic, redistributionist governments. Journalist left-wingers use their media to support left-wing politicians and demonize all others. Government workers and politicians give journalists access because the former know they will get good press from the latter.

By: bigmaq1980

bigmaq1980 — Wed, 27 Feb 2013 21:50:00 +0000

I've heard similar explanation for the White House press corps (or should I say corpse, deferring to Obama's pronunciation).

By: john mcginnis

john mcginnis — Wed, 27 Feb 2013 17:26:00 +0000

I understand the point, and playing nice makes a Jurno's job easier. But truth be told, in most states, police reports where the rubber meets the road are public documents. Its a matter of how much work the Jurno wants to do. But going the easy route thru the PIO, is only getting one side of the story and if the Press intends to only play nice they only get the States position on matters. As a consequence the Press have abandoned their sole purpose for existing -- challenging the State.

By: Brian McNary

Brian McNary — Wed, 27 Feb 2013 16:51:00 +0000

Excellent observation. This all comes back to the "obedient workforce" doctrine. (I made that up) In my past life, the press would come in every Monday. If they wanted access to information the inferred rule was that they play nice. If they didn't play nice, I wouldn't talk to them. I didn't just infer this- I practiced this. I was appointed. If you were elected however, you could really take advantage of this. Ultimately, the reporters were forced to play and write nice if they wanted to maintain access and keep their jobs. This is what obedient workers do to survive. Employers don't want confrontation- they want obedient workers and they get them. Those are the people who suck up and keep their jobs. Unfortunately, "investigative" local reporting doesn't happen because of this. The only time it happens is when a public party does something so overtly egregious- that to support such behavior- might be the death of you. Those officials become easy prey for the obedient class. The Maricopa Co. Sheriff has tremendous power and influence. Nobody in the obedient class will ever oppose such power. People are cowards. That's just the way it is.