Comments on: Compare and Contrast

By: Giles

Giles — Thu, 27 May 2004 01:08:33 +0000

Pepi Approval ratings are a measure of people’s opinions – they’re not facts but feelings ergo my comment on Euronuancosis – Europeans feeling very strongly about how Americans feel about a speech because the editors of CNN feel its very important to cater to Europesn nuanced feelings.

By: pepi

pepi — Wed, 26 May 2004 06:56:09 +0000

“AS to the specifics / facts disconnect – its just a matter of style – Europeans are more interested in nuances etc than facts –” Huh? How are Bush’s approval ratings in an election year “nuances”? Aren’t they facts too?

By: Tom T.

Tom T. — Wed, 26 May 2004 02:36:33 +0000

The WaPo fronts Bush’s poll numbers above the fold. (Goodness, I sound like such an ink-stained wretch).

By: Giles

Giles — Tue, 25 May 2004 19:03:11 +0000

“Perhaps a feedback loop exists, but that begs the question of why it exists so differently in Europe. ” Because most Europeans know about the US primarily through what they see in the Media – so supply and demand can create a feedback. This is obviously less feasible in the domestic market since people go down to the pub talk to each other etc. AS to the specifics / facts disconnect – its just a matter of style – Europeans are more interested in nuances etc than facts – perhaps because the facts about the European economy and demographics are best not faced.

By: q

Tue, 25 May 2004 18:38:03 +0000

CNN International Home Top Story (1 of 11): “Bush approval near record low” … Blame the leaders CNN US Home Top Story (1 of 7): “Former Iraq prison head suspended” … Blame the troops

By: q

Tue, 25 May 2004 18:27:54 +0000

Maybe foreigners don’t understand the lovely phrase “rotating out of”? CNN International Home Page Link: “U.S. commander to be replaced” CNN US Home Page Link: “U.S. commander rotating out of Iraq” U.S. commander rotating out of Iraq Plans to replace the top U.S. commander in Iraq are part of the “normal rotation,” and are neither a vote of “no confidence” nor related to the investigation of abuses at the Abu Ghraib prison, Pentagon officials told CNN Monday. Sources confirmed the Pentagon is looking for a replacement for Army Lt. Gen. Ricardo Sanchez, who has served for 13 months as commander of Combined Joint Task Force 7, the top U.S. command in Iraq. A senior Pentagon official insisted Sanchez has “done everything right” in regard to the prison abuse scandal, and that his replacement is part of a long-term plan to transition to a new command structure after the June 30 handover to Iraqi sovereignty.

By: Robert Lyman

Robert Lyman — Tue, 25 May 2004 18:26:16 +0000

Q, You’re right that context is relevant, and I am biased in two ways that make me think it less relevant than you probably do: First, I care much, much more about policy than politics. “Did Bush answer his critics?” is a political question, and an important one of you’re trying to guess the outcome in November. I have my eye on what I think is a much, much more important outcome: the long-term (as in 10-year or more) prospects for Iraq. Besides, will anyone rememeber this speech in 5 months? Quick, tell me all about Kerry’s most important foreign policy speech from December, 2003! Second, I keep up on the news enough to simply assume the context is well known. If the writers of the European headline had reason to believe that their readers didn’t know about Bush’s poll numbers or the war in Iraq, then they were probably right to include it as context. This is indeed hard to judge, and most of the arguments over media bias are over points exactly like this.

By: Sebastian Holsclaw

Sebastian Holsclaw — Tue, 25 May 2004 17:22:34 +0000

Say’s law (generally summarized as “Supply creates Demand”) doesn’t resolve the cognitive tension between ‘catering to the audience’ and “why are Europeans more intersted in the polls than the specitics? In the words of Ken Arrow, I think you are confusing demand with supply.” The first idea says that CNN is changing its message to fit the European audience. The second idea says that the audience likes talking about polls more than specifics because that is what they are given. Perhaps a feedback loop exists, but that begs the question of why it exists so differently in Europe.

By: q

Tue, 25 May 2004 15:09:43 +0000

Robert Lyman- A White House spokesman seemed to think in contextual terms last Friday: CNN Story ‘important speech’. One aide said it is important to be more aggressive in “getting Bush’s voice” into the mix. Personally, I suspect the writers of the CNN US headline may feel they are walking on eggshells due to the current upsets. A really interesting question is probably “Did Bush in his speech reassert his authority and answer his critics and regain the confidence of the 10% of Republicans that say they have switched support in the last 2 months?”. And that requires a lot of context. Was it really “straight reporting”? Maybe it is silence over the context? Who can tell? Maybe you are right. It is of course a delicate art to judge the correct amount of context for a story.

By: Doug

Doug — Tue, 25 May 2004 14:58:20 +0000

FWIW, Robert, this is not just a Bush problem. Early in his first term, Clinton went out fishing one weekend with some reporters. They got to the middle of the lake, and one of the reporters said, “Damn, I forgot my fishing gear.” Great empathizer that he was, Clinton said, “Don’t worry, I’ll go get it.” So Clinton gets out of the boat, walks across the lake, gets the guy’s gear, walks back across the lake, gets back in the boat and hands the guy the gear. What’s the headline the next day? “Clinton Can’t Swim.”

By: daithi mac mhaolmhuaidh

daithi mac mhaolmhuaidh — Tue, 25 May 2004 13:26:30 +0000

which has been good at recruiting former British newscasters and Blue Peter presenters Blue Peter presenters? Really? Wow, who knew.

By: Robert Lyman

Robert Lyman — Tue, 25 May 2004 13:08:56 +0000

Q, I can’t see the US version as “patriotic.” It looks to me just like straight reporting: Bush gave a speech about some stuff, some people criticized it. That’s pretty much what happened, and that’s what’s “new” to report. The European edition, by contrast, emphasizes old news that everyone already knows: Bush’s poll numbers are low, Iraq is “war torn.” That isn’t new(s), that’s an effort to make Bush look bad at every possible opportunity by accentuating the negative. Next expected healine and subhead: “Jesus returns as Bush faces mounting questions about prisoner abuse.”

By: Poppy McCool

Poppy McCool — Tue, 25 May 2004 12:12:58 +0000

Bush’s announcement that he was going to demolish Abu Ghraib and build a new prison there is not news. A bipartisan amendment to a defense spending bill to destroy Abu Ghraib passed the House by a 308-114 margin . It was sponsored by Weldon (R-PA) and Murtha (D-PA). Once again Bush is taking credit for other people’s work.

By: q

Tue, 25 May 2004 10:12:37 +0000

It may simply be an accident. If not, could this be because of a DESIRE to remain patriotic to its US readers? Is CNN trying to be patriotic? Does CNN even have a formal policy on patriotism? Is putting a positive spin on foreign policy issues a patriotic thing for the press to do? crooked timber patriotism and free speech discussion

By: Kieran Healy

Kieran Healy — Tue, 25 May 2004 07:16:13 +0000

it’ll be supply creates its own demand An idea with a long and illustrious history from Say’s Law to rational expectations theory.