Comments on: Racism and That Liberal Media http://crookedtimber.org/2006/12/04/racism-and-that-liberal-media/ Out of the crooked timber of humanity, no straight thing was ever made Sun, 27 May 2012 00:43:58 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Crystal http://crookedtimber.org/2006/12/04/racism-and-that-liberal-media/comment-page-1/#comment-181425 Crystal Wed, 06 Dec 2006 18:47:41 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/2006/12/04/racism-and-that-liberal-media/#comment-181425 I think that Jim S. (# 35) has a good point. The Right, along with ideologies like racism, have rushed in to fill a vacuum that the Left has so far been unable to fill on a practical level. I do not think it's a coincidence that the outcry against illegal immigrants and demands for a fence, etc. have occurred during a poor economy. During the boom years of 1997-2000, I honestly recall more tolerance and sensitivity. All debt and no salary makes Johnny racist. I think that Jim S. (# 35) has a good point. The Right, along with ideologies like racism, have rushed in to fill a vacuum that the Left has so far been unable to fill on a practical level.

I do not think it’s a coincidence that the outcry against illegal immigrants and demands for a fence, etc. have occurred during a poor economy. During the boom years of 1997-2000, I honestly recall more tolerance and sensitivity. All debt and no salary makes Johnny racist.

]]> By: Russ http://crookedtimber.org/2006/12/04/racism-and-that-liberal-media/comment-page-1/#comment-181402 Russ Wed, 06 Dec 2006 14:40:55 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/2006/12/04/racism-and-that-liberal-media/#comment-181402 I'm a transplant from the midwest to southern California and have been substitute teaching at a variety of towns of different size. In the smallest schools there isn't a shred of racism towards Latinos. The larger schools. like the one my son goes to, one can see more racism, but its still small compared to big city standards. My son, a 7th grader, noticed a big change this year after the big illegal immigration uproar. Great site by the way. I have been reading it for a few weeks now. I’m a transplant from the midwest to southern California and have been substitute teaching at a variety of towns of different size. In the smallest schools there isn’t a shred of racism towards Latinos. The larger schools. like the one my son goes to, one can see more racism, but its still small compared to big city standards. My son, a 7th grader, noticed a big change this year after the big illegal immigration uproar. Great site by the way. I have been reading it for a few weeks now.

]]> By: Josh http://crookedtimber.org/2006/12/04/racism-and-that-liberal-media/comment-page-1/#comment-181400 Josh Wed, 06 Dec 2006 14:22:32 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/2006/12/04/racism-and-that-liberal-media/#comment-181400 As someone who decided not to be a journalist, electing to go back to school after a relatively short period of working professionally, I find the argument above (X-percent of journalists are liberal compared to something-less-than-X-percent of the public; therefore the press is overwhelmingly liberal in practice) to be very uninformed. First, you need to understand how the media process works, in terms of how stories are chosen, approved, and researched. At nearly all points along the path, with the exception of a handful of "name" reporters who can essentially do as they please, editors -- who are always in direct contact with their (usually conservative) publishers and are also often in contact with the advertising department -- get to shoot down/approve/make "suggestions" about a reporter's stories. I can see small-scale biases creeping into stories during the writing process, but major violations of the publisher's wishes and, at bad publications, advertisers' wishes, never make it to print. The most important stories are often shot down before they get going, sometimes simply because important stories take a lot of time and resources. The most important effects are those of the "self-censorship," if you want to call it that, of journalists. What I mean by that is: journalists generally know what will fly with their publisher and editor and what "the line" is on certain topics or dealing with certain advertisers or public officials. Generally, if the journalist in question wants to keep his or her job (or choice assignments, etc.), he or she stays away from that line. (The best, though dated, explanation of this process can be found in: Warren Breed, "Social Control in the Newsroom: A Functional Analysis,"Social Forces, Vol. 33, No. 4, May, 1955) Finally, any problems with reporter-bias pale in comparison with the normal, easy, "fair" journalism ("Quote-a-Dem, quote-a-Rep, I'm done") most reporters use today, which really does a disservice to everyone of all political persuasions. As someone who decided not to be a journalist, electing to go back to school after a relatively short period of working professionally, I find the argument above (X-percent of journalists are liberal compared to something-less-than-X-percent of the public; therefore the press is overwhelmingly liberal in practice) to be very uninformed.
First, you need to understand how the media process works, in terms of how stories are chosen, approved, and researched. At nearly all points along the path, with the exception of a handful of “name” reporters who can essentially do as they please, editors—who are always in direct contact with their (usually conservative) publishers and are also often in contact with the advertising department—get to shoot down/approve/make “suggestions” about a reporter’s stories.
I can see small-scale biases creeping into stories during the writing process, but major violations of the publisher’s wishes and, at bad publications, advertisers’ wishes, never make it to print. The most important stories are often shot down before they get going, sometimes simply because important stories take a lot of time and resources.
The most important effects are those of the “self-censorship,” if you want to call it that, of journalists. What I mean by that is: journalists generally know what will fly with their publisher and editor and what “the line” is on certain topics or dealing with certain advertisers or public officials. Generally, if the journalist in question wants to keep his or her job (or choice assignments, etc.), he or she stays away from that line. (The best, though dated, explanation of this process can be found in: Warren Breed, “Social Control in the Newsroom: A Functional Analysis,”Social Forces, Vol. 33, No. 4, May, 1955)
Finally, any problems with reporter-bias pale in comparison with the normal, easy, “fair” journalism (“Quote-a-Dem, quote-a-Rep, I’m done”) most reporters use today, which really does a disservice to everyone of all political persuasions.

]]> By: Rick Perlstein http://crookedtimber.org/2006/12/04/racism-and-that-liberal-media/comment-page-1/#comment-181320 Rick Perlstein Tue, 05 Dec 2006 22:12:30 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/2006/12/04/racism-and-that-liberal-media/#comment-181320 You'll see a great deal about this in Nixonland when it comes out. A short excerpt from Chapter 18, the same section from which the above material is drawn: "When NBC held meetings to plan their new news magazine program, First Tuesday, someone asked what the three biggest stories in the country were that they should cover. "The war, the blacks, and the economy," someone responded. Someone else shot back, I don't want to see a single black face on First Tuesday."' You’ll see a great deal about this in Nixonland when it comes out. A short excerpt from Chapter 18, the same section from which the above material is drawn: “When NBC held meetings to plan their new news magazine program, First Tuesday, someone asked what the three biggest stories in the country were that they should cover. “The war, the blacks, and the economy,” someone responded. Someone else shot back, I don’t want to see a single black face on First Tuesday.”’

]]> By: Andrew http://crookedtimber.org/2006/12/04/racism-and-that-liberal-media/comment-page-1/#comment-181317 Andrew Tue, 05 Dec 2006 22:04:28 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/2006/12/04/racism-and-that-liberal-media/#comment-181317 Not just the south, but in the south west and west in general too. There is a LOT of racism here toward Latinos and I think that drives a lot of the conversation away from more social programs. Not just the south, but in the south west and west in general too. There is a LOT of racism here toward Latinos and I think that drives a lot of the conversation away from more social programs.

]]> By: Jim S. http://crookedtimber.org/2006/12/04/racism-and-that-liberal-media/comment-page-1/#comment-181303 Jim S. Tue, 05 Dec 2006 19:42:59 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/2006/12/04/racism-and-that-liberal-media/#comment-181303 Just a couple of comments: Once upon a time-before the 60's, to be exact-the U.S.A. had 90% top income tax rates, a nearly 40% unionized workforce, half of the public utilities under public or cooperative operation, a government corporation that was the largest single investor in the U.S. economy (it was called the Reconstruction Finance Corporation), etc. Could it be that the conservatism that has gripped America may be of relatively recent provenance-and due as much to the inability and incompetence of the Left in supplying alternatives that are viable, democratic, and humane? And come to think of it, could not the same be said of the entire rest of the world-the failure of the Left to come up with an alternative to capitalism in the wake of communism's collapse, that is. Just a couple of comments:
Once upon a time-before the 60’s, to be exact-the U.S.A. had 90% top income tax rates, a nearly 40% unionized workforce, half of the public utilities under public or cooperative operation, a government corporation that was the largest single investor in the U.S. economy (it was called the Reconstruction Finance Corporation), etc.
Could it be that the conservatism that has gripped America may be of relatively recent provenance-and due as much to the inability and incompetence of the Left in supplying alternatives that are viable, democratic, and humane?
And come to think of it, could not the same be said of the entire rest of the world-the failure of the Left to come up with an alternative to capitalism in the wake of communism’s collapse, that is.

]]> By: Henry http://crookedtimber.org/2006/12/04/racism-and-that-liberal-media/comment-page-1/#comment-181302 Henry Tue, 05 Dec 2006 19:34:07 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/2006/12/04/racism-and-that-liberal-media/#comment-181302 Bruce, fair enough. Doug, I saw this and commented on it - it is a very interesting parallel. May be some mileage in it ... Bruce, fair enough.

Doug, I saw this and commented on it – it is a very interesting parallel. May be some mileage in it …

]]> By: Doug http://crookedtimber.org/2006/12/04/racism-and-that-liberal-media/comment-page-1/#comment-181295 Doug Tue, 05 Dec 2006 18:41:11 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/2006/12/04/racism-and-that-liberal-media/#comment-181295 (Henry, if you're still here, Chickering gets name-checked in the next thread over, the Holbo one. Very interesting thought.) (Henry, if you’re still here, Chickering gets name-checked in the next thread over, the Holbo one. Very interesting thought.)

]]> By: Bruce Baugh http://crookedtimber.org/2006/12/04/racism-and-that-liberal-media/comment-page-1/#comment-181290 Bruce Baugh Tue, 05 Dec 2006 18:13:06 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/2006/12/04/racism-and-that-liberal-media/#comment-181290 Henry, I'm sorry if I came across too harsh on the TAP crowd. I think they do a lot of immensely valuable research and reporting along with the punditry and all, and have much respect for their labor. I meant to say that I think they sometimes lapse into the intellectualized detached gamesmanship, but that with them it's lapses rather than the way of life it is for so many others. Thanks for the gracious poke and chance to correct. :) Henry, I’m sorry if I came across too harsh on the TAP crowd. I think they do a lot of immensely valuable research and reporting along with the punditry and all, and have much respect for their labor. I meant to say that I think they sometimes lapse into the intellectualized detached gamesmanship, but that with them it’s lapses rather than the way of life it is for so many others. Thanks for the gracious poke and chance to correct. :)

]]> By: dave heasman http://crookedtimber.org/2006/12/04/racism-and-that-liberal-media/comment-page-1/#comment-181271 dave heasman Tue, 05 Dec 2006 16:38:14 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/2006/12/04/racism-and-that-liberal-media/#comment-181271 "showed that fatherlessness is an independent variable that results in higher rates of depression, low self-esteem, bad grades, and substance abuse" Therefore having two fathers.. “showed that fatherlessness is an independent variable that results in higher rates of depression, low self-esteem, bad grades, and substance abuse”

Therefore having two fathers..

]]> By: engels http://crookedtimber.org/2006/12/04/racism-and-that-liberal-media/comment-page-1/#comment-181268 engels Tue, 05 Dec 2006 16:23:15 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/2006/12/04/racism-and-that-liberal-media/#comment-181268 Would it be possible to make your spam filter more sensitive to the word "wedlock"? Would it be possible to make your spam filter more sensitive to the word “wedlock”?

]]> By: Matt Weiner http://crookedtimber.org/2006/12/04/racism-and-that-liberal-media/comment-page-1/#comment-181263 Matt Weiner Tue, 05 Dec 2006 16:11:16 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/2006/12/04/racism-and-that-liberal-media/#comment-181263 Justin, Thank you for not trying to explain. Justin,
Thank you for not trying to explain.

]]> By: Justin http://crookedtimber.org/2006/12/04/racism-and-that-liberal-media/comment-page-1/#comment-181252 Justin Tue, 05 Dec 2006 15:36:01 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/2006/12/04/racism-and-that-liberal-media/#comment-181252 Matt, Yup, but realize that the years of mid-1960's was the founding of Great Society. There was a very naive belief in the power of government to cure poverty. The Moynihan Report was an unwanted reality check in a very naive time period. Brendan, That is a good point. But realize that there are two different pathologies of out of wedlock childbirths. In one case you have middle class, college educated couples (and single women) in their 20's choosing to have children out of wedlock. In another case, you have a single women who are still in the process of getting an education having children. Realize that about half of all *first* out of wedlock childbirths are to teenage women. This switches those womens to a different life track. In the more socially liberal Europe, you have many couples who are not bothering to get married - but at least they are waiting to have children until after their education is complete. But even this will catch up with their children. The research of liberal sociologists Sara McLanahan and Gary Sandefur (in their book 'Growing up with a single parent') showed that fatherlessness is an independent variable that results in higher rates of depression, low self-esteem, bad grades, and substance abuse. And about a third of single cohabitating parents tend to split in two years. And even those that marry, have a higher rate of divorce. Matt,

Yup, but realize that the years of mid-1960’s was the founding of Great Society. There was a very naive belief in the power of government to cure poverty. The Moynihan Report was an unwanted reality check in a very naive time period.

Brendan,

That is a good point. But realize that there are two different pathologies of out of wedlock childbirths. In one case you have middle class, college educated couples (and single women) in their 20’s choosing to have children out of wedlock.

In another case, you have a single women who are still in the process of getting an education having children. Realize that about half of all first out of wedlock childbirths are to teenage women. This switches those womens to a different life track.

In the more socially liberal Europe, you have many couples who are not bothering to get married – but at least they are waiting to have children until after their education is complete. But even this will catch up with their children. The research of liberal sociologists Sara McLanahan and Gary Sandefur (in their book ‘Growing up with a single parent’) showed that fatherlessness is an independent variable that results in higher rates of depression, low self-esteem, bad grades, and substance abuse. And about a third of single cohabitating parents tend to split in two years. And even those that marry, have a higher rate of divorce.

]]> By: Barry http://crookedtimber.org/2006/12/04/racism-and-that-liberal-media/comment-page-1/#comment-181251 Barry Tue, 05 Dec 2006 15:31:38 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/2006/12/04/racism-and-that-liberal-media/#comment-181251 “What percentage of the people who write the check are liberal? 0%” 'Jayson Blair': "You might want to look up the Sulzbergers." You might want to review the NYT's coverage of (a) the run-up to the Iraq War, (b) the persecution of President Clinton. “What percentage of the people who write the check are liberal? 0%”

‘Jayson Blair’: “You might want to look up the Sulzbergers.”

You might want to review the NYT’s coverage of (a) the run-up to the Iraq War, (b) the persecution of President Clinton.

]]> By: Matt Weiner http://crookedtimber.org/2006/12/04/racism-and-that-liberal-media/comment-page-1/#comment-181249 Matt Weiner Tue, 05 Dec 2006 15:22:28 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/2006/12/04/racism-and-that-liberal-media/#comment-181249 Justin, I'm not sure how what you say is supposed to be connected to the topic of the post, and I'd rather you not explain; but the Moynihan Report was issued in March 1965 and the NWRO was founded in 1966 or 1967 (depending on how you count) so that can't possibly be true. Justin, I’m not sure how what you say is supposed to be connected to the topic of the post, and I’d rather you not explain; but the Moynihan Report was issued in March 1965 and the NWRO was founded in 1966 or 1967 (depending on how you count) so that can’t possibly be true.

]]>