Tuesday, August 14, 2007
The Media - Behind the scenes
There are eight million ways to promote an agenda.
This is but one of them.
A split screen "discussion" doesn't mean the issue is equally perceived beyond that split screen...
This is but one of them.
A split screen "discussion" doesn't mean the issue is equally perceived beyond that split screen...
In the Wall Street Opinion Journal, Brian S, Wesbury tells how it's done:
"If one guest or expert is a 'bull,' then the other must be a 'bear,' to keep things fair. Or, if there is a single guest on air, the host often takes the other side of the issue in order to keep things balanced. Get some sparks between guests, a little argument here or there, and it's even better for the ratings. The bigger the audience, the better the show, that's the way the advertisers see it. It's basic supply and demand.
But this idea of presenting both sides of an issue, while entertaining, informative and seemingly balanced, may paradoxically create a warped perspective of the economy.
For example, the most recent Wall Street Journal economic forecasting survey, from July, shows that 49 out of 60 forecasters expect real GDP to grow at an average annual rate of 2%, or faster, in 2007. Of the remaining 11 forecasters, only two expect growth of less than 1%, and only one expects a recession. For 2008, the forecasters are even more optimistic, with none expecting recession."
