Re: For those of you upset with the attacks on swinney

And clemson who normally don’t see an issue with media in general, I ask you to really give some time to thinking about this. You are feeling it because someone and something you care about are being attacked, but this happens all the time. This should be a teaching moment for you about what our media has become and really get you thinking about your worldview. I’m really mean this, there are people who’s life’s are destroyed and falsehoods spouted daily by the mainstream media (that includes sports media) and its only touching you now because of the specific target. But there is a much bigger problem here and if your eyes have been opened by this then it’s actually serving a good purpose.

Rw43

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Jun 8, 2020, 10:18 PM

This has been going on for years, but the rise of social media has removed whatever brake-pumping capability we had.

I was involved in a major national story back in the 80's. (Footage of me and a couple friends made it onto Nightline with Ted Koppel.) When reporters came to get our story, we naively thought they were researching the story. When it aired, it became obvious: the story was practically written in New York before the first question was asked or video clip shot. The reporters in the field were not providing 'soil samples'; they were told what to look for, generate and bring back. Boy were we stupid.

Over the 30+ years since then, our society has become more divided. The rise of alternative media has made it difficult for traditional media to stay relevant and survive, so they cut corners and pander to their viewing audience. Now social media has become the nation's self-appointed conscience, and we are all the dumber for it. (Anybody up for a Presidential debate in 144 characters or less?)

The ubiquitous camera phones have at times exposed truth to covered up crimes; but at the same time, edited footage can become the most despicable and manipulative of lies. And yes, video lies are the hardest to refute, because context is everything.

Just like in the several incidents Dabo discussed, most of the alleged incidents did occur: but the missing background, context and follow-up made positive moments appear negative and spiteful. That's not reporting. ESPN and other media outlets are not supposed to just be places for social media to air grievances.

Several times since this Covid stuff started I would read a headline from the CNN website, click on it and begin reading, only to find that I needed a napkin to wipe off the page: the "reporter" had gotten so sick with TDS that my virtual screen was practically covered in his saliva. Then I scrolled to the top of the page to find that, once again, I was reading a fact-less "analysis" by Chris Cilizza.

Got me again.

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For those of you upset with the attacks on swinney

Re: For those of you upset with the attacks on swinney

Re: For those of you upset with the attacks on swinney

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