Mainstream Media
The thing about bias is that 1) we’re all biased; 2) we often have a hard time identifying when those of similar bias are being biased; 3) we can identify bias, but probably overstate it because of our own bias! Thus, when NPR’s Steve Inskeep defends the unbiasness of NPR, well, my own bias leads…
Contrary to what many think, most conservatives actually don’t approve of “corporate welfare” (see: GM, Big Agriculture, etc.) and think it’s ridiculous when a company receives government subsidies when it pays salaries like this: • Four vice presidents and producers pulled in more than $300,000 — and another 10 took home more than $200,000 —…
In an excellent post at Legal Insurrection entitled “What Did Former Providence Mayor David Cicilline (D-RI) Know, And When Did He Know It?”, William Jacobson points out, among other interesting items, that David Cicilline was endorsed by the Providence Journal. One’s initial reaction is, sure, they endorsed him; he was the Dem candidate. And this…
Our corporate overlords are shaking up their lineup. Jeff Derderian at GoLocalProv broke the news:John DePetro who currently holds down the 6am till 10am slot is said to have a major deal in play that could include a nationally syndicated show down the line. Details of what that national show may be are not being…
The ProJo Editors came out against tax fiddling and focused on a couple areas of “trouble” related to taxation and the implementation of President Obama’s health care program. They think that the 2.3% tax on medical devices is no big deal because the manufacturers of said devices make a lot of money now and will…
Really, what could we say about RI House Speaker Gordon Fox’s appointment of Rep. Edith Ajello as Chairwoman of the Judiciary Committee that would surprise anybody or that would have any effect on anybody’s opinion? The state’s political leadership is zagging when it needs to zig, and she’s a strong indication of it. The labels…
Did you happen to catch this front-page story in last Sunday’s Providence Journal? On Friday, three former governors and several professors of communications and political science offered varying opinions about whether Chafee had made the right decision, as well as some historical perspective on discourse — civil and otherwise — in American democracy. Not a…
Professor Zechariah Chafee ended Chapter 5 of Government and Mass Communications, the chapter on “Group Libel” and its possible remedies, with this passage…When wise men refuse to mention disagreeable facts, foolish and stupid men will have their say more than ever. The responsible leaders of the press ought frankly to face the facts of group…
For further examination of Rhode Island Governor Lincoln Chafee’s decision to not allow state officials to participate in (certain aspects) of talk radio, let us turn towards a figure from another era, widely revered for his ideas on the subject of government and mass communication. The individual to whom I refer is the renowned First…
After the meme has all but been destroyed, the ProJo editors and columnist Froma Harrop (one in the same?) have thrown in their lot with the “blame the right wing/tea party for Tucson” crowd. The editors: While there has been some menacing left-wing rhetoric (the left was particularly extreme in its attacks on George W.…
