Comments on: Media Bias http://donklephant.com/2005/12/21/media-bias/ Big Teeth. Huge Ass. Surprisingly Reasonable. Mon, 23 Nov 2009 03:05:09 -0800 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: callimachus http://donklephant.com/2005/12/21/media-bias/comment-page-1/#comment-4747 callimachus Thu, 22 Dec 2005 14:21:33 +0000 http://donklephant.com/?p=1580#comment-4747 Thanks. Among the many things I omitted for space was the fact that not one journalist I've worked with in those 22 years has ever spoken or acted as though his motivation was helping his employers make more money. I know the bigwigs up on the fourth floor think that way, but in daily newsgathering and reporting, I can assure you it's not a factor. Journalists are probably by nature more suspicious of corporations than the average American, more hostile to pure profit motives, more idealistic about their trade, and their own employers rank high on the list of people they dislike. Unless the paper is literally teetering on the brink of bankruptcy and paychecks are in danger, I don't think that would change. However, reporters DO like to see the newspaper's circulation going up. Because it means they are doing their job, which is to write stories that are considered indispensible by the community. At least, they flatter themselves it means that. Probably it means the newspaper picked up a good line of coupons from the Superfresh store. But there are two ways to measure success in this business, and one is awards, the other is circulation. Journalists still aren't thinking of circulation as money in someone's pocket, but it's a convergence of interest with the bosses. Still, it's not a reason you do something. Just an affirmation that you've done it well. Thanks. Among the many things I omitted for space was the fact that not one journalist I’ve worked with in those 22 years has ever spoken or acted as though his motivation was helping his employers make more money. I know the bigwigs up on the fourth floor think that way, but in daily newsgathering and reporting, I can assure you it’s not a factor. Journalists are probably by nature more suspicious of corporations than the average American, more hostile to pure profit motives, more idealistic about their trade, and their own employers rank high on the list of people they dislike. Unless the paper is literally teetering on the brink of bankruptcy and paychecks are in danger, I don’t think that would change.

However, reporters DO like to see the newspaper’s circulation going up. Because it means they are doing their job, which is to write stories that are considered indispensible by the community. At least, they flatter themselves it means that. Probably it means the newspaper picked up a good line of coupons from the Superfresh store. But there are two ways to measure success in this business, and one is awards, the other is circulation. Journalists still aren’t thinking of circulation as money in someone’s pocket, but it’s a convergence of interest with the bosses. Still, it’s not a reason you do something. Just an affirmation that you’ve done it well.

]]> By: Justin Gardner http://donklephant.com/2005/12/21/media-bias/comment-page-1/#comment-4742 Justin Gardner Thu, 22 Dec 2005 09:39:28 +0000 http://donklephant.com/?p=1580#comment-4742 Well done. Well done.

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