Originally posted by zapper
Fixey, I can see your point. But....I think what we are trying to convey is this..Most Americans (in my opinion) are not looking for applause nor do WE think that we are better than everyone else. (There is another country that has that one covered already...)
We recognize that we are not perfect and that we make mistakes both domestically and abroad. However, the sticking point with most (at least with me) is there are people/countries out there that either stab us in the back while holding their palms out for a handout, criticize how we provide our services and hide behind our protective shield while doing any or all of this...
Plus, giving Limerickman the benefit of the doubt, depending on what media outlet you are tuned into you get a one sided story as well as what babbar stated about leftest propoganda!
Example: Same story two different headlines:
#1. Coalition troops target mosque.
#2. Insurgents using mosque as a shield, fire on coalition troops knowing that if they fire back, they will be branded murderers...
I'm sorry to interject here cause I don't want to start another round. I just saw your quoted comment above and caught my eye. I'm sure Limerickman has a comment and it won't be aligned with mine..
BTW...Fixey, I didn't catch where you are from? You seem to have vast knowledge of communism...
I think that it is reasonable to say that there are stories put out by the media which are not objective.
However, I believe that media organizations like the BBC are, for the most part, impartial.
The BBC has long been regarded as the international benchmark as regards integrity of reporting, objective analysis etc.
Journalists such as John Simpson, Charles Wheeler, Alistair Cooke, John Humphries,
Mark Tully : are all regarded, within the extended media industry, as being the best in their field.
Other journalists such as Sam Kiely, Ragi Omar are following in their predecessors footsteps.
(I work in the media industry here in Europe and I know how highly the BBC is regarded worldwide, in our business).
Unfortunately, news reporting throughout the USA is not at the same standard as the BBC.
The US media operates to a different ethos compared to that of the BBC.
Commercial ratings, increasing advertising revenues, all influence how US media companies operate.
The BBC, because it is funded by the licence fee payer, is not beholden to the same commercial pressures as it’s American counterparts.
For this reason alone, the BBC enjoys a distinct advantage of independence.
Factor in also the fact that the BBC has been in business for the past 70 years.
The BBC has built up and developed contacts throughout it extensive world wide network of news stations.
The BBC had bureau offices throughout Europe, Middle East, Far East and the Americas long before other news media groups.
The BBC’s ability to gather information through these long standing and extensive contacts is the envy of most other media organizations.
It is worthwhile considering some other points here.
If you recall the USA forces in Iraq used what was euphemistically called “Embedded Reporters”.
Embedded reporters were those reporters who were allowed more access to the military
forces in Iraq, in return for compromising some essential reporting principles.
Through being embedded with the military, reports of what was actually happening in Iraq were compromised.
Large sections of the US were embedded with the US forces.
The first casualty in any conflict is the truth.
No media reports are 100% truth – they can’t be, because facts are assesses based upon perceptions.
All we can simply hope for is that what we see, read and hear in our media is essentially truthful.
