Monday, February 22, 2010
Objective
Recently there has been increased coverage in the media of gays in the military because of the plan to repeal the “don’t ask don’t tell” policy. Different broadcasters choose to portray the facts of the story differently in my opinion to stir feelings of animosity towards the opposite viewpoint and to, of course, be entertaining. In the following posts are tidbits of news from different shows on different networks. They framed the same story differently and twisted the facts to make their version of the story ‘sell’.
Stephen Colbert VS Sean Hannity
Oliver North, Host of Fox News’ “War Stories” , guest starred on the Sean Hannity show to state his opinion on the “Don’t ask, Don’t tell” policy. He stated that the policy has nothing to do with rights or fairness, but with national security. Hannity and North continue the discussion allowing more coverage to berating Obama for misreading a teleprompter rather than discussing the policy itself. The conversation is a perfect example of framing a story. Hannity barely skims the facts and gives quotes that only support his own opinion without any opposing opinion. http://video.foxnews.com/v/4003407/debating-dont-ask-dont-tell
The Colbert Report obviously frames the story very differently even though he used the same clip of John McCain. He uses sarcastic humor in his reporting, but he at least uses sources from both sides of the debate. The Colbert Report, not even an actual news program, does a better job at presenting more sources and facts.
http://www.colbertnation.com/the-colbert-report-videos/263267/february-03-2010/be-almost-all-that-you-can-be
So whose truth is truer?
According to Jim Naureckas from FAIR, a political fact check website, most of the coverage on gays in the military discusses what "open gays would do to the military --and almost never deal with what the military is currently doing to lesbians and gay men." Another example of truthiness is when Sean Hannity shows the clip of John McCain opposing the "Don't Ask Don't Tell" policy, but he forgets to mention that he once stated he would change his mind if asked by top military officials which he obviously didn't do. According to Politifact.com McCain made a 'full flop' on the issue. The Colbert Report did present both of McCains statements. I think that it is safe to say that this round goes to Colbert. Even though his show isn't considered a legitimate news program, he better presented both sides of the issue and covered more facts than did fox news.
John Stewart VS Fox News Watch
Two other news sources that reported on the same issue, Don't ask Don't Tell, was the Daily Show with John Stewart and Fox News Watch. The video clip from Fox News Watch focuses on Admiral Mike Mullen’s statement to the Senate Armed Services Committee on February 2nd of this year. Fox decided to point out that most coverage of this issue has been mainly "pro-gay" and that there hasn't been as much coverage of the opposing view. Cal Thomas even went so far to say that "it is a fact" that on almost every page of newspapers there is an agenda pushing gay rights.
http://www.foxnews.com/search-results/m/28908806/don-t-ask-don-t-tell.htm#q=mullen
On the Daily Show also covered Mullen's testimony and brief counter arguments made by various senators on how potentially dangerous it may be to repeal the policy. One of the more shocking statements was given by Saxby Chambliss that said moral, good order and discipline would fall apart due to gays serving openly in the military. He also covered both of McCains different statements regarding his opinion on the policy.
http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/wed-february-3-2010/a-few-gay-men---women
Like the previous example from Fox News, they seem to say opinions while calling them facts. Almost all of those contributing to the conversation felt that coverage was mainly pro-gay, and that almost all coverage was in favor of repeal of the don't ask don't tell policy, but they failed to give even one example. Even Thomas, who was so adamant that those who oppose the repeal didn't name one example that would support his claim. It seemed that the show didn't actually discuss anything of relevance; instead they just played the victim while not saying exactly why what they think is true. On the Daily Show, Stewart shows both sides of the issue. He gives notice to McCain's flip flop, and he even showed more clips from other senators that I hadn't seen from another site.
http://www.foxnews.com/search-results/m/28908806/don-t-ask-don-t-tell.htm#q=mullen
On the Daily Show also covered Mullen's testimony and brief counter arguments made by various senators on how potentially dangerous it may be to repeal the policy. One of the more shocking statements was given by Saxby Chambliss that said moral, good order and discipline would fall apart due to gays serving openly in the military. He also covered both of McCains different statements regarding his opinion on the policy.
http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/wed-february-3-2010/a-few-gay-men---women
Like the previous example from Fox News, they seem to say opinions while calling them facts. Almost all of those contributing to the conversation felt that coverage was mainly pro-gay, and that almost all coverage was in favor of repeal of the don't ask don't tell policy, but they failed to give even one example. Even Thomas, who was so adamant that those who oppose the repeal didn't name one example that would support his claim. It seemed that the show didn't actually discuss anything of relevance; instead they just played the victim while not saying exactly why what they think is true. On the Daily Show, Stewart shows both sides of the issue. He gives notice to McCain's flip flop, and he even showed more clips from other senators that I hadn't seen from another site.
Works Cited
Cobert, Stephen. “The Colbert Report.” Comedy Partners. 3 February 2010. .
“Don’t Ask Don’t Tell.” Fox News Watch. Fox News.com. 6 February 2010. < http://www.foxnews.com/search-results/m/28908806/don-t-ask-don-t-tell.htm#q=mullen>.
Hannity, Sean. “The Sean Hannity Show.” Foxnews.com. 05 February 2010..
“McCain Flips on Don’t Ask Don’t Tell.” Politifact.com. 2 February 2010.
< http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2010/feb/04/john-mccain/mccain-flips-dont-ask-dont-tell/>.
Naureckas, Jim. “Ask Not What Gays Will Do to the Military--Ask What the MIlitary Is Doing to Gays”. FAIR. June 1993. < http://www.fair.org/index.php?page=3652>.
Stewart, John. “A Few Gay Men and Women.” The Daily Show With John Stewart. Comedy Partners. 3 February 2010. < http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/wed-february-3-2010/a-few-gay-men---women>.
“Don’t Ask Don’t Tell.” Fox News Watch. Fox News.com. 6 February 2010. < http://www.foxnews.com/search-results/m/28908806/don-t-ask-don-t-tell.htm#q=mullen>.
Hannity, Sean. “The Sean Hannity Show.” Foxnews.com. 05 February 2010.
“McCain Flips on Don’t Ask Don’t Tell.” Politifact.com. 2 February 2010.
< http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2010/feb/04/john-mccain/mccain-flips-dont-ask-dont-tell/>.
Naureckas, Jim. “Ask Not What Gays Will Do to the Military--Ask What the MIlitary Is Doing to Gays”. FAIR. June 1993. < http://www.fair.org/index.php?page=3652>.
Stewart, John. “A Few Gay Men and Women.” The Daily Show With John Stewart. Comedy Partners. 3 February 2010. < http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/wed-february-3-2010/a-few-gay-men---women>.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)
