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#1348798 - 02/24/10 10:46 PM
Re: guess the headline
NotALawyer
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Power Poster
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 9,121
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Let's say you conducted a poll with a fellow news organization. The poll found that the president's approval rating had fallen to 46 percent. The poll found that 56 percent of respondents did not believe the president had a plan to create jobs. The poll found that majorities disapprove of the president's handling of the economy, the deficit, and his signature initiative, comprehensive health reform. Moreover, the poll found that "fewer than one in ten Americans say members of Congress deserve reelection."
Would you title the article describing the poll results "Obama Has Edge Over G.O.P. Among the Public"? Because that's what the New York Times did.
Incidentally, you have to read to the end of the fifth paragraph to discover that Obama's approval rating is "as low it has been since he took office."
Well, here is a NY Times article about a poll. Multiple Obama negatives, including that his negatives are at an all time high (low, not sure which is correct here, but numbers not in his favor), but lead with one Obama has edge over GOP. Factual yes, but indicative of the facts, probably not, certainly in the context of the poll. So perhaps I am saying that ripping a fact out of context to fit the editor's desired story is not really good journalism.
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#1348800 - 02/24/10 10:49 PM
Re: guess the headline
HappyGilmore
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Gold Star
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 455
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I wonder if NotALawyer is considered a cooler conservative for his/her argumentative style and avoiding/disregarding the facts? Sorry, can't tell is this is sarcasm about me or about the perception others might have of me. I don't see where I am being argumentative or avoiding or disregarding "the facts" unless there are facts outside of the article that I'm not aware of but should be. Not a slam on you, Happy. Just saying I can't tell if the comment is about me or not. 
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#1348815 - 02/24/10 11:03 PM
Re: guess the headline
straw
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Gold Star
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 455
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Let's say you conducted a poll with a fellow news organization. The poll found that the president's approval rating had fallen to 46 percent. The poll found that 56 percent of respondents did not believe the president had a plan to create jobs. The poll found that majorities disapprove of the president's handling of the economy, the deficit, and his signature initiative, comprehensive health reform. Moreover, the poll found that "fewer than one in ten Americans say members of Congress deserve reelection."
Would you title the article describing the poll results "Obama Has Edge Over G.O.P. Among the Public"? Because that's what the New York Times did.
Incidentally, you have to read to the end of the fifth paragraph to discover that Obama's approval rating is "as low it has been since he took office."
Well, here is a NY Times article about a poll. Multiple Obama negatives, including that his negatives are at an all time high (low, not sure which is correct here, but numbers not in his favor), but lead with one Obama has edge over GOP. Factual yes, but indicative of the facts, probably not, certainly in the context of the poll. So perhaps I am saying that ripping a fact out of context to fit the editor's desired story is not really good journalism. I can't comment on the NYT article - I haven't read it and the way you describe it, I wouldn't like it (rip a fact out of context to fit the editor's desire). I just don't see that that happended in the CNN article. To me, the bigger issue from the article is that [one player] has a 67% unfavorable compared to [the other player] having a 52% unfavorable. You asked if I would expect the same if the parties (the republicans and democrats) were switched - my answer is yes. The reason is that to me, the bigger issue is the 67 vs. 52. The doubleing is important and should be noted, but, to me, is not the most important point. Even if it tripled from 15% to 45% (I made up those numbers), to me the more important point is the 67%. Now if it doubled or tripled to be more than 67%, that raises the significance (in my eyes) and I would likely include it in the headline regardless of party. As to the doctor example, the patient dieing is the most important point in my opinion, so I agree that the headline would not be appropriate.
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#1348888 - 02/25/10 10:48 AM
Re: guess the headline
straw
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10K Club
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 34,318
under the Lone Star
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the NYT is a dinosaur, not so much all the news that's fit to print as all the bias we can move from the editorial page to the main page.
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Societies that do not find work in and of itself "pleasing to God and requisite to Man," tend to be highly corrupt.
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#1348929 - 02/25/10 01:49 PM
Re: guess the headline
Pale Rider
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10K Club
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 19,857
Pulling people out of the ditc...
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NoataLawyer, Straw is correct that it is not intended or directed at you, but rather the "perception" of those that people label "cooler conservatives"
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Providing alternative truths since the invention of time
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#1348947 - 02/25/10 02:18 PM
Re: guess the headline
HappyGilmore
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10K Club
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 34,318
under the Lone Star
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^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^perceived to be a cooler fence sitter...
_________________________
Societies that do not find work in and of itself "pleasing to God and requisite to Man," tend to be highly corrupt.
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