The Power of the Media

I try really hard not to get too political. It's very hard for me, but I do try. I don't really think what I'm going to say is political, but some people will think it is.

The media does know what power they have to change the world. What they don't realize is how that power is supposed to be applied neutrally. Most of them, however, think they already know how the world should be, and so they write in such a way to enforce their opinions. What they don't realize is that GOOD PEOPLE have been arguing how the world should work FOREVER. They do not have the corner on morality. What they have the corner on is what people read, and they need to realize that their DUTY is to report it as it is, not packaged into something that will CHANGE THE WORLD ON THEIR TERMS.

The reason I am ranting and raving is this article by John R Lott Jr.:
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,343671,00.html

An important quote:

"A Nexis search on news stories during the three-month period from July 2000 through September 2000 using the keywords “economy recession US” produces 1,388. By contrast, the same search over just the last month finds 3,166. Or, even more telling, take the three months from July through September last year, when the GDP was growing at a phenomenal 4.9 percent. The same type of Google search shows 2,475 news stories."

"Over 78 percent more negative news stories discussed a recession when the economy under a Republican was soaring than occurred under a Democrat when the economy was shrinking."

To the media: You have power. But as a very wise man once said: with much power comes much responsiblity. Report it like IT IS. I don't want to hear what you think it should be, I don't want you to report because you want to change the world. TRUTH will change the world. SO REPORT THE TRUTH.

Forgive me for my rant.