Gore says media miss climate message: Fail to report consensus in favor of "balance as bias"

[DeepModem Mom]

Nashville Tennessean: Gore says media miss climate message
Journalists have leaned toward balance at expense of consensus data, he says
By BEVERLY KEEL
Staff Writer

....Back in Tennessee on Tuesday, Gore told a crowd of about 50 people at the U.S. Media Ethics Summit II that (his global warming presentation's) single most provocative slide was one that contrasts results of two long-term studies. A 10-year University of California study found that essentially zero percent of peer-reviewed scientific journal articles disagreed that global warming exists, whereas, another study found that 53 percent of mainstream newspaper articles disagreed the global warming premise.

He noted that recently the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change released its fourth unanimous report calling on world leaders to take action on global warming.

"I believe that is one of the principal reasons why political leaders around the world have not yet taken action," Gore said. "There are many reasons, but one of the principal reasons in my view is more than half of the mainstream media have rejected the scientific consensus implicitly — and I say 'rejected,' perhaps it's the wrong word. They have failed to report that it is the consensus and instead have chosen … balance as bias.

"I don't think that any of the editors or reporters responsible for one of these stories saying, 'It may be real, it may not be real,' is unethical. But I think they made the wrong choice, and I think the consequences are severe.

"I think it is important to look at the pressures that made it more likely than not that mainstream journalists in the United States would convey a wholly inaccurate conclusion about the most important moral, ethical, spiritual and political issue humankind has ever faced."...

http://www.dicksonherald.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070228/NEWS01/702280434/1297/MTCN02

[deutsey]

1. I hope Gore has learned from all the times he's been "gored"

Especially if he's going to run again...he needs to be able to fight back hard (and effectively) against the RW smear machine.

[cascadiance]

2. I think that 2000 was a big learning experience for him!

I think he now appreciates the corporatist machinery in place and that is precisely why he's being "cagey" now about running. He knows that they will come after him full Gore ('er full-bore), when he announces.

[glitch]

3. I rarely disagree with Al Gore but it's hardly balance when it's thousands

who say there is human caused global climate change to a few who say there isn't and they present it as one side vs another, even steven at best. I don't know what you'd call it, but balanced? Only if that balance is heavily weighted with somebody's thumb on the scale.
Maybe skewed is a better word.

However, I still adore him.

[rman]

13. I think the point is that the MSM present it as "balance",

and Gore is just using their terminology.

[glitch]

16. Then we should stop using their terminology. I like The Count's post below

"You don't balance the truth with a lie" Edward R Murrow

[kestrel91316]

4. From now on I expect the MSM to stop shirking its duty to report

the news in balanced fashion.

Every story about airplanes or flight needs to be balanced with equal airtime for those who have proven that it is impossible for a bumblebee to fly.

Every story about our space program needs to be balanced with experts who maintain that the earth is flat and the sun, moon, and stars all revolve around the earth.

They have really been remiss in this.

[The Count]

9. But they balanced tories on * being great with stories of him beaing the greatest

So, there! :P

[DuaneBidoux]

5. Always the issue: "fair" vs. "balanced."

If there are two sides to the same issue and 99% of the experts accept one side of the two sides then it is not "balanced" to give 10 minutes to speak to both sides. It's like evolution: Virtually all scientists understand that evolution is fact, and the other side of the scientists (that is the 10 or 20 in existence) who don't accept it should never be given equal time.

[hughee99]

7. I'm not 100% sure about this...

I'm no fan of giving these people a platform to spew their nonsense, but sadly, I find myself at least defending "balance" to some degree.

50 years ago, you probably couldn't find more than a handful of scientists talking about global warming. In fact, I would venture to guess 90%, when asked (in the 1950's remember), would say that it was NOT happening and call it some sort of crackpot theory. 200 years ago, virtually all scientists agreed that evolution was nonsense. My point is, the consensus of the scientific community, lacking indisputable proof, is not necessarily always right. While I think they're right in this case, and I certainly am not in favor of having some anti-global warming A-hole on every single time it's discussed, but I wouldn't want to completely silence their voices not because of their beliefs, but because of the precedent it might set.

[rman]

12. Then likewise equal time should be given to Flat Earth, Hollow Earth etc

Those positions are in fact as ridiculous as 'no global warming' or 'global warming not man-made', and creationism.

[hughee99]

I don't know that I'm necessarily talking about "equal" time...

but it seems to me like some here believe that no time should be given to these beliefs. IMHO, if the general policy is that you won't allow the discussion of viewpoints that go against the consensus of the scientific community, they you're really going to be missing out some important things. Unfortunately, as a result, you're also going to have to put up with at least some of the Flat Earth crap as well. Sometimes nothing makes your argument seem stronger than having an idiot to argue against.

[marshall]

15. 50 Years ago--Zero Population!

We weren't talking about global warming 50 years ago, but we were talking about something that is closely related--Zero Population. There was a growing fear that we were reproducing too quickly and thanks to improved health care and living conditions surviving in greater numbers and would eventually choke all the resources out of poor Mother Earth. To my knowledge China is the only country still seriously talking about the population explosion.

[The Count]

8. "You don't balance the truth with a lie" Edward R Murrow

I guess it's up to us to break through the interference.

[donkeyotay]

6. I wonder what kind of pressures could be influencing the media and government

"I think it is important to look at the pressures that made it more likely than not that mainstream journalists in the United States would convey a wholly inaccurate conclusion about the most important moral, ethical, spiritual and political issue humankind has ever faced."...

Hmmm. Let's see. Gore's been demonized since "Earth in the Balance." What group would not have liked environmentalists? What group had a secret energy policy meeting, hosed California for billions, killed the electric car, curtailed public transportation, brought us the SUV arms race at the expense of CAFE standards, and had us invade Iraq for them?

[Uncle Joe]

10. I agree with you sort of,

I believe the auto/oil/coal corporations demonized Al beginning with Earth in The Balance.

Regarding the mass corporate media, I believe his championing of the internet is really what got under their skin. Their monopoly on the truth has been threatened by it, with the resultant loss of power. This is what caused 20-30 "journalists" to openly jeer him during the 2000 debates, they lost all sense of propriety or professionalism. So the upshot is, because Al empowered the people, he had to be punished for it, their ox had been gored, for lack of a better word.

[donkeyotay]

17. Maybe you could point me to the quote where some "journalist"

basically said, "Well, the thing is we didn't like him (Gore) anyway."

What a stunning admission to say that the free press didn't care about giving the American people accurate information on which to give informed consent. Not only did they skew the information (Where were their editors?), but they acted like snotty frat boys deciding who was cool enough to be one of them, and substituting that criteria in selecting the leader of the free world. (I remember the Horse at MHO used to talk about the Cool Kids.) Journalism professors must have viewed that election with the same chagrin as the military viewed the effect of "24" on their recruits with its promotion of torture.

Yes, I agree with your point. This power grab - the information power grab - is fundamental to the others, and Gore was a threat. If he runs again, he's going to be a bigger threat, and I think the internets will be much better prepared to fight the perception wars this time.

Say, if you have a link handy to them jeering Gore during the debates, I'd appreciate it.

[Uncle Joe]

19. Here is one snip, there is more,

when you go to the Daily Howler website, google press jeering Gore or 2000 debates.

WHY GOOD GUYS SLEPT (PART 2)! The press corps booed and jeered at Gore. Your “good-guy” pundits didn’t tell you:
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2002



http://www.dailyhowler.com/dh121802.shtml

“WHY GOOD GUYS SLEPT (PART 2): On June 25, 1999, Howard Kurtz wrote a lengthy piece about the “harsh coverage and punditry” being directed at Candidate Gore. And, according to Josh Marshall’s later assessment, the press corps’ “disdain and contempt” for Gore were clear by this time (see THE DAILY HOWLER, 12/17/02). Indeed, by the time Kurtz wrote, it was QUITE clear that Gore was receiving odd coverage. Four months later, the press corps would display its “disdain and contempt” in a truly remarkable way.

On October 27, 1999, Gore and Bradley staged their first debate in a small venue at Dartmouth College. The session was broadcast live on CNN. The 300 journalists in attendance watched on large-screen TVs, penned up in a separate pressroom.

And in that room, the Washington press corps—your bulwark of democracy—displayed its astonishing lack of professionalism. What happened as Gore and Bradley debated? Howard Mortman, then of the Hotline, appeared on that publication’s cable show one week later. Mortman described the remarkable scene inside that Hanover hall.

How had the press corps acted during the debate? “The media groaned, howled and laughed almost every time Al Gore said something,” Mortman reported. “What happened with Bradley?” a panelist asked. “Stone silence. Really,” Mortman said. And Mortman—a staffer in the original Bush White House—was not alone in his report. Eric Pooley described a similar scene in the November 8 Time:”

[donkeyotay]

22. Thanks. Dailyhowler was the best documentation that I know of on this subject.

I wonder if any insiders will write about what really went on with the press. They truly abandoned professionalism. What turned them into a pack? Money, or did they just drink the Kool-aid? Oh, let's face it, it was the owners that controlled the message. The foot soldiers just have to tell themselves that if they don't cash the checks, someone else will.

Anyway, thanks again.

[Uncle Joe]

23. My pleasure, thank you donkeyotay

:hi:

[Uncle Joe]

20. Now if you want to know why they did it, this is my theory as to their motivation.

Remember The Titans

Bill Moyers had a series of excellent interviews with the late Joseph Campbell regarding his book "The Power Of Myth". In it Joseph speaks of the commonality of all the world's religions and mythologies, even when they are separated by time and distance. He goes on to state that there are many lessons and much wisdom to be learned from myth. Here in Nashville (The Athens of the South), the home of the only full scale replica of The Parthenon of the Acropolis, mythology is never too far away.

What does this have to do with Al Gore? The lesson of what happened to Al Gore has repeated it self throughout history and myth. A hero or leader comes to the aid of the people and the ones in power trash him for it.

When I think of Al Gore, I think of Prometheus. Prometheus, the son of the Titan Iapetus who took pity on the misery of mankind, huddling in the cold and dark, so Prometheus stole fire from heaven for their benefit. Zeus (Jupiter), enraged at this loss of power caused Prometheus to be chained to a rock on Mount Caucasus, where a vulture each day devoured his liver, which was made whole again each night, this was supposed to go on for all eternity.

Al Gore, the son of Tennessee Titan Al Gore Sr. took pity on the American People as they were fed scraps of information on the vital issues of the day. Al, while he was in congress thought that the people should have equal access to the same information as the rich and the powerful. Al Gore recognized ahead of the curve (as he usually does) that for democracy to flourish, the people should have control over the flow of information that will ultimately control their lives. Information is power, so Al decided to become the primary champion of the relatively new technology (now known as the internet) controlled by the defense dept. and some universities and to open it up for everyone.

CNN recently held a poll as to the most revolutionary creation of the 20th century and the internet won hands down. So one might expect praise for such vision, service and dedication to the people, however that would be forgetting the lessons of Prometheus.

The mass corporate media were enraged at this loss of power, how dare he! They wanted to remain the sole gatekeepers to the truth so that they could regale us with great stories of runaway brides, missing pretty white women, shark attacks and various other lurid tales, etc. they could continue do this for all perpetuity. The mass corporate media wanted to create a fictitious bubble or Matrix for the American People to live in and Al Gore had endangered their project.

Why would "American Journalism" want to do this to the American People? Because if you are ignorant, you are more easily controlled, and this is all about power and money. So Al had to be punished for empowering the American People. The mass corporate media not having a taste for liver with the possible exception of pate de fois gras (goose liver), decided to slander, trash, ignore and demean him in every way possible. It still goes on to this day to some degree.

The trashing of Al started in earnest in 1998, although I believe that the witch hunt against Clinton was in truth a back door way for them to hurt Al's chances of coming to power. The War Against Gore began in 1998 with a Wolf Blitzer interview; in it Blitzer asks Al what separates him from Bill Bradley? Blitzer asking Al of and Al is talking about his record in congress. As anyone would do in a job interview, Al speaks of his achievements, primarily in helping to bring about the creation of the internet as we know it today, which in fact is the truth; nothing is said by Blitzer at the time because he knows this is the truth.

One or two days later Dick Armey begins spouting his Republican Talking Points slamming Al for his hubris, and the mass corporate media begin goose stepping in unison and take up where Dick left off. The MCM says "Al Gore claims to have invented the internet" which of course is a lie, and it does not end there. "Al Gore claims to have discovered Love Canal" another lie, although he held hearings on toxic waste in Toone, Tennessee which expanded to include Love Canal. The MCM said Al Gore was wearing earth tones, so he must be a fake, besides being stiff and boring, etc. etc.

Al Gore has led a remarkable life and sometimes it reads like fiction such as being an inspiration (along with Tommy Lee Jones; his college roommate) for a lead character in the book "Love Story" but it’s the truth. The MCM even did a 180 after the 2000 debates overruling their own focus groups and changing their reporting as to who won those debates overnight, someone had apparently heard him sigh (I did not). As long as Bush did not drool on his podium, he was given a standing O. The only time terrorism was ever brought up during those debates was when Al mentioned it. With the MCM, the vital issue of the day (and keep in mind this was after Osama had declared war against us) was who would you rather have in your home for a beer? The nation has been drunk ever since.

The result of all this slander, demeaning and trashing of our best and brightest is the Pottersville, we are currently living in today. But think how much more difficult it would have been for us to get the truth out regarding the Iraq War, the Downing Street Memos, Gannon/Guckert, supporting Cindy Sheehan, Bush's corruption and incompetence etc. without the internet. Think how much more difficult it would be for you to put your opinions out for the masses or praise your favorite leader’s virtues if we did not have the internet. Even the freepers and Bush owe Al; they are just too clueless to know it. It’s for these reasons and many more that I will never abandon Al Gore for President.

P.S. For a historical refresher, click on link below and google “War against Gore” or 2000 debates.

http://dailyhowler.com /

[donkeyotay]

21. That's a keeper, Uncle Joe

Wow. Al Gore as Prometheus. It does get that basic, doesn't it? Some one taking pity on the American people, a free people trying to remain so even after their access to information has been cut off, and provides a new way to be informed. It is a race between those who still believe in democracy, that humans have a right to live in freedom and can find a way to make it work, and the tyranny of evil men, the capitulation to the belief that strong men rule and to be successful at it, they must be evil. Realpolitik.

I'll add this to my file, because if Gore's running, I'm fired up. I'll be right there with you UJ.

[CRH]

24. Thought provoking post Uncle Joe , ...

Uncle Joe, I commend you on your post.

I also often think of one small area not mentioned. IMHO, to confront individually and as a society, the issue of global warming and climate change, is to acknowledge it is our very own lifestyles and levels of consumption that need correction, when viewing as a whole the demands of the global population.

Politics aside, it is the US standard of living that appears in the cross hairs of logical solutions. It is no longer two cars in every garage, it is a car for everyone in the family. It is no longer a television in every home, but one in every room. The family phonograph is now various stereos, radios, and boom boxes spread through out the house. The average house is half again as large, with a room for everyone. Everyone has a cell phone as well as an in home land line phone. Computers are becoming so common place in uses from recreation to education to business, one wonders how earlier generations were able to survive much less evolve. There are gadgets for everything in our pampered lives. Why I remember a day when I actually had to move my hand to brush my teeth, and days when I had to take hikes for exercise, before bow flexes or the latest contraptions were invented.

I could go on and on in this vein, but it all circles around to one inescapable conclusion. Our lifestyles create a huge footprint on available energy and other resources that are integrated into the micro climates and ecosystems that support our lives, on this finite planet. Everything we use takes energy to make and operate. It is this level of senseless consumption and the expenditure of this energy that creates warming, not just driving to the market in a smaller car.

The politics and the economy of the US, regardless of party or theory, demand an ever expanding over consumptive national and global economy. They both operate on a flawed design and theory. At this point the politicians are all corporate sponsored through funding, and the MSM controls the information and dialog. And, MSM is nothing better at bottom than a tool of corporate PR.

In a nut shell for the MSM to admit to climate change is to admit the need to change their master's theory of economy. The need to contract consumption and profits, and as well, control and eventually contract global population.

Al Gore or any politician to suggest such, would not survive the next sunrise politically, and this political climate will not change until it is seen by the money behind the power in politics, to be the only solution.

The change that must happen within the US society and its politics must happen slowly, because at the root of all that needs to be changed, is the very privileged and over consumptive lifestyle, of the society at large. In short, the common sense of the electorate has been confused, distracted, diverted and and blinded by comforting consumption. The education of the society needed to effect a change of course, will be repelled by the corporate oligarchy that profits from the consumption.

I'm leaving my mind open to Al Gore, and wondering if he might be the beginning to the first steps away from the abyss, the global politicians have led us. One can hope.

[Uncle Joe]

26. Thank you CRH and I agree with your post as well.

It's hard to change, whether it's giving up some creature comforts, status symbols, profits and luxuries or as an individual losing excessive weight, but for the sake of humanity, we as a society desperately need to evolve.

One thing people should keep in mind if you only have one television, that's one more than President Franklin Roosevelt had, at least to my knowledge. I don't believe people's DNA has changed so much as to make it impossible to do with less, sometimes we just need a spark to wake us up as to what's really important. I believe this is what Al Gore is referring to when he says political will is a renewable resource. Unfortunately in the case of global warming, that spark may be the equivalent of a forest fire surrounding our cabin; planet Earth, and the money people will burn just like the rest of us.

P.S. Welcome to D.U.:hi:

[Scout1071]

11. ping.

[Supersedeas]

14. Nothing to see here -- feed them more ANS -- right Abrams

[donkeyotay]

18. Yes, and you can still find a scientist who'll say smoking isn't harmful

if you pay him enough. So let's light up because the science isn't conclusive. That's fairly unbalanced.

[lovuian]

25. The Media STILL is NOT talking about what the future

Its absolutely amazing the hiding from American people

the ice caps have been melting much faster than even the scientists

Its really something that needs to be done NOW