Spam Journalism #50
Spam Journalism: The spurious use of sensational headlines to add spice to an otherwise pointless article.
Thanks to Homepaddock for pointing out this complete misrepresentation of one of John Key’s remarks:
Key suggests Hide’s minister days are numbered
“Prime Minister John Key has suggested Rodney Hide’s days as a minister may be numbered.”
Compare to what Key actually said:
““He’s effectively said he’d resign as minister of local government and from there on in it would be up to me as Prime Minister to determine,” Mr Key says. “But lets cross that bridge if we ever come to it.””
This sounds a lot different to me.
Admittedly, on a superficial level, it is true that Rodney Hide may soon cease to be a minister, if Key decides to go ahead with Maori seats in the New Auckland supercity council. But the phrase “lets cross that bridge if we ever come to it” implies that Key doesn’t envisage that happening. The headline and opening paragraph imply the exact opposite – that Key is actively gunning for Hide.
This sort of “free interpretation” is bad enough in print media, where it can, at least, be considered a while. It is much worse in TV format, where there is no luxury to think about anything.
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Aug 24 09 9:08 pm
“This sort of “free interpretation” is bad enough in print media, where it can, at least, be considered a while. It is much worse in TV format, where there is no luxury to think about anything.”
This last point is important. Print publications are around for as long as you want and can be read at leisure — perhaps as you point out, in a contemplative frame of mind. This isn’t true for TV or radio news and it isn’t really true for online news — where an editor can always pull a foolish story once enough fools have been fooled.
Oh and as I type this, some mischievous internet imp has put the word Goebels in the Captcha box below.
How ironic!
Bill Bennett´s last blog ..Here’s what happened to the internet-connected fridge