Lara Logan of "60 Minutes" addresses media bias

[CHEEZY17]

Political bias is destroying people’s faith in journalism

Lara Logan, former correspondent for “60 Minutes,” caused a stir last week when, on a podcast called “Mike Drop,” she said that too many in the media have become “political activists.” Here, she explains to The Post how one-sided reporting has undermined the credibility of the press.

I was a working journalist before I could legally drink. On Saturday nights in Durban, South Africa, when most kids in high school were partying with friends, my last job was to hand deliver first-edition copies of the Sunday newspaper where I worked to the police station, the fire station, the hospital and the morgue.

It was a violent time in South Africa. The people had risen up against the injustice of Apartheid to fight for freedom and the region where I grew up was one of the bloodiest. So I persuaded the guys on night shift at the morgue to break the rules and tell me how many dead bodies they had received. I asked so many questions, they gave in and let me count the bodies myself. It mattered because no one knew how many people were dying every night in the political violence. The police had a habit of clearing the dead from the streets so the government could hide the truth.

But on that one night, every week, in that one place, I knew the truth. And no one could take it from me because I learned it first hand.

I do my job today, some 30 years later, the same way I did it then: with an open mind, an open heart and a million questions. There is nothing more human than opinions and bias. To say we have none is dishonest. But what we do have as professional journalists is a simple standard to get us past that: two first-hand sources — question everything and independently verify. I didn’t invent this — I inherited it from people like Edward R. Murrow and I will keep passing it on.

Journalists are not activists. We may share the passion for a particular cause, but our job is to follow the facts wherever they may lead. We can’t ignore something that reflects badly on a noble cause, as an activist might. We have to care about the means as much as the end because our duty is to search for the whole truth.

Nor are we lawyers in a court of law, cherry-picking facts to prove our case. Fortunately, there is only one truth. How we feel about it, how we perceive it, those things are subjective but the truth itself is not.

Above all, we are not propagandists or political operatives. That is not our job.

I have profound respect for my colleagues and for what we as journalists are at our best. Today, as a whole, we are not at our best. Just ask people in towns and cities across this country, as I do. Everywhere I go, people tell me they have lost faith in journalism. It comes from all people, all walks of life and all political stripes.

Frankly, I don’t blame them. Responsibility for this begins with us.

It is a fact that the vast majority of journalists in this country are registered Democrats. The colleges we come from are similarly dominated by one political ideology. This matters today because the reporting has become so one-sided. As we try to figure out why people have lost faith in our profession, let’s start by being honest about who we are.

I would feel the same way if the media were tilted in the opposite direction. It is the one-sided nature of this fight that disturbs me. Is that what the founding fathers had in mind when they wrote the first amendment?

We dismiss conservative media outlets for their political bias, but we don’t hold liberal media outlets to the same standard. Many journalists who claim to be objective have publicly taken a political stand, saying the urgency of the time justifies a departure from journalistic standards. Yet they ask us to believe their reporting is still unbiased?

It is not hard to find examples of how far we have strayed from reporting standards in the Trump era. A simple example is Time Magazine falsely reporting on President Donald J. Trump’s first day in office, stating that he’d removed a statue of Martin Luther King from the Oval Office. The news went viral. But the writer did not follow the most basic rule of journalism — pick up the phone and ask the White House if it was really gone, and why? The writer late wrote a correction on his Twitter account, stating “The MLK bust is still in the Oval Office. It was obscured by an agent and door.”

Did this feed a racist narrative Time and the reporter wanted to advance and believe, so no fact check was needed? I don’t know — did it? We all make honest mistakes and I am no exception. I’ve made a few of my own in three decades of reporting. But consider this mistake alongside 70 other examples on a running list compiled by independent investigative reporter Sharyl Attkisson, who is one of the bravest journalists I know. Is it a mistake when media outlets keep beating the same drum over and over? With our credibility as low as it is today, it’s a question worth asking.

I will be attacked for writing these words. But I welcome these attacks because it tells me my words matter. And I speak on behalf of all journalists who believe in standing up for the truth and honest, independent reporting. Most do not feel free to speak publicly. We live in a free country yet as journalists we are not free.

They can’t attack the substance of our work, so propaganda machines like David Brock and his staff at Media Matters for America, smear, manipulate and invent false narratives driven by their well-funded political agenda. With armies of bots and a stable of journalists that parrot their talking points, they silence and intimidate. They use our criticism of unfairness and bias to falsely accuse us of being conservative. But all of us know, the louder the attack, the closer we are to the truth.

No one owns me. No party, no organization, no corporation. We are free because freedom lives in us. No one gives it to you or takes it away.

And we are strongest when we stand together.

https://nypost.com/2019/02/26/political ... ournalism/

[stymiegreen]

And I speak on behalf of all journalists who believe in standing up for the truth and honest, independent reporting.

She appointed herself the spokesperson for truthful and honest independent reporting? I'd wager that 99% of journalists think they are filling the same role. Even Sean Hannity thinks he does. Lulz.

It's been proven ad nauseum that the majority of people clearly don't want truth or honesty unless it supports what fits into their worldview. People on the right will argue that coverage of Trump is completely fake and biased and then in the next breath they will support him literally telling a lie every 2 minutes about things that don't even need to be lied about. Does that make those people interested in truth and honesty? Not so much.

Hence why most people these days tend to argue for their team and just find stories and information that shows their team is winning. That is much more palatable for people than acknowledging the fact that both side are largely full of assholes...but of course YOUR side is filled with more of them than mine so my side is better than yours.

[CHEEZY17]

Funny how numerous journos are now coming out and confirming what conservatives have been saying for years. When you have most people entering the journalism profession to "make a difference" it's no surprise, to conservatives anyway, that the news has been slanted for a long time now. Props to her for addressing it and not pooh poohing the issue like most liberals.

Journalists pushing an agenda do just as much or more to hurt the perception of news as any one person. Even if that person is POTUS. The inherent personal hatred for him has simply amplified their slant to the point where even their own are taking notice.

[Stapes]

Funny how numerous journos are now coming out and confirming what conservatives have been saying for years. When you have most people entering the journalism profession to "make a difference" it's no surprise, to conservatives anyway, that the news has been slanted for a long time now. Props to her for addressing it and not pooh poohing the issue like most liberals.

Journalists pushing an agenda do just as much or more to hurt the perception of news as any one person. Even if that person is POTUS. The inherent personal hatred for him has simply amplified their slant to the point where even their own are taking notice.

Is it really slanted journalism though when all they do is report the non-stop lies from the President and the criminal activities of the people he surrounds himself with? I just call that journalism 101

[stymiegreen]

Funny how numerous journos are now coming out and confirming what conservatives have been saying for years. When you have most people entering the journalism profession to "make a difference" it's no surprise, to conservatives anyway, that the news has been slanted for a long time now. Props to her for addressing it and not pooh poohing the issue like most liberals.

Journalists pushing an agenda do just as much or more to hurt the perception of news as any one person. Even if that person is POTUS. The inherent personal hatred for him has simply amplified their slant to the point where even their own are taking notice.

So disingenuous. As stapes was getting at...conservatives literally claim that just asking Trump about his own easily verifiable lies that are on video and twitter for everyone to see is "pushing an agenda" or "fake news". So how can you pretend to be interested in truthful journalism when you really just want them to ignore Trumps continual lies and focus on what a great job conservatives think he's doing? Gimme a break.

[CHEEZY17]

Funny how numerous journos are now coming out and confirming what conservatives have been saying for years. When you have most people entering the journalism profession to "make a difference" it's no surprise, to conservatives anyway, that the news has been slanted for a long time now. Props to her for addressing it and not pooh poohing the issue like most liberals.

Journalists pushing an agenda do just as much or more to hurt the perception of news as any one person. Even if that person is POTUS. The inherent personal hatred for him has simply amplified their slant to the point where even their own are taking notice.

So disingenuous. As stapes was getting at...conservatives literally claim that just asking Trump about his own easily verifiable lies that are on video and twitter for everyone to see is "pushing an agenda" or "fake news". So how can you pretend to be interested in truthful journalism when you really just want them to ignore Trumps continual lies and focus on what a great job conservatives think he's doing? Gimme a break.

The left wing slant has been going on since before Trump was POTUS. Are you really going to sit here and say we didn't have this exact conversation 10 years ago? You're right, gimme a break.

[stymiegreen]

Funny how numerous journos are now coming out and confirming what conservatives have been saying for years. When you have most people entering the journalism profession to "make a difference" it's no surprise, to conservatives anyway, that the news has been slanted for a long time now. Props to her for addressing it and not pooh poohing the issue like most liberals.

Journalists pushing an agenda do just as much or more to hurt the perception of news as any one person. Even if that person is POTUS. The inherent personal hatred for him has simply amplified their slant to the point where even their own are taking notice.

So disingenuous. As stapes was getting at...conservatives literally claim that just asking Trump about his own easily verifiable lies that are on video and twitter for everyone to see is "pushing an agenda" or "fake news". So how can you pretend to be interested in truthful journalism when you really just want them to ignore Trumps continual lies and focus on what a great job conservatives think he's doing? Gimme a break.

The left wing slant has been going on since before Trump was POTUS. Are you really going to sit here and say we didn't have this exact conversation 10 years ago? You're right, gimme a break.

Yep...we have this conversation every few months or so. There is always agreement that bias exists on both sides based on the source. What has drastically changed since when Trump has taken office is any credibility conservatives think they can claim in regards to their evaluation of what "truthful and honest" journalism and reporting looks like to them. Because clearly what they view as "truthful and honest" coverage of the President who lies 10 times a minute would be to just completely ignore those lies and stroke Trump off about how great the economy is. You sold your souls to a con-man on the cheap and you are here pretending you can put the toothpaste back in the tube. Lulz.

[AnalHamster]

Hammy has assured me that there is no media bias, and if there were, it would be right leaning

You're a delusional amnesiac and a liar.

Ah the part where you shift the goalposts then run away. How very out of character for you.

There is in fact a spectrum in the media, with a left wing, a right wing and a centre. The most watched news network in the US is Fox, which is on the right. The outlets I prefer are in the middle.

[CHEEZY17]

Funny how numerous journos are now coming out and confirming what conservatives have been saying for years. When you have most people entering the journalism profession to "make a difference" it's no surprise, to conservatives anyway, that the news has been slanted for a long time now. Props to her for addressing it and not pooh poohing the issue like most liberals.

Journalists pushing an agenda do just as much or more to hurt the perception of news as any one person. Even if that person is POTUS. The inherent personal hatred for him has simply amplified their slant to the point where even their own are taking notice.

So disingenuous. As stapes was getting at...conservatives literally claim that just asking Trump about his own easily verifiable lies that are on video and twitter for everyone to see is "pushing an agenda" or "fake news". So how can you pretend to be interested in truthful journalism when you really just want them to ignore Trumps continual lies and focus on what a great job conservatives think he's doing? Gimme a break.

The left wing slant has been going on since before Trump was POTUS. Are you really going to sit here and say we didn't have this exact conversation 10 years ago? You're right, gimme a break.

Yep...we have this conversation every few months or so. There is always agreement that bias exists on both sides based on the source. What has drastically changed since when Trump has taken office is any credibility conservatives think they can claim in regards to their evaluation of what "truthful and honest" journalism and reporting looks like to them. Because clearly what they view as "truthful and honest" coverage of the President who lies 10 times a minute would be to just completely ignore those lies and stroke Trump off about how great the economy is. You sold your souls to a con-man on the cheap and you are here pretending you can put the toothpaste back in the tube. Lulz.

Except that we/she are not discussing "both sides having bias". We are discussing, as she addressed, the overwhelming bias on the left. Meaning that the sheer number of agenda driven reporters on the Left dwarfs anything the right offers. It's like saying after watching a 7-1 baseball game "well, both sides scored a run so I guess both sides win."
She even addresses the discrepancy saying if it happened the other way she would also be concerned. Yes, the right has its share of fringe agenda drivers. She, on the other hand is addressing an agenda driven mainstream media. Do you see the difference?

[stymiegreen]

Except that we/she are not discussing "both sides having bias". We are discussing, as she addressed, the overwhelming bias on the left. Meaning that the sheer number of agenda driven reporters on the Left dwarfs anything the right offers. It's like saying after watching a 7-1 baseball game "well, both sides scored a run so I guess both sides win."
She even addresses the discrepancy saying if it happened the other way she would also be concerned. Yes, the right has its share of fringe agenda drivers. She, on the other hand is addressing an agenda driven mainstream media. Do you see the difference?

She's one person with an opinion. Does she have more credibility because you agree with her? Her example of what she portends is a glaring display of biased journalism was a pretty weak one. Especially when as I already mentioned there has been WAY many more examples of journalists attempting to have Trump answer questions about his own words and lies than misreported stories that conservatives attempt to add weight to as an example of bias. And they are rewarded by being called an 'enemy of the people' just for doing so. Some people still think that is pretty dangerous. Conservatives just lean in harder and agree with Trump's vilification of the Press gleefully.

Trump is an expert of making a shitshow out of what he said, what he didn't say and then lying to make it appear as if journalists are just making shit up out of thin air. So excuse me if I don't reward such an obvious and concerted strategy with some sort of confirmation. There are fringe agenda drivers on both sides but its hard to pretend to have an honest discussion with people who, at the direction of Trump, only call out the ones who attempt to call Trump out for his easily verifiable bullshit. That's what journalists interested in "truth and honesty" are supposed to be doing. So I'm not sure with what Lara Logan's vision of "truth or honesty" is more than any other conservative that supports Trump blindly.

[beagleboy]

In a current local election (we are <2 weeks from the primary) a high profile journalist has declared that one of the Democratic candidates might be taking large sums of money from a far right political advocate. He presents no evidence but declared it might be happening and if it's true he is being bribed by the Republican to do his bidding.

The problem is that the Democratic opponent has repeatedly taken political donations from that far right political advocate and he's willing to ignore that because if his theory is true, the other Democrat is far more corrupt.

This coming from a far left journalist.

Sometimes it's just really bad journalism.

[CHEEZY17]

There is no media bias!!11!1 Secret meetings!!1!11 Conservatives are just imagining things!1111!

[Charliesheen]