Reference Post: Local Example Shows The Danger Of Media Bias
Based largely on the referenced post, my friend Dennis Mentzel sent the following letter to the editor of the local newspaper that ran the article (video & print) that is the subject example that shows the danger of media bias to America:
Dear Editor,
I am disappointed with both your Thursday online video (Dueling Harris Avenue Displays – September 1) & Sunday print edition (Presidential Displays Spark Interest – September 4) of your paper that you published last week regarding the article concerning the display of mannequins on my property - Trump in a business suit & Hillary in prison garb – the article was expanded when the reporter included a mannequin of Hillary on my neighbor's property. I believe that your presentations were biased & unfair for the following reasons:
1. Although the display of the Trump mannequin in my yard dates back to June 2015 you gave preference in your presentations to my neighbor's mannequin of Hillary Clinton that has been on display for only a few weeks – in fact it is moved inside my neighbor's house each night unlike my Trump display that has faced all of the weather elements for over fourteen months.
2. I consented to do the story on the condition that it would not be presented as a feud between neighbors. The title of the video was Dueling Harris Avenue Displays. The video used the words "brother against brother, & neighbor against neighbor." This is no where near the point of view or direction that I thought the article would pursue.
3. The video showed my neighbor's face clearly speaking toward the camera explaining why he installed his mannequin of Hillary while for my part the audio of my voice was faint & my head was cut off from view for most of my time on camera where I explained why I installed the mannequin of Donald Trump over fourteen months ago.
4. The video also presented photos of each candidate for president – introducing Hillary's photo calling her by name & Trump's photo by the words "another view point."
5. The Sunday print edition of your paper showed only my neighbor's mannequin of Hillary & included a large print quote from him concluding "Hillary has more going for her." My mannequin display was not shown in the print edition & there was no quote from me in large print.
All in all I feel betrayed & am sorry that I consented to the interview & article other than it provided a vivid example of the danger of the hostile anti American media.
***
Upon receipt of Mr. Mentzel's letter the General Manager (GM) of the newspaper called Mr. Mentzel & in an attempt to placate him offered to make a few corrections & updates to the online version of the print edition of the original article that would be seen by a much smaller audience than the original article.
After seeing the updates online Mr. Mentzel called the GM & said the corrections were unsatisfactory & that he would like his above letter published. The GM balked, for obvious reasons, & the call ended without definitive resolution although Mr. Mentzel felt the GM was going to do something more.
Below is the updated article that was published this past Sunday (9/18) that set the record straight regarding the favoritism shown in the original article. Mr. Mentzel & I agree this is a better solution than having his letter published because the GM got the point & corrected the article & actually provided more information than was in the letter.
Dennis Mentzel is a low key citizen who is not looking for the limelight – he just wants to be left alone – the inalienable fundamental right from which life, liberty & the pursuit of happiness are derived. He actually is a disabled veteran who honors America every chance he gets. This is the first letter to an editor he has ever submitted. He really is like most of us in this regard & accordingly provides an object lesson for us all. He should be congratulated for his perseverance in following up to make sure the accurate story was told. The easier path would have been to just leave the story as originally published.
Both the original video & print edition article are the examples that show the danger of media bias that can have a negative controlling effect on our lives, even if ever so subtly – that unfortunately goes on everyday with the hostile anti-American media telling us a slanted version of the news. Dennis's follow up is an example of the effort it takes to make sure that doesn't happen.
click on article to enlarge
Click here for an example of media bias in Charlotte
ReplyDeletehttps://www.facebook.com/paul.j.watson.71/videos/10154540644891171/
Hi Doug - I read the follow up post and read the one you have included as a link.
ReplyDeleteYour advice about the media is so correct and sometimes I forget it because I emotionally want to believe what I read. Whether I agree or disagree the first response is usually emotional.
That's with any subject anyone thinks is really important to them. Just look at what's happening again in Charlotte. It's like the truth doesn't matter because you emotionally want things to be a certain way.
It's really hard to only look at the facts about something people feel strongly about because there's always the possibility that the facts will overturn that belief. I think that's hard for people to face. And the media knows it. They know that most people won't call them out on it.