Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 9/18/84; site rlgvax.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!bonnie!akgua!sdcsvax!sdcrdcf!hplabs!hao!seismo!rlgvax!raghu From: raghu@rlgvax.UUCP (Raghu Raghunathan) Newsgroups: net.politics Subject: Re: ...free press <> impartial press Message-ID: <263@rlgvax.UUCP> Date: Wed, 28-Nov-84 18:19:41 EST Article-I.D.: rlgvax.263 Posted: Wed Nov 28 18:19:41 1984 Date-Received: Fri, 30-Nov-84 19:15:17 EST References: <246@mhuxh.UUCP> Organization: CCI Office Systems Group, Reston, VA Lines: 36 > > Maybe that says something about the alleged "impartiality" of > > the American press. > I have never been under the illusion that the American > press and media were impartial; just that they seem to have an > extraordinary amount of freedom to decide what they will and will > not cover and how they will cover it. > > Mark Modig > ..ihnp4!btlunix!mom I really meant to use the word "objectivity" in my original posting, not "impartiality". Sorry for the bad choice of words. What I had believed so far was that the US press was objective in its news coverage, giving both sides of every story and not slanting the coverage with the personal opinions of the newspeople or the interests of the government officials. Infact, I have known many news programs being advertised (on TV) as being objective and fair, and go to great depth to cover the news from many points of view. But apparently when it comes to covering foreign policy issues, especially involving Central America and the fictitious MIGs, the US press knows of only the Administration's point of view. The US press might be free to choose what it wants to cover, but if chooses to ignore all developments not favorable to the Administration or the US interests, then it is no better than any State Run news media which chooses not to report any news that might hurt it's image. The purpose of the press is just dissemination of cold bare facts so the public can form it's own opinions. It is not for the press to influence the opinions of the public by their calculated selectivity in the coverage of the news. seismo!rlgvax!raghu