"Riffed from the Headlines" is Townhall's daily VIP feature with coverage of the deeply flawed aspects of journalism in the nation. We'll look to bring accountability to the mishaps, malaprops, misdeeds, manipulations, malpractice, and manufactured narratives in mainstream media.
04.06.22
Low Octane Gas Lighting – VARIOUS OUTLETS
- The initial lie did not stop the law, so maybe a new lie can get it overturned.
The media meltdown over the Florida Parental Rights bill has not been quelled since it was signed into law; it is evolving to another phase. The latest mover is to feign outrage at anyone who opposes their opposition to the bill, specifically by alluding to them being predatory in some fashion. The reactions have been revealing, such as this one from Chris Hayes.
I've got some things to say about the truly despicable "pro-pedophile" slander that has become a mainstream conservative talking point at the top of tonight's show.
— Chris Hayes (@chrislhayes) April 5, 2022
The main thrust is for the journalists to accuse those who mention "pedophile" or "groomer" in their response to the impassioned call to have questionable material introduced to young classrooms of acting in a hateful and even homophobic fashion. Lost on most of these journos is that after bleating – wrongly – that they were being told not to say "gay," they are now the ones dictating words that cannot be uttered.
These are rather precious objections, coming after calling proponents of the bill hateful, homophobic, sexist, or even wanting to kill trans children. But suddenly, the word "groomer" is crossing some type of line of decency.
Vice News has taken up the charge. Oliver Darcy of CNN is decrying the accusation as being from the Q-Anon playbook. David French was certainly bothered by it, while never griping about the "Don't Say Gay" lie. (That speaks volumes, David.) NBC News Editor Benji Sarlin also makes the homophobic claim, itself an admission, because "groomer" refers to anyone who is conditioning young children for sexual purposes. For him to stipulate it automatically means gay individuals comes from making that distinction in his own mind. The Daily Beast has followed this narrative, as have WaPo, New Republic, Jonathan Chait, Paul Waldman, and the list is still unspooling from there.
Perhaps typifying this the best is Frank Luntz, who tries to demonize those using the term by saying it is being done in the name of general political opposition.
It was bad enough when anyone who disagreed with your politics was a “racist” or “Nazi.”
— Frank Luntz (@FrankLuntz) April 5, 2022
Now, we’ve got people accusing others of being “pedophiles” if their politics don’t match.
No, Mr. Luntz, it is not because of a mere political difference of opinion, it is used in regards to this specific topic. The fact you need to mislead, once again, in the course of this debate shows that still, those opposing the law have no real standing.
Anti-Social Media – THE VIEW
- And still, some Republicans try to curry favor from the leftist media.
Call it – The Kinzinger Paradox. Every so often, we see a member of the Republican Party who endeavors to win the approval of those in the press, thinking that there is some noble reward to come by trashing those from your own side, expecting laudatory praise from media outlets, only to later have it delivered in the form of punishment. Kinzinger spent time slamming Trump and being stroked on MSNBC, only to see the Democrats erase his district and place him out of work.
The latest has been former Trump Press Secretary Stephanie Grisham. She wrote a tell-all book trashing the first lady she served under and admonishing the administration she worked for and tried peddling it on leftist news sites. She also testified for the January 6 Commission and has parlayed her newfound liberal approval to a chair slot on "The View." It is safe to say, as the resident "Republican" on that panel, she is no longer being garnished with the empty praise she has become accustomed to receiving.
Living in a world of delusion, Joy Behar doesn't believe Fentanyl is coming into the U.S. over the southern border from China.
— Nicholas Fondacaro (@NickFondacaro) April 6, 2022
"Why does this sound like Fox News?" "Are you spewing talking points here?" she scoffs.
Meanwhile, here's CNN reporting it: https://t.co/bdtmbXRJs6 pic.twitter.com/bB6AYUj8m8
DNC PR Firm – THE DISNEY CORPORATION
Considering all of the self-generated controversies that Disney Corp. has embroiled itself in these past few weeks, you might think that the announcement of Kristina Schake stepping in as the new head of global communications is interesting, as it would be a job few want to step into at this time.
However, after assessing the willingness of Disney to wade into Florida politics and excoriate the recent Parental Rights law, it looks as if the company is looking to continue on its course. Schake's resumé includes serving in President Biden's cabinet, as assistant to Barack Obama, and as communications director to Michelle Obama and Hillary Clinton. Disney will not be wavering from its current positions any time soon.
Disney Names Kristina Schake Head of Global Communications https://t.co/gCr5Gefxdu
— The Hollywood Reporter (@THR) April 5, 2022
Artisanally-Crafted Narratives – WNYC PUBLIC RADIO
- Some plagiarism is worse than others, it seems.
The Columbia Journalism Review covers the long-running story of New York public radio station WNYC and a long-simmering issue with one of their editors having been discovered to have been lifting portions of published material in her work. Making matters worse internally and with public perception has been how all of this has been handled by Editor-In-Chief Audrey Cooper.
Following reports in The New York Times and from CJR, the station announced that they had tabbed over 40 articles dating back to 2010 that had used previously published portions without attribution. Other on-air reports also seem to have used phrases lifted from other outlets. What has caused problems with the staff has been some of the actions of Cooper.
Upon the announcement, many were bothered that the statement had made it appear as if it was a company-wide issue when, in truth, all of the examples of plagiarism derived from the same editor, Jami Floyd. Another issue was last year when a reporter was let go after a portion of his article used a passage from the Associated Press, even though they had licensed use of AP copy and he had attributed the syndicate in his piece. Floyd, meanwhile, had been found lifting pieces for years from numerous outlets, and after her work had been flagged and removed, she was retained on staff. This even involved a rash of layoffs at the station.
WNYC, seeking to end a crisis, may have sparked anotherhttps://t.co/fphy6e3ie4
— CJR (@CJR) April 6, 2022
Anti-Social Media – BRITISH BROADCASTING COMPANY
- Is racial intolerance being shown to be an industry issue?
In January, we covered the story of National Public Radio seeing a number of their minority personalities leaving the outlet. Over the past year, a number of prominent on-air personalities of color left, as well as producers and other staff, over organizational problems and pay disparity.
Now, we get a report from Variety that something extremely similar is taking place with The BBC. Over a dozen women of color have fled recently, and others still on staff point to issues they regard as major challenges.
- "Despite the BBC's attempts to reform, however, multiple sources — many of whom have refused to speak on the record for fear of being penalized professionally and socially at the BBC — point to a culture that favors white, middle-class and privately educated staff, and has all but 'abandoned' a generation of older, female, Black, Asian and other minority employees."
News Avoidance Syndrome – CNN
We have been watching the rollout of CNN's new streaming platform and how, by all appearances, it is not exactly lighting up the media landscape. CNN+ has been lagging in its ability to get subscribers, and another sign of disinterest is seen in a curious side venture at the network. CNN has attempted to get into the NFT market, and the Washington Free Beacon noticed it also did so regarding their new venture, offering up NFTs for their very first CNN+ broadcast.
Even in some of the daftest examples of NFTs brought to market, you see an eagerness to purchase, but as of now, with 250 NFTs offered for sale, CNN has not even sold half to this point.
Nobody Wants a Piece of CNN History
— Brent Scher (@BrentScher) March 31, 2022
Network’s attempt to sell NFTs of its launch backfires https://t.co/0eodeW1R13
Presentation Paradox – CNN
- If a failure reports on a failure, is that double-negative a positive?
Donald Trump's touted social media platform Truth Social has been a fizzle to this point, and many in the press have been rightfully mocking the stumbling rollout. It is just a little bit more than tough to take to watch Brian Stelter and Oliver Darcy expound on what a bust that venture has been – ON CNN+!
Donald Trump's new social media platform isn't reaching as many people as he thought it would. @AlyssaFarah and @OliverDarcy join @BrianStelter to discuss how Trump losing Twitter may impact the midterms. Stream #ReliableSourcesDaily on #CNNPlus. pic.twitter.com/wy1YaMO7wZ
— CNN+ (@CNNplus) April 5, 2022
