"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.
07.14.22
DNC PR Firm – LOS ANGELES TIMES
It has been commented on by more than a few journos and outlets about how the January 6 Commission has been staging its hearings for the fullest dramatic effect. They did, after all, bring in a former ABC News producer to help out with the stagecraft when they transitioned to primetime viewing of their hearing.
The Los Angeles times arrives now with a more than glowing assessment of things. Sure, the L.A. might be predisposed to the entertainment side of things, but it undercuts the severity of what we are told is historic findings when your overview of the investigation sounds more like a television review.
- "Like the penultimate episode of an intense TV drama, Tuesday's hearing opened with a 'previously on ...' montage of flashbacks, advanced the narrative, then closed with a staggering cliffhanger. Vice Chair Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.) dropped the hearings' most tantalizing bombshell yet, saying former President Trump attempted to call a committee witness, and that the committee submitted that information to the Department of Justice. Stay tuned."
This disciplined approach has allowed the hearings to shift with breaking news and new testimony as needed without losing momentum, while also organizing the chaos around the 2020 election and its aftermath into a gripping chronology of events.https://t.co/eAT7m1XYTk
— Los Angeles Times (@latimes) July 13, 2022
Artisanally-Crafter Narratives – VARIOUS OUTLETS
Pew research has come out with a new survey that is very media-specific. The pollsters asked a question regarding the manner in which stories get reported, specifically if the respondents felt that it was important for reporters to present both sides of a particular news story.
Most people – three-quarters, in truth – agreed that balanced reporting was rather important. One group differed on this matter, however – the journalists. Over half of those media figures, when asked, behaved as if they knew better what should be reported and how much balance they were going to issue to a story.
As if any more proof was needed to show why there is diminished faith in the press, this data point spells it out.
— Brad Slager - Unique Taco/Lifetime CNN+ Subscriber (@MartiniShark) July 14, 2022
The press feels they know better than the public on what needs to be reported.https://t.co/UDe8MAv24g pic.twitter.com/xHv7dxvkDY
Legalized Press-titution – GLAMOUR MAGAZINE
With a wide array of economic indicators being distributed, there comes one from the fashion magazine Glamour that is unassailable. They spoke not to economists with a sterling education but to the lasses who twirl on brass poles.
- "According to some sex workers, traffic in strip clubs is low—a fact that's often been associated with a faltering economy. Whether that's an accurate indicator of a looming recession is up for debate, but the strippers who spoke to Glamour explained that tracking the economy is a useful way to help them make informed career decisions."
Don't you dare laugh; you know this is a far better source than Paul Krugman.
Can Strippers Really Forecast a Financial Crisis? ?@glamourmag? ?@JeanValjenny? https://t.co/hKVvg9ZsR3
— Samantha Barry (@samanthabarry) July 11, 2022
Pulitzer Prize Nomination – NEWSWEEK
- Biden loses the rap vote chronically.
It is a level of mockery or trolling one might not expect from the entertainment industry toward a Democratic president, but Snoop Dogg has leveled harsh criticism with his branded line of cannabis.
The rap star has released Sleepy Joe OG, a new strain of marijuana from his branded line of smoke. Call it fortuitous marketing that just as the president is stumbling overseas this week, the product sports this tagline – "You won't even remember what country you are in!"
The package shows a photo of Joe Biden along with the phrase, "You won't even remember what country you are in!" https://t.co/hADHyFSd6C
— Newsweek (@Newsweek) July 11, 2022
Low Octane Gaas Lighting – THE NEW YORK TIMES
- What if they can find a way to make POC attendance compulsory?
At The New York Times, they have uncovered the latest example of systemic racism – tennis.
Writer Kurt Streeter finds that there is a problem with the diversity seen during matches, as well as in the stands. This, of course, has to ignore the variety of countries represented on the courts; foreigners apparently do not count toward diversity. Maybe the solution would be affirmative action and a mandated level of community ticket purchases. It should come as little surprise that this type of reporting comes from Streeter since he bears this type of bio:
- "Kurt Streeter writes the Sports of The Times column. He has a particular interest in the connection between sports and broader society, especially regarding issues of race, gender and social justice."
Anti-Social Media – THE DAILY MAIL
British soccer great Wayne Rooney is apparently now the head coach of the soccer team that plays in Washington, D.C. His wife hates it here in America, and she has thus refused to join her husband here in The States.
It is assumed this is considered interesting news to the 17 soccer fans here.
Coleen Rooney 'hates' America and won't join Wayne in Washington when he's coach of DC United https://t.co/4NRcmuSj5Q
— Daily Mail U.K. (@DailyMailUK) July 11, 2022
