"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.
11.15.22
Anti-Social Media – ABC NEWS
- When misrepresenting the facts is not character assassination.
As the GOP grapples with the after-effects of the November 8 elections, Senator Josh Hawley has been rather outspoken about revamping the party. He referenced an interview he gave to RealClearPolitics, where he talked about the importance of giving independents a reason to vote for Republicans.
For no apparent reason, ABC's Jon Karl felt the need to jump in at Hawley, getting petty and petulant with the senator over the famed (in-famed?) picture of him saluting some of the people gathered in D.C. in the morning following the election. The implication he was encouraging rioters continues to be a fable that Karl appears comfortable spreading.
Can you expect to attract independent voters by cheering on the crowd at the Capitol on January 6? https://t.co/r68HcEqip6 pic.twitter.com/vAaFBrdbHR
— Jonathan Karl (@jonkarl) November 13, 2022
News Avoidance Syndrome – THE NEW YORK TIMES
As the story of the failure of the crypto exchange FTX continues to evolve, The New York Times did a lengthy piece of coverage on the collapse, as well as many details on the man who ran FTX, Sam Bankman-Fried. There are many details, but one, in particular, is completely avoided.
It seems telling in a lengthy 2,200-word article that room could not be found to include the fact that Bankman-Fried was second only to George Soros in donations made to the Democratic Party.
In less than a week, the cryptocurrency billionaire Sam Bankman-Fried lost most of his fortune, saw his $32 billion company plunge into bankruptcy and became the target of investigations.
— The New York Times (@nytimes) November 14, 2022
"It could be worse," he said in an interview. https://t.co/JPd6xLewGO
Presentation Paradox – NBC NEWS
- Did the network suspend a reporter for being accurate?!
The ongoing fiasco that is the Paul Pelosi attack story is one that is delivering consistent shame on the press industry. On November 4, "Today Show" correspondent Miguel Almaguer reported how Pelosi had been the one to greet police the night of his attack and that he appeared to not be in direct distress before ultimately being attacked. The complete video report was soon taken down entirely by NBC News, stating it did not measure up to their editorial standards.
Now today, The Daily Beast reveals that Almaguer has been suspended by NBC News.
EXCLUSIVE: Today show correspondent Miguel Almaguer has been suspended pending an internal investigation after NBC News had to retract his reporting that inflamed right-wing conspiracy theories about the brutal assault on Paul Pelosi, Confider learned. https://t.co/spMLgPEtEF
— The Daily Beast (@thedailybeast) November 14, 2022
But there is more. One point of contention (among many) is that the police are refusing to release the body-cam video footage from that early morning episode. However, another reporter has come out to state, some seven days later, they spoke with someone who had witnessed the unreleased police footage. That report actually follows much of what Almaguer had reported, including Pelosi being the one who answered the door and let the police inside after they announced their arrival and paused for a response. Moreover – it comes from a San Francisco affiliate of (wait for it) NBC News.
This means the press is delivering only more conflicting details, and these conflicts supplied by news outlets are, in turn, being blamed on "right-wing conspiracies."
On Nov 4 @NBCNews reported Paul Pelosi answered his door and let police into his home, and was not panicked. Soon after they killed this video and now the reporter has been suspended.
— Lie-Able Sources (@LieAbleSources) November 15, 2022
HOWEVER - a local NBC affiliate now reports police-cam footage supports that report.
What gives? pic.twitter.com/NfT4KA5wbP
Reporting on the Mirror – THE NEW YORK TIMES
- You wonder how much contrition was involved in making this report.
Ken Vogel shares a survey from the job-hunting site Zip Recruiter that asked college graduates if they would have changed their choice of a major. The overwhelming subject with the biggest regret – journalism.
Journalism is by far the most regretted college major, with 87% saying they would have chosen a different major, per @ZipRecruiter survey.
— Kenneth P. Vogel (@kenvogel) November 15, 2022
"Job seekers’ feelings about their college majors are strongly tied to their job prospects later," ZipRecruiter says https://t.co/2pfzlPQOWZ pic.twitter.com/X66nWUBkHr
Making things even more revealing, years back, there was a controversial phrase used in regard to those recently laid off from work. People were getting accounts suspended on Twitter if they tweeted at a deposed reporter with a suggestion to seek a specific job in the tech sector. As it turns out, that is precisely what the favored vocation of the collegians ended up being in the survey.
This means, ironically, that many journalists DO wish they had learned to code, by this survey's measure. https://t.co/le5wocCgM2
— Brad Slager: Polling For Soup (@MartiniShark) November 15, 2022
Both Kinds of Standards – POLITICO
In the Politico "West Wing Playbook," Eli Stoklos details how Biden was controlling how many questions he would take from the press during his stop in Bali – you know, more so than they have usually been controlling the press with assigned questions and roll call assignments. The reason for the strict standards is that during a recent press conference, the press dared ask the president questions.
Stoklos seems rather okay with this toughened stance toward the press because they were not obeying orders.
Five days ago, reporters ignored Biden’s request to ask just one question during his WH presser.
— Eli Stokols (@EliStokols) November 15, 2022
So in Bali, he ignored most of them, even snubbing the TV correspondents whose networks spent the most money to be there.
The message? There are rules, man. https://t.co/ao41IiGaGL
