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Coronavirus and media bias

Debate and discussion of current events and political issues across the U.S. and throughout the World. Be forewarned -- this forum is NOT for the intellectually weak or those of you with thin skins. Don't come crying to me if you become the subject of ridicule. **Board Administrator reserves the right to revoke posting privileges based on my sole discretion**
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bmw
Posts: 7749
Joined: Sun Dec 05, 2004 1:02 am

Coronavirus and media bias

Unread post by bmw »

2 examples today. First - collusion? Am I supposed to believe that 3 different media outlets all independently came up with the word "backfire" ?

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The second example - perhaps a bit more subtle, but a perfect example of the phrase "there's lies, damned lies, and statistics." This comes from the New York Times Coronavirus map/graphs page that they update multiple times a day and have done so for over a month. On here they have a bar graph that shows the number of daily new cases of Coronavirus. The graph USED to just have the raw data. Well - now that we're 4 days past peak, suddenly they've decided to overlay the graph with a 7-day moving average. Moving averages can be abused to show trends that may or may not exist, and I think this is a perfect example. Instead of the graph going down, it now appears to still be going up to the casual viewer. I drew on top of this a blue line to show how moving averages can be abused - mine is more akin to a 2-day average.

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Turkeytop
Posts: 9303
Joined: Mon Aug 16, 2010 9:27 pm

Re: Coronavirus and media bias

Unread post by Turkeytop »

Pretty obvious, isn't it' Backfire isn't a very commonly used word. They all called each other and said "Let's say backfire today."
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Rate This
Posts: 16584
Joined: Wed Jan 08, 2020 12:17 am

Re: Coronavirus and media bias

Unread post by Rate This »

bmw wrote: Thu Apr 09, 2020 11:14 am 2 examples today. First - collusion? Am I supposed to believe that 3 different media outlets all independently came up with the word "backfire" ?

Image

The second example - perhaps a bit more subtle, but a perfect example of the phrase "there's lies, damned lies, and statistics." This comes from the New York Times Coronavirus map/graphs page that they update multiple times a day and have done so for over a month. On here they have a bar graph that shows the number of daily new cases of Coronavirus. The graph USED to just have the raw data. Well - now that we're 4 days past peak, suddenly they've decided to overlay the graph with a 7-day moving average. Moving averages can be abused to show trends that may or may not exist, and I think this is a perfect example. Instead of the graph going down, it now appears to still be going up to the casual viewer. I drew on top of this a blue line to show how moving averages can be abused - mine is more akin to a 2-day average.

Image
That bar graph shows it leveling off over the last 3 days after rising for awhile. It looks right to me. I don’t get any impression like you are suggesting. One of those entities probably wrote a story that the others picked up. Using the same verbiage is simply lazy but it’s not a conspiracy...
Donald Trump… In your guts you know he’s nuts.
bmw
Posts: 7749
Joined: Sun Dec 05, 2004 1:02 am

Re: Coronavirus and media bias

Unread post by bmw »

I'm not suggesting it isn't a common word, but there are so many different words or phrases you could use, and they all choose the same exact one. Either collusion or plagiarism. Take your pick
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Turkeytop
Posts: 9303
Joined: Mon Aug 16, 2010 9:27 pm

Re: Coronavirus and media bias

Unread post by Turkeytop »

bmw wrote: Thu Apr 09, 2020 11:43 am I'm not suggesting it isn't a common word, but there are so many different words or phrases you could use, and they all choose the same exact one. Either collusion or plagiarism. Take your pick
Possibly, as professional journalists, they each chose "backfire" as the most appropriate term.

What does FOX News call it? Marmalade?
screen glare
Posts: 2778
Joined: Tue Mar 24, 2009 8:05 am

Re: Coronavirus and media bias

Unread post by screen glare »

Yeah. Using the American conversational word “backfire” is rare and exotic, bmw.

And certainly in headline writing one wouldn’t want to select the quickest and most oft’ heard way to describe...

“...one’s actions or words coming unexpectedly back to their source with resulting negative consequences for the original sender.”

Man oh man - just use those 18 words, instead! And make it snappy, bm!
Last edited by screen glare on Sat Apr 11, 2020 5:58 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Turkeytop
Posts: 9303
Joined: Mon Aug 16, 2010 9:27 pm

Re: Coronavirus and media bias

Unread post by Turkeytop »

The evil media is biased against that poor virus. It's so unfair.
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