How can the media get away with stuff like this?

Question

This is something that really annoys me, the media seem to be able to completely misrepresent the research of scientists and get get away with it.

Here are 2 articals printed by the media:

http://www.nationalpost.com/story.html?id=67ac2d90-ec56-4460-a831-75aacc20670d

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/germany/1467310/The-truth-about-global-warming---it

and here is the statement that the actual scientist put on his homepage:

http://www.mps.mpg.de/homes/solanki/

It seem to happen a lot, enougher example would be the program 'the great global warming swindle' which was nothing but lies. I dont understand how they can get away with so blatantly distorting the truth?

Answer 1

Good research by you.

Answer 2

There are responsible media outlets and there are irresponsible ones.  Some have an obvious bias and if you do you're own fact-checking on their articles (as you have done) you can easily discover it.

This is why I constant harp on the doubters around here that they need to read the scientific literature. You simply can't trust op-ed pieces, personal blogs, or even many seemingly unbiased media outlets to get things right.  In the peer reviewed scientific literature (where global warming is clearly accepted) the actual scientists views are written and other knowledgeable scientists (not journalists or editors, like in normal media outlets) scrutinize it.

Answer 3

Great Question - it does seem odd that the "Mainstream" media does alot of denying or omitting of factors contributing to global warming... but the answer is quite simple really...

MONEY.

Most (if not all) media is dependent (not independent) on cash revenues to pay their workers and electricity bill. To do this they require support from either government (who then tells them what to write) or commercial interests (who tell them what to write).

There is no such thing as truly independent editorial. (at least not in the mainstream media) - because to be independent and truly objective, your income cannot be based on the acceptability of what you write, record and broadcast. Therefore journalists and editors write what will be acceptable, which sometimes masquerades as doubt or controversy.

Back to Global Warming and Climate Change....

It is not in the best interest of Big companies (who are the major media advertisers, or in some cases the OWNERS of the media in question!) to discourage people from consuming.

It doesn't really matter what the product or service is.. what has led to the Global Warming situation is CONSUMPTION... consumption of raw materials, consumption of useless or non-ecofriendly products, and consumption of the energy required to a.) extract the resources b.) produce the goods and services c.) to keep the products running (gas in your car, your TV plugged in on standby etc.)

So you see, all the businesses along this chain of consumption are also the advertisers and supporters of the Media - Why would they face reality, and ask us NOT to buy their products or services even if reducing our consumption might save our Society, Environment and Economy?

Of course they won't do that. ... and therefore it is strategically superior to throw confusion and doubt into the "debate" about Global Warming and say "Global Warming is not our fault... it's all a matter of opinion.. and out opinion is... we want to survive as a business... and we don't care about the consequences... ignore the future, find your happiness purchasing our product now..."

WE NEED MORE BALANCE

Keep asking great questions like this one, and don't only ask the McMaster Institute for Sustainable Development in Commerce... ask your family, your friends and your "leaders" what they are doing to be part of the solution.

Everyone is responsible for their own actions, and the best thing you can do is encourage people to THINK about the actions they make... we have developed a 3 Finger Sustainability Symbol that replaces the old "Peace" symbol - we call it "Peace + One" and it means "I am the solution" (to Global Warming and Climate Change).

This is how we will identify WHO is part of the solution in the future. We now know that  people displaying the 3 finger Sustainability Salute are THINKING about their impact, connection and responsibility to SOCIETY, the ENVIRONMENT and SOCIETY... they (and you and me) are part of the solution.

We say, "Once you know, you can't not know" - meaning, once you know that there is a very simple solution to Global Warming, Climate Change and Social Disharmony, (Thinking Three Ways)... and you know that the solution is BALANCE between the interests of Society, the Environment and the Economy, then you can not say "I didn't know". (or excuse yourself from responsibility based on debate!)

Once you know:  

a.) that the power is in your hands (literally) to change the world to the way you want it (assuming you want peace and harmony ;-) and

b.) you share that message with everyone you care about (and even some you don't ;-) ...

then you are truly part of the solution, and remember, the MEDIA are people too - so once they "Get it", they will have the self confidence and strength of character to write and broadcast an Optimistic Truth... that we can remodel our world in a sustainable way,- we just have to be confident that we are doing the right thing and be willing to become Climate Change Agents - making the decisions to make the necessary changes.

What about those people / businesses / media who are not part of the solution?... Ignore them. Don't listen to them, don't argue with them, and mostly, don't buy their products or services! Just walk away, and find the new generation of people who ARE part of the solution...

If any part of my answer has helped answer your question, and you appreciate what we're doing here at the Institute.. you can become an unofficial member by simply passing along the 3 finger Sustainability Symbol to 3 other friends.

In thanks for YOUR great question, I warmly invite you to become an OFFICIAL Climate Change Agent, just contact me to get a t-shirt at www.SustainabilitySymbol.com

Peace  + One!

Philip McMaster

Principal Researcher

McMaster Institute for Sustainable Development in Commerce

www.SustainabilitySymbol.com

Answer 4

I personally can not read a lot of US press or read or listen to US media without being upset at the dishonest intellectual shortcuts taken which distort the reality.

If comments and analysis are only there to be misleading and set the conclusion before any discussion and analysis is done, I frankly do not see the point.

In this case I would rather get the raw information as I am able to analyze myself reported facts. Any layer you add to the information chain adds noise. Some layers are even close to being parasites.

Answer 5

The global warming scientists got it all wrong, and knew from the beginning that they were wrong.  But they stood to gain so much financially that they did it anyhow.  They are a close-knit, carefully selected group called the IPCC.  Not any scientist can join...you have to be a firm butt kisser and able to turn your head to the facts to get into the IPCC.  It's all about control, money and left politics.  Global warming is a hoax, and people are starting to educate themselves (not by listening to IPCC's  lies) and see that it's a hoax.  Hopefully we'll put these scoundrels behind bars and forget about global warming before all the world's economies are in tatters.

Answer 6

I think it is very sad that this kind of thing happens.  

I expect it is lazy journalism, where people report what has appeared in other papers without too much checking.  If the writer is not an expert on the topic, then serious errors are likely, even in respected papers like the telegraph!

Also, editors (who are also non specialists) are more concerned with sales than accuracy.

As the saying goes;  Never let the truth get in the way of a good story!

Answer 7

click this http://www.socyberty.com/Activism/First-... THE MEDIA IS SKEPITICAL, because our scientists have gone out on a limb and instead of staying in their own fields, they've decided to make everyone believe that exhausts, greenhouse gases and carbons are responsible for the cause of Global Warming and thats not true, infact CONGRESS has ordered the E.P.A. last year to prove that these factors are true, but their unable to because its all false. i even gave them a experiment to prove it one way or another. but they have refused. Global Warming is caused by a very high intelligence with the technology that man has'nt accomplished as yet, but we have found a way to delete the problem, but because of our scientist and their slow ways of skepticism to explain anything our governments are now going on the assumption that man can change the climate and my opinion on climate change for man to perform would only be in a building. so nothing is being done by any governments except useless talk. thats probley why our media has'nt done anything and i believe the media only believes in fact not cartoons like the scientists are giving.

Answer 8

It happens on both sides, whats your point?

The news is in the business of making money just like everyone else, thats not going to change (24/7 News = Have to BS people with something).