Caught Up in a World of Spin

For insight into the stark contrast between newspaper journalism and much of what passes for journalism on TV, read this fascinating column by Columbia (MO) Daily Tribune publisher Henry J. Waters III. Excerpt:

Recently we got a firsthand look at how show business masquerading as journalism is practiced on television.

Shows like CBS’ “48 Hours” take real events and jig them up to titillate viewers. The producers thought they had something hot in our own local case involving the murder of Tribune Sports Editor Kent Heitholt. When the story didn’t quite pan out as they hoped, they tried to salvage what they could by spinning the facts… If the television crew members had merely intended to report the trial fairly, their anticipated sensation would have never materialized, so they had to invent it.

This sort of charade is assumed by too many citizens, whipped up by the likes of Rush Limbaugh, to be typical journalism. When spin and outright misrepresentation are discovered, those undiscerning types indiscriminately paint the “press.” Even though the Tribune was the antithesis of the “48 Hours” doctoring, before the bloggers got through, we were lumped vaguely with Dan Rather and other targeted devils of alleged “mainstream media” manipulation.

We and all other legitimate news organizations resent this simple-minded rush to injustice, but of course we can’t stop it. If we believe in our own calling, we believe in the right of charlatans to play their games as well, trusting in the ultimate ability of most consumers to know the difference.

This is just another reminder — if you needed it — that spin is not the preserve of politicians and PR hucksters. Increasingly, spins and counter-spins make the media world go round.

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