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September 27, 2005

Heads up

Take some time to review the grand jury report on the systematic sexual abuse of children in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia (if you can stand repeated descriptions of little boys being sodomized). For parents it's a helpful guide to the tactics of abusers.

To quote our local DRE, who doesn't let her pre-teen girls sleep over with friends, "You never know what goes on behind that pretty white picket fence."

Considering the ubiquity of internet porn nowadays, everyone is suspect. If your kids are going to be alone with a person (adult or child), take some time first to consider everything you know and sense about that person, and remember:

Posted by Bill White at 3:29 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

September 20, 2005

Medium, Message & me

This was triggered by a post and comments at the Curt Jester.

Anyone who has been interviewed or intends to ever be interviewed by the media (MSM which includes "Public Radio") needs to be VERY AWARE of the process called editing. Context will NOT be maintained. Your intent will not come through but sections of your words will. Period. Paragraph. Stop and consider this.

In Broadcast there is the very real limit of time. In Print the concern is space. Journalists learn to write in a fashion that allows major sections to be removed and the coherence (that they intended) will still remain intact.

Note that I say "that they intended". Reporters, editors and the organizations that they work for DO have observable biases.

Some of us were taught in American History about the period of "Yellow Journalism" in the History of the United States. It was a very strong political bias, editorial bias, public statement of opinion by the print media of the late 19th and early 20th century. There are still biases present in today's media. (generic examples do follow)

In most cases an effort is made to act (or at least appear to act) in an unbiased fashion. Quite simply, I do not believe that an unbiased opinion is possible from the media.

We all think and speak from our individual biases. At times these biases are subtle. Remember from Genesis that "The Serpent was the most subtle of creatures."

My wife refuses to be interviewed for anything other than background unless she is allowed to pre-approve any quotes. This demand includes any sound bites.

I live in the diocese of Manchester NH. I work for the Public Radio station for New Hampshire. I am not a journalist, nor do I wish to play one. I am a Broadcast engineer by training and career. Any observations are personal and practical and NOT intended to be cynical. To follow the usual disclaimer from work ... "these remarks do not reflect the opinion of my employer, underwriters, or any other member/donor of ... "

I heard from a friend who works for the Diocese that when he was interviewed by a co-worker of mine, the questions established a direction and an intent to direct the interview to a pre-established position / conclusion. Knowing the reporter and the topic, I was not surprised. (Right to life issues - need I say more)

NPR and the NPR member stations (yes, there is a difference) do make an effort to "present all sides". The problem is that this approach is not inherently unbiased. The flaw is glaringly obvious when the assumption is made that "everyone knows what 'normal' is and it does not need covered". IMO this is done on a far too regular basis. Likewise, coverage of certain opinions and lifestyle choices can serve to glorify them. At the very least, the more an opinion is covered the more it is "normalized". "Oh yeah, I heard about that on..."

There is also an unfortunate tendency for NPR to present a very balanced story and then at the end make a "zinger" comment. The comment establishes the reporter's (or corporately the Network's) opinion. The NPR Ombudsman commented to me in an email (personal complaint about a specific report) that (paraphrased) "The audience is intelligent enough to determine that what was expressed was the reporter's personal opinion".

As Mother Angelica was reported to have remarked: "Applesauce!"

How often do any of us really listen to a news report that critically?

There is a Journalistic "culture". In my opinion there is one for most careers. They each have their slightly differing worldviews. Law, engineering and Medicine come immediately to mind. These cultures are not necessarly bad. They do have their individual mindsets - worldviews. But, we should be aware of our biases and how they influence our actions.

The MSM is not necessarily "bad". They do provide a valuable service. Hey, I listen to NPR by choice as well as for my job. My opinion is that many in the media are unaware of their biases. Then there are those like the reporter I mentioned. In some cases a bias really is "expected".

What this really means is that we should listen more carefully. I'll repeat the word "subtle".

The more certain opinions are normalized, the more they become part of our culture, our language, our expectations, our laws, our legal precedents, and even our "civil rights". Are we on the verge of a "civil right" not to be exposed to someone elses religion? This "right" is already in place in mainland china. What others are in the wings?

Too often we unwittingly let our work culture(s) supercede our Catholic culture. Too often the surrounding "Culture of Death" (per JP-II) is overriding our Catholic culture. The pervasiveness of this culture has led to several examples of new "civil rights".

I am a Cradle Catholic. I have, over a multi-year period, re-devoloped a sensitivity to a bias against an orthodox Catholic viewpoint. It has everything to do with my prayer life, and my personal commitments.

My personal sensitivity shows when I yell at the radio every time I hear "Why can't the American Catholic Church just change this doctrine?"

However, I am prudent enough not to yell at the radio while at work.

I pray that by my example and quietly expressed observations I am able to be "salt, light and leaven" to my work environment.

St. Michael the ArchAngel defend us in battle.

Posted by John Huntley at 10:14 PM | Comments (2) | TrackBack