Readers can go back in history and find examples when what came off the printing press wasn't considered truthful.
Brushing briefly on the history of the dissemination of information to the public is important to understand where we're at today. Things we may accept as news may be little more than prepackaged public relations designed specifically to sway a person to a particular way of thinking.
From the early days of newspapers - those in large cities, with competition for circulation and advertising, engaged in sensationalism. Papers and radio stations have for periods been controlled by interests that told them what to say and print.
The term "Yellow Journalism" - journalism based on exaggeration or crude misrepresentation - was born out of circulation battles between New York newspapers in the early 1900s.
There have been characters and talking heads in newspapers, radio and on television who have misappropriated the privilege of mass communication and used their time before the public to spew hate, mistrust and falsehood. Well-known examples include newspaper magnate William Randolph Hearst and columnist and radio commentator Walter Winchell. What people have heard, or considered "news," has often been slanted at best.
In the past year, when writing about politics at the federal level, I've tried to rely on separate independent sources to gather information to provide an opinion. This process is full of pitfalls. I've come to accept that when it comes to federal politics, we're polarized. Similarly, even large institutions that claim to be unbiased, have a bias.
Readers know I listen to Wisconsin Public Radio. I also listen to Big Radio and WIBA FM in Madison. I listen when in my vehicle. My favorite shows aren't news talk shows, but entertainment. I like WPR's "Old Time Radio Drama." I enjoy the banter of the morning team on Big Radio and like their quizzes and discussion of social topics. I listen to WIBA FM because I grew up listening to rock 'n' roll and I've always enjoyed 1960s through 1990s rock.
While listening to these stations, I hear their news broadcasts. WPR, and National Public Radio, in my opinion, are providing news for the more liberal listener. Tuning into Fox News at home on television leads me to believe its content is for the more conservative audience. It's not like saying these things is spilling sacred wine. People talk about these biases every day.
I realize from my seat here at Morris Media of Monroe, I'm in a poor position to cover Madison or Washington. Getting information from many different sources is important. If I get all my news from one source, I'm not going to have a well-rounded opinion.
When I wrote last week about President Donald Trump asking to have special counsel Robert Mueller fired, I realized my column would come out when the State of the Union address and the release of the FBI memo, which served political purposes, were the main topics in the news.
I find it hard to ignore lying. If the president calls something that actually occurred "fake news" - that bothers me. We roll our eyes and think, "How can you tell a politician is lying? Their mouth is moving." But I've lived through being lied to by presidents Nixon and Clinton. Nixon had to resign, Clinton's second term ended while he was hapless and embroiled in scandal.
I believe, overall, the media serving our nation are not fair. There's not fairness toward President Trump. I have said I believe he's unfit for office. I still believe this is true, but I believe he hasn't always been treated fairly in the media. I thought the same thing about Sarah Palin when she was a vice presidential candidate.
President Trump engages the public directly through Twitter. He handles the press much differently than other presidents have. He's comfortable in front of a camera and goes off script often. During the State of the Union, he asked for bipartisanship. Days later he said Democrats were "treasonous" for not clapping enough during his State of the Union address.
I think one of the most difficult issues Congress has in working with Trump is that his opinions, plans and policies are constantly changing. A human being changes their opinions about things over time. We just want to make sure these changes are part of the person and not political.
It's easy to interject more conservative opinion in the newspaper when it comes to local and state government. I say this because conservativism at the local level is about putting the control of decisions in the hands of local officials. We want decisions about our schools, infrastructure, law enforcement and safety made at the local level. Local tax money is paying for these services, so local idea and concerns should drive decisions about these matters.
If you feel your view isn't represented on the pages of this newspaper, you always have the opportunity to write a letter to the editor. We publish them regularly and treat writers with gratitude. It's brave to state your opinion in these times and put your name on it. Standing behind your opinion and offering it in an honest, fair manner, is statesmanship.
- Matt Johnson is publisher of the Monroe Times. His column is published Wednesdays.
Brushing briefly on the history of the dissemination of information to the public is important to understand where we're at today. Things we may accept as news may be little more than prepackaged public relations designed specifically to sway a person to a particular way of thinking.
From the early days of newspapers - those in large cities, with competition for circulation and advertising, engaged in sensationalism. Papers and radio stations have for periods been controlled by interests that told them what to say and print.
The term "Yellow Journalism" - journalism based on exaggeration or crude misrepresentation - was born out of circulation battles between New York newspapers in the early 1900s.
There have been characters and talking heads in newspapers, radio and on television who have misappropriated the privilege of mass communication and used their time before the public to spew hate, mistrust and falsehood. Well-known examples include newspaper magnate William Randolph Hearst and columnist and radio commentator Walter Winchell. What people have heard, or considered "news," has often been slanted at best.
In the past year, when writing about politics at the federal level, I've tried to rely on separate independent sources to gather information to provide an opinion. This process is full of pitfalls. I've come to accept that when it comes to federal politics, we're polarized. Similarly, even large institutions that claim to be unbiased, have a bias.
Readers know I listen to Wisconsin Public Radio. I also listen to Big Radio and WIBA FM in Madison. I listen when in my vehicle. My favorite shows aren't news talk shows, but entertainment. I like WPR's "Old Time Radio Drama." I enjoy the banter of the morning team on Big Radio and like their quizzes and discussion of social topics. I listen to WIBA FM because I grew up listening to rock 'n' roll and I've always enjoyed 1960s through 1990s rock.
While listening to these stations, I hear their news broadcasts. WPR, and National Public Radio, in my opinion, are providing news for the more liberal listener. Tuning into Fox News at home on television leads me to believe its content is for the more conservative audience. It's not like saying these things is spilling sacred wine. People talk about these biases every day.
I realize from my seat here at Morris Media of Monroe, I'm in a poor position to cover Madison or Washington. Getting information from many different sources is important. If I get all my news from one source, I'm not going to have a well-rounded opinion.
When I wrote last week about President Donald Trump asking to have special counsel Robert Mueller fired, I realized my column would come out when the State of the Union address and the release of the FBI memo, which served political purposes, were the main topics in the news.
I find it hard to ignore lying. If the president calls something that actually occurred "fake news" - that bothers me. We roll our eyes and think, "How can you tell a politician is lying? Their mouth is moving." But I've lived through being lied to by presidents Nixon and Clinton. Nixon had to resign, Clinton's second term ended while he was hapless and embroiled in scandal.
I believe, overall, the media serving our nation are not fair. There's not fairness toward President Trump. I have said I believe he's unfit for office. I still believe this is true, but I believe he hasn't always been treated fairly in the media. I thought the same thing about Sarah Palin when she was a vice presidential candidate.
President Trump engages the public directly through Twitter. He handles the press much differently than other presidents have. He's comfortable in front of a camera and goes off script often. During the State of the Union, he asked for bipartisanship. Days later he said Democrats were "treasonous" for not clapping enough during his State of the Union address.
I think one of the most difficult issues Congress has in working with Trump is that his opinions, plans and policies are constantly changing. A human being changes their opinions about things over time. We just want to make sure these changes are part of the person and not political.
It's easy to interject more conservative opinion in the newspaper when it comes to local and state government. I say this because conservativism at the local level is about putting the control of decisions in the hands of local officials. We want decisions about our schools, infrastructure, law enforcement and safety made at the local level. Local tax money is paying for these services, so local idea and concerns should drive decisions about these matters.
If you feel your view isn't represented on the pages of this newspaper, you always have the opportunity to write a letter to the editor. We publish them regularly and treat writers with gratitude. It's brave to state your opinion in these times and put your name on it. Standing behind your opinion and offering it in an honest, fair manner, is statesmanship.
- Matt Johnson is publisher of the Monroe Times. His column is published Wednesdays.
