Assigned Entry #2

Cunning, is it not?

Slander and propaganda is all around us today. Every country seems to has their own way emphasizing certain aspects of a topic to highlight or shadow the facts of the story. Countries, news stations and people in general like to slant their words in the hopes to gain the listeners attention and control what they are thinking about the particular topic. I often find that I can learn more about my country through BBC the I can through news stations from my own country. There are times with I look at a local news station and the majority of the reporting is entertain based reporting. When I look at BBC, I see very little slant and more hard hitting stories of many different states in America; often times giving a more insightful look into the story as well.

Bashing on news stations and media in general is not something I like to do because I believe that all of them are guilty of slander and propaganda.

Here is a comparison of the two big news stations, known for being informative and highest of the high. BBC and CNN.

CNN:
       Being a sworn enemy of North Korea, one would think that an American broadcasting corporation would provide a more in depth investigation and news broadcast. But instead left the subject to be just under 40 seconds; and when restated later on in the day gave the same short information. The happy, peppy music in the background of the original attempt to inform give me the impression of the need to move on to what they consider a story more interesting, something that would not scare or even bore the nation with one of the shortest attention spans.

BBC:  
        On the other hand, Britain, one of our most beloved allies, reports over 3 minutes of the same subject. Giving an in depth look at the issue at hand. Showing us why we should care at all about North Korea. Giving us the history of the country, opinions the new leader, and why there is so much concern and controversy on the matter.

What bothered me was the difference in “celebrations” that Korea held. CNN said that people were dancing in the streets- while BBC gave the look of the straight faced soldiers listening to the speech of their leader. Which one was true? Were they both true? Or did both news stations forget a part of the news? Did they do this on purpose to slant the news to the way they wanted it to sound like? Or is it remotely possible that they just did not know?

When it come to news I usually watch a man who goes by the name of Philip DeFranco. His reporting is more bold in his beliefs- not trying to be sneaky in convincing others to believe in what he believes. His show is more about his opinions in what is happening in today’s world. He has the sources of the stories he talks about in the description and if one feels inclined to research further or obtain a different perspective than himself he leaves them there in the hopes to gain credibility and the opinion of his audience.

Here is The Philip DeFranco Show.
    (He is employed be doing this show so just like any tv station he has to advertise to stay alive. Jump to 35 seconds if you do not want to watch advertisement. Jump to 4:36 of the video if you just want to see his opinion of North Korea. Be advised, foul language is sometimes involved in his broadcasts.)

Again this is his opinion of North Korea. The circumstances for the reporting was a little bit different from that of CNN and BBC. But they still relate back to North Korea’s nuclear testing. DeFranco flat out told you his fear and what he believes as opposed to giving suggestive and slated speech to imply a certain opinion. You either agree or disagree with him. Yes it was shorter than CNN, but he still gives the link you the on the site in which you can if you want to go in depth.

Again every news station has slanted and/or propaganda the only way for you not to be succumbed by it is to do the research from many different sources worldwide.