Tuesday, February 1, 2011

Al-Jazeera in America; or, who's afraid of the big, bad wolf?

Since this story was in the business section of the New York Times, I suppose it means people know that Al-Jazeera is, you know, a business. People are worried that it has a bias - which of course it does - and that all it gives them is propaganda.

To which I say: where have you been? It's not shocking that media outlets have a bias. Figure out what the bias is and try to filter it out. If the station is providing a useful service, in this case coverage that no one else has, watch it and think about what you're watching. Be a discerning consumer and decide for yourself what is and is not true.

4 comments:

  1. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  2. the problem is, the only tool we can use to discern what the truths are (in this case it is because there are few to no other quality informations sources available) our own minds, which cannot be trusted as they are subject to our own biases, and we may end up interpreting an even less truthful reality that what was portrayed by al-jazeera

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  3. @BK - You're right, there are always going to be biases. You can also be aware of your own biases. I think though, specifically with Al Jazeera, its particularly easy to see through their sensationalist headlines, which in a way is useful. In fact, it might be more easy to read than sources who's biases are less clear.

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  4. such as our own? in my limited experience with people (and i include myself in this group) individuals tend to believe they are the masters of their own biases and can thus defend their mind against them. While they have, quite often, completely avoided whatever presumtuions they may make on a daily basis, if contradicting elements are not shoved in their faces. So in a way the opinions and biases we should be the most worried about are not, as you said, those of clearly identified extremists, but our own more subtle views.

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