Alternative News Sources

Gagool the Old · 10-25-2001, 05:39 AM

The American Media is getting a bit scary and rather zealous lately, reminding me of news scenes from "Starship Troopers". My brother thought the movie was extremely corny, as did I.

But when the American media starts sounding exactly like that, it gives me the shivers!!

And the way the news is presented!! All very well to keep spirits up, but frustrating if you're after objectivity and accuracy. Here are some links to alternative news sites:

Sydney Morning Herald
www.smh.com.au

Times of India
www.timesofindia.com

The Moscow Times
www.themoscowtimes.com

The UK Guardian
www.guardian.co.uk

The British Broadcasting Corporation
news.bbc.co.uk

The UK Independent
www.independent.co.uk

They'll give you a more rounded and hopefully more objective picture. It always helps to look at something from other sources.

***Ben*** · 10-25-2001, 03:29 PM

I think the media is doing a good job of being objective. Where are you from?

Gagool the Old · 10-25-2001, 09:52 PM

Not really objective, Bmilder. When a country goes to war, its media takes the country's side. It's true of any country in the world, so I don't really blame the US media alone. The tendency is to exaggerate successes and downplay casualties.

So to get proper news, we need to see what others are saying. Mind you, us Brits, Indians and the Guys Down Under are Allies.

You get to know a few things from the foreign media:
1) The Sydney Morning Herald reported the accidental bombing of a hospital in Kabul. It took several more days for the US media to report that.

2)The BBC published an article stating that precision weapons aren't all that precise. Some have a margin of error of 10 meters, and laser signals are easily obscured by mist.

3)The UK Guardian suggests that the US may have lost 5 helicopters to Taliban fire. It also reports that Northern Alliance aren't saints. Abdul Rashid Dostum's troops switch sides regularly and are loathed by all Afghans.

4)The India Times reported that the Northern Alliance is still stuck.

And so on.

As for US objectivity, well, it's all down to style. The British media tend to understate things, interview different sides, then leave you to make up your mind. The high quality ones, that is. I'm not talking about tabloids like "the Sun".

The US media tend to get carried away by their feelings, and mix a lot of style and emotion with the news. I blame the Pullitzer Prize for awarding style as well as objective info. Do away with it!!

As for where I'm from, well, most links I gave are British. What do you think, you colonial yokel?

***anduin*** · 10-25-2001, 11:08 PM

He/she's absolutly right Ben. It is no secret that US news reports are a bit biased. To get a complete picture you need several different news sources. The Guardian is particularly good. NPR (National Public Radio) is a good alternative American source.

Snowdog · 09-30-2002, 05:00 PM

NPR as an alternative?? its more like left-wing propaganda.

to get a rwell-rounded view on events, its best to get it from the varoious sources, including U.S. media, and draw your own cunclusions. Don't accept any one source as fact as they all are tilted in favor of one opinion or another, no matter what country they are from.

***IronParrot*** · 10-01-2002, 01:09 AM

How 'bout The Onion?

***IronParrot*** · 10-01-2002, 01:10 AM

Oh. And Times of India = CRAP. Trust me, I've had more than a few run-ins with it, and it's very consistent. That is to say, consistently full of bollocks.

Wasn't it them who immediately blamed Palestine for the WTC attacks? I know at least one of those "objective sources" did...

mirrille · 10-01-2002, 01:54 AM

I think all news sources have crap in there somewhere or other, whether by design or by oversight. Assume that there is bias in everything. Look at a variety of sources, making sure that as many varying biases as possible represented, and then draw your own conclusions. It's more work, but I think that this is the process that one has to undergo in any information-gathering exercise.

To address Gagool's comment, I am finding a certain segment of the mainstream American media (not all, just a somewhat more extreme segment, but mainstream nonetheless) to be frighteningly jingoistic, but then again, I'm not American. Maybe if I was, I'd be all happy and approving and chanting the jingos right along with everyone else. But I'm not. I'm sitting on the other side of the border wondering what the rest of us are going to do if this other country down South goes out of control. Which just reaffirms a very obvious idea: point of view has a big impact. Get a variety of them just to be safe.

Duddun · 10-01-2002, 09:28 AM

I think all medias are just trying to look like there behind there country and try and give a good spin on it.

LuthienTinuviel · 10-01-2002, 10:04 AM

well of course the media is downplaying bad things! what else can they do with the gov'ts hands round thier neck telling them in thier ears that they need to boost supposrt for this "war"

as for this country, ive just about figured things out so that i can come into yours, mirrille!
you have some good points, gagool, but know that some americans don't want to know the truth and all they really want is to hide behind thier flags, they have pride, yes, but it only goes about an inch or so down.

10-25-2001, 05:39 AM	#1
Gagool the Old Sapling Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: O Posts: 5	Alternative News Sources The American Media is getting a bit scary and rather zealous lately, reminding me of news scenes from "Starship Troopers". My brother thought the movie was extremely corny, as did I. But when the American media starts sounding exactly like that, it gives me the shivers!! And the way the news is presented!! All very well to keep spirits up, but frustrating if you're after objectivity and accuracy. Here are some links to alternative news sites: Sydney Morning Herald www.smh.com.au Times of India www.timesofindia.com The Moscow Times www.themoscowtimes.com The UK Guardian www.guardian.co.uk The British Broadcasting Corporation news.bbc.co.uk The UK Independent www.independent.co.uk They'll give you a more rounded and hopefully more objective picture. It always helps to look at something from other sources. Last edited by Gagool the Old : 10-25-2001 at 05:43 AM.

10-25-2001, 03:29 PM	#2
*Ben* Retired Ent Join Date: Sep 1999 Posts: 60,631	I think the media is doing a good job of being objective. Where are you from? __________________ ---Ben formerly known in the forums as bmilder Owner of The Tolkien Trail and Entmoot. Buy Entmoot shirts and mugs!

10-25-2001, 09:52 PM	#3
Gagool the Old Sapling Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: O Posts: 5	Not really objective, Bmilder. When a country goes to war, its media takes the country's side. It's true of any country in the world, so I don't really blame the US media alone. The tendency is to exaggerate successes and downplay casualties. So to get proper news, we need to see what others are saying. Mind you, us Brits, Indians and the Guys Down Under are Allies. You get to know a few things from the foreign media: 1) The Sydney Morning Herald reported the accidental bombing of a hospital in Kabul. It took several more days for the US media to report that. 2)The BBC published an article stating that precision weapons aren't all that precise. Some have a margin of error of 10 meters, and laser signals are easily obscured by mist. 3)The UK Guardian suggests that the US may have lost 5 helicopters to Taliban fire. It also reports that Northern Alliance aren't saints. Abdul Rashid Dostum's troops switch sides regularly and are loathed by all Afghans. 4)The India Times reported that the Northern Alliance is still stuck. And so on. As for US objectivity, well, it's all down to style. The British media tend to understate things, interview different sides, then leave you to make up your mind. The high quality ones, that is. I'm not talking about tabloids like "the Sun". The US media tend to get carried away by their feelings, and mix a lot of style and emotion with the news. I blame the Pullitzer Prize for awarding style as well as objective info. Do away with it!! As for where I'm from, well, most links I gave are British. What do you think, you colonial yokel? Last edited by Gagool the Old : 10-25-2001 at 09:56 PM.

09-30-2002, 05:00 PM	#5
Snowdog Dúnedain Ranger of the North Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: The Ruins of Arnor Posts: 892	NPR as an alternative?? its more like left-wing propaganda. to get a rwell-rounded view on events, its best to get it from the varoious sources, including U.S. media, and draw your own cunclusions. Don't accept any one source as fact as they all are tilted in favor of one opinion or another, no matter what country they are from. __________________ "I am an outlaw, I was born an outlaw's son. The highway is my legacy, on the highway I will run."

10-01-2002, 01:09 AM	#6
*IronParrot* Fowl Administrator Join Date: Dec 1999 Location: Calgary or Edmonton, Canada Posts: 53,420	How 'bout The Onion? __________________ All of IronParrot's posts are guaranteed to be 100% intelligent and/or sarcastic, comprising no genetically modified content and tested on no cute furry little animals unless the SPCA is looking elsewhere. If you observe a failure to uphold this warranty, please contact a forum administrator immediately to receive a full refund on your Entmoot registration. Blog: Nick's Café Canadien

10-25-2001, 11:08 PM	#4
*anduin* Entwife Join Date: Oct 1999 Location: louisville Posts: 3,718	He/she's absolutly right Ben. It is no secret that US news reports are a bit biased. To get a complete picture you need several different news sources. The Guardian is particularly good. NPR (National Public Radio) is a good alternative American source.

10-01-2002, 01:10 AM	#7
*IronParrot* Fowl Administrator Join Date: Dec 1999 Location: Calgary or Edmonton, Canada Posts: 53,420	Oh. And Times of India = CRAP. Trust me, I've had more than a few run-ins with it, and it's very consistent. That is to say, consistently full of bollocks. Wasn't it them who immediately blamed Palestine for the WTC attacks? I know at least one of those "objective sources" did... __________________ All of IronParrot's posts are guaranteed to be 100% intelligent and/or sarcastic, comprising no genetically modified content and tested on no cute furry little animals unless the SPCA is looking elsewhere. If you observe a failure to uphold this warranty, please contact a forum administrator immediately to receive a full refund on your Entmoot registration. Blog: Nick's Café Canadien

10-01-2002, 01:54 AM	#8
mirrille Elven Warrior Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Canada Posts: 479	I think all news sources have crap in there somewhere or other, whether by design or by oversight. Assume that there is bias in everything. Look at a variety of sources, making sure that as many varying biases as possible represented, and then draw your own conclusions. It's more work, but I think that this is the process that one has to undergo in any information-gathering exercise. To address Gagool's comment, I am finding a certain segment of the mainstream American media (not all, just a somewhat more extreme segment, but mainstream nonetheless) to be frighteningly jingoistic, but then again, I'm not American. Maybe if I was, I'd be all happy and approving and chanting the jingos right along with everyone else. But I'm not. I'm sitting on the other side of the border wondering what the rest of us are going to do if this other country down South goes out of control. Which just reaffirms a very obvious idea: point of view has a big impact. Get a variety of them just to be safe.

10-01-2002, 09:28 AM	#9
Duddun I Antha Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: You expect ME to know? Posts: 784	I think all medias are just trying to look like there behind there country and try and give a good spin on it. __________________ If you say my name I go "What?" If you say my name twice I go and look it up in the dictionary. **************************** I'm Not Evil! ************************** If the critics say it's good, is it really That good? ************************** It's a bird! It's a plane! No! It's a balloon! **************************** Duddun, Son of Bubbun

10-01-2002, 10:04 AM	#10
LuthienTinuviel protector of orphaned rabbits Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Kalamazoo... yes, its a real place! Posts: 1,236	well of course the media is downplaying bad things! what else can they do with the gov'ts hands round thier neck telling them in thier ears that they need to boost supposrt for this "war" as for this country, ive just about figured things out so that i can come into yours, mirrille! you have some good points, gagool, but know that some americans don't want to know the truth and all they really want is to hide behind thier flags, they have pride, yes, but it only goes about an inch or so down. __________________

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