[Windguy]

I’m sorry, but I have to agree with Lester. When one side is complete nonsense, the purveyors of such nonsense do not have the right to equal time to express their opinions. When I’m watching SpaceX launch a rocket into orbit, I don’t want half of the coverage to be wasted by some idiotic flat-Earther who’s saying that it’s all a lie and a conspiracy.

[Hiltongrizz11]

Originally Posted by blueash

So in a discussion of the shape of the earth the media should give equal time to those who believe it is round [ish] and those it is flat? This is the kind of situation Holt is discussing. When one side has no credible evidence and the other side has an overwhelming amount of evidence, the credible evidence should be all that is presented perhaps with a brief mention that not everyone accepts that conclusion.

You need to understand what Holt meant by "fairness" It is not fair to crazies refuse airtime to the flat-earthers. But it is not fair to the viewer to present flat earthism as an equally supported position by giving it equal time.

It is not fair to be compelled to tell how some believe that Hugo Chavez controlled our last election or that someone ran a child sex ring in the basement of a pizza parlor or that there is a world wide Jewish scheme to control everything [see Henry Ford]. Some beliefs do not deserve to be treated "fairly". That is what Holt meant. Lies do not deserve fair airtime.

And who determines the "lies"? Who determines what "facts* are common?

Facts are arbitrary and political these days. Shame on you. If yob ask Hillary why she lost the election her answers will be different than Trump's. Who gets to decide the truth....Lester Holt the Demonrat?

Wakeup and see that supporting this new method of "reporting" is not supporting reporting at all.
It's called indoctrination, it's called Big Brother, it's called Communism.

[Andyb]

No surprise, the entire main stream media is in cahoots with our socialist government. Censorship, manipulation and control is the agenda. They only tell you what they want you to know. Wake up folks.

[bonrich]

For those of us who do not have a response to the subject, it has been a great read! Keep it up, this is the way a forum should be.
Good Morning to all.

[MickeyStevens]

Originally Posted by Andyb

No surprise, the entire main stream media is in cahoots with our socialist government. Censorship, manipulation and control is the agenda. They only tell you what they want you to know. Wake up folks.

You’re on to something “Wake up folks.”

[72lions]

Go back and read the highlighted section about providing an open forum to anyone. I couldn’t agree with him more.

[BlueHeronFan]

So when there is a problem with the old Ford Pinto having the gas tank explode on a rare occasion of a rear end collision, the network reports it with a fake explosion to manipulate the news as just one example. Then, there is the report on flooding in a news report from a women in the flood waters in a canoe only to have 2 guys walk by in the report in ankle deep water. The News reporting at times now is nothing but sensational BS.

[68DODGE]

Somehow I think Mr unbiased Holt is talking about the last election. And hes full of it!

[Lindaws]

This is just the start . Agree or you are racist!

[jbrown132]

Originally Posted by blueash

So in a discussion of the shape of the earth the media should give equal time to those who believe it is round [ish] and those it is flat? This is the kind of situation Holt is discussing. When one side has no credible evidence and the other side has an overwhelming amount of evidence, the credible evidence should be all that is presented perhaps with a brief mention that not everyone accepts that conclusion.

You need to understand what Holt meant by "fairness" It is not fair to crazies refuse airtime to the flat-earthers. But it is not fair to the viewer to present flat earthism as an equally supported position by giving it equal time.

It is not fair to be compelled to tell how some believe that Hugo Chavez controlled our last election or that someone ran a child sex ring in the basement of a pizza parlor or that there is a world wide Jewish scheme to control everything [see Henry Ford]. Some beliefs do not deserve to be treated "fairly". That is what Holt meant. Lies do not deserve fair airtime.

I fully understand what he was saying. But when you have a news network like NBC, covering someone and that coverage is 95% percent negative, or when there is a real story out there that is not reported on that is not journalism it is an agenda, and any sense of fairness goes out the window

[Samfl]

Wow you missed the point oh Holts comments completely. He’s not talking about fairness at all. He’s talking about journalists deciding what is news and what is fair. Censorship is the first step is losing our freedoms. Don’t be naive. The mainstream media is very biased towards toward conservatives. They would like nothing more than to have a one party system. Is that really what you want.

[LucyP]

Originally Posted by Bucco

Thanks for an accurate well written understanding of his remarks.

Problem for many on this forum, without lies, they believe in zero. Nothing. Again, these are National Enquirer readers almost to a tee.

Reading this thread and the inane stupid comments ref The Daily Sun, I am convinced that these people don't like the media because it is over their head.

Or, they just do not care to even try.

I am convinced we have slipped into 3rd world status the last few years, and in reading the foreign press, and hearing from a few friends in Europe and Asia, we (Americans) are considered dullards who live to hate (skin color, heritage, political party...matters not). We are considered a nation of know nothing's who follow the loudest and most bizarre folks. Remember the folks who were attracted by this stupid headlines on the Enquirer...we have become a nation of them.

The fact that Lester Holt made comments that were so grossly misunderstood and then posted about is a testimony to our lows.

Rejecting truth for gross accusations and conspiracy theories and allowing that to be your entire basis, and then to post on here about it is simply scary.

The media is scary with untrue journalism. They lost the true meaning of journalists . It’s sad and to many people with close doors to hear more then one side information to get reality check .

[fpmoravcik]

A nice way of saying , "I don't believe in the first amendment". He gave us a taste of this at his presidential debate.

[dtennent]

Editors came shortly after Gutenberg invented the printing press. Their role has always been to sort through what is important and what is not. The advent of the World Wide Web has been to eliminate editors so that any fool can print whatever drivel they wish. The work to substantiate a news flash takes time and hard work. The problem with a 30 minute news program is that you are only seeing the 3 minute story and not the work that goes behind it. Are mistakes made? Absolutely. However, the fact that a given news source publishes a story that angers you doesn't make it a lie. Publishing stories with which you agree but are not substantiated is not responsible journalism. I have a great deal of respect for news programs/papers that not only report stories but will publish corrections when they have made a mistake. I agree with Lester Holt's comments.

[Spalumbos62]

Originally Posted by DeanFL

.
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From a major Network News "Journalist" on NBC NIGHTLY NEWS. This is the man responsible to edit and deliver NEWS. But listen to this direct from his mouth>



NBC's Lester Holt says we don’t need to hear both sides to define truth: ‘Fairness is overrated’

NBC News anchor Lester Holt received the Edward R. Murrow Lifetime Achievement Award from Washington State University Tuesday evening, an honor given to those who demonstrate a commitment to excellence.

In his acceptance speech, the longtime journalist offered his advice to others in the field, emphasizing the value of truth-telling.

"I think it’s become clear that fairness is overrated ... the idea that we should always give two sides equal weight and merit does not reflect the world we find ourselves in," Holt said on Tuesday night while accepting an award at the 45th Murrow Symposium.

"Decisions to not give unsupported arguments equal time are not a dereliction of journalistic responsibility or some kind of agenda. In fact, it's just the opposite. Providing an open platform for misinformation, for anyone to come say whatever they want, especially when issues of public health and safety are at stake, can be quite dangerous."

"Our duty is to be fair to the truth. Holding those in power accountable is at the core of our function and responsibility," he said. "We need to hear our leader's views, their policies and reasoning. It's really important, but we have to stand ready to push back and call-out falsehoods."
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"Providing an open platform for misinformation" "Misinformation" - In WHOSE Opinion????
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NBC's Lester Holt Emphasizes 'Regard for Truth' as He Accepts Edward R. Murrow Award

Sorry, but to me, the only thing, person that comes to mind is the big guy that just left and fed us all falsehoods and now we're at this horrendous point. Too bad Lester wasn't president.