6 ms·

CNN has been focusing on trashing this guy since his identity first came to light. Their reporting has also been quick to minimize the extent and importance of

CNN has been focusing on trashing this guy since his identity first came to light. Their reporting has also been quick to minimize the extent and importance of this scandal. Partisan reporting at its finest - they are going to be the last ones on Obama's sinking ship.

sage_joch 13y ago
Another thing I noticed is that every Onion story related to the scandal has been pro-NSA (today I learned pro-NSA humor exists). It reminded me of the recent gun control debates in which every Onion story related to that was pro gun control. I'm not saying they're part of a larger concerted effort to sway public opinion, but it does make me question their integrity as a comedic organization.
- Vivtek 13y ago
  Pro-gun control? You don't remember the one with the gorillas, I think it was, advocating for gorilla control and with people complaining that the keeping of gorillas in public was a Constitutional right, and even if a few people in stores get savaged by gorillas occasionally, that was a small price to pay for freedom?
  - sage_joch 13y ago
    Um, that one was extremely pro gun control. Read it again. "Gorilla Sales Skyrocket After Latest Gorilla Attack". This is making fun of people who buy guns in the aftermath of shootings, and who seek the preservation of 2nd amendment rights. It argues (by analogy) that such people are silly to fight for such antiquated rights, and that there would be complete chaos if everyone owned a gun.
    - Vivtek 13y ago
      Indeed - I think my brain short-circuited there somehow and I took "pro" to mean "anti".
- leephillips 13y ago
  "it does make me question their integrity as a comedic organization"
  - tg3 13y ago
    Are you trying to say that it's inherently silly to question the integrity of a comedic organization? If so, I'd disagree with you, as many people use comedy as a means to make a point, political and otherwise. I think the success of Jon Stewart and Colbert point to the fact that valid points can be made with comedy. While I don't think "comedic organizations" are (or should be) held to the same standard as journalistic ones, GP has a valid point about bias, even in comedic reporting.
    - leephillips 13y ago
      "Are you trying to say that it's inherently silly to question the integrity of a comedic organization?" Yes. Jon Stewart has scoffed, in more than one interview, at the notion that he be held to any standards whatsoever, other than the standard of being funny. "a valid point about bias" I respectfully disagree. I see nothing wrong with any sort or degree of bias from the Onion, Daily Show, or any other "comedic organization".
      - sage_joch 13y ago
        A couple things: 1. Today there was an anti-NSA article ("NSA Assures Americans That PRISM 2.0 Will Be Way More Invasive"), which kind of invalidates my point. 2. "Comedic organization" was the best term I could come up with; I know it sounds a bit ridiculous. :-)
nikcub 13y ago
but you can bet that if CNN broke the story and he went to them with the documents they would be praising him .. i've noticed a few outlets that are usually progressive have been leaning anti-Snowden, and I can't help but feel that it is because of a professional jealousy.
- flyinRyan 13y ago
  CNN would have probably helped him get captured by the US government.
beedogs 13y ago
It's pretty well-known that CNN works with governments, especially the US government, whenever they're asked to. Former CNN reporters have outed them on this.
ry0ohki 13y ago
I was surprised when I opened the CNN app on Monday, not a single story was about this issue, yet the BBC app had 3 in the top stories. Reminds me of the articles going around comparing media in Turkey to that outside of it during the protests...
JPKab 13y ago
For the record, I watched Fox News while eating lunch yesterday, and bounced between it and MSNBC. Fox was much, much worse about attacking Snowden. They brought in an FBI profiler who sat there and pretended to know what kind of personality Snowden has. She basically painted him as an attention whore. Then the Fox reporter made fun of his girlfriend for being rather "hippyish" and enrolling in circus classes, and asked leading questions that were clearly heading down the path of "this guy is a fruitcake liberal." The fact that he donated money to Rand Paul was ignored, naturally. Oddly enough, MSNBC was actually criticizing Obama, and running a story comparing him to George W. Bush. Calling CNN partisan is absurd. They're not. They are biased, of course, but to their corporate sponsors. Just thought I'd pop your factless bubble with an anecdote that completely destroys it. The "liberal media" bullshit is just that: bullshit. Journalists who are classically trained tend to be liberal because of their college background, but are tempered by both age and the "journalistic ethic" drilled in to them. "Conservative" media isn't really ideologically conservative. They instead play to an elderly reader/viewer base that hates change and resents a country that isn't as white, Christian or rural as it used to be. Hence the fact that John Boehner is on TV calling Snowden a traitor, while the ACTUAL Conservatives who have a true ideology call him a hero.

sage_joch 13y ago

Another thing I noticed is that every Onion story related to the scandal has been pro-NSA (today I learned pro-NSA humor exists). It reminded me of the recent gun control debates in which every Onion story related to that was pro gun control. I'm not saying they're part of a larger concerted effort to sway public opinion, but it does make me question their integrity as a comedic organization.

Vivtek 13y ago
Pro-gun control? You don't remember the one with the gorillas, I think it was, advocating for gorilla control and with people complaining that the keeping of gorillas in public was a Constitutional right, and even if a few people in stores get savaged by gorillas occasionally, that was a small price to pay for freedom?
- sage_joch 13y ago
  Um, that one was extremely pro gun control. Read it again. "Gorilla Sales Skyrocket After Latest Gorilla Attack". This is making fun of people who buy guns in the aftermath of shootings, and who seek the preservation of 2nd amendment rights. It argues (by analogy) that such people are silly to fight for such antiquated rights, and that there would be complete chaos if everyone owned a gun.
  - Vivtek 13y ago
    Indeed - I think my brain short-circuited there somehow and I took "pro" to mean "anti".
leephillips 13y ago
"it does make me question their integrity as a comedic organization"
- tg3 13y ago
  Are you trying to say that it's inherently silly to question the integrity of a comedic organization? If so, I'd disagree with you, as many people use comedy as a means to make a point, political and otherwise. I think the success of Jon Stewart and Colbert point to the fact that valid points can be made with comedy. While I don't think "comedic organizations" are (or should be) held to the same standard as journalistic ones, GP has a valid point about bias, even in comedic reporting.
  - leephillips 13y ago
    "Are you trying to say that it's inherently silly to question the integrity of a comedic organization?" Yes. Jon Stewart has scoffed, in more than one interview, at the notion that he be held to any standards whatsoever, other than the standard of being funny. "a valid point about bias" I respectfully disagree. I see nothing wrong with any sort or degree of bias from the Onion, Daily Show, or any other "comedic organization".
    - sage_joch 13y ago
      A couple things: 1. Today there was an anti-NSA article ("NSA Assures Americans That PRISM 2.0 Will Be Way More Invasive"), which kind of invalidates my point. 2. "Comedic organization" was the best term I could come up with; I know it sounds a bit ridiculous. :-)

nikcub 13y ago

but you can bet that if CNN broke the story and he went to them with the documents they would be praising him .. i've noticed a few outlets that are usually progressive have been leaning anti-Snowden, and I can't help but feel that it is because of a professional jealousy.

flyinRyan 13y ago
CNN would have probably helped him get captured by the US government.

beedogs 13y ago

It's pretty well-known that CNN works with governments, especially the US government, whenever they're asked to. Former CNN reporters have outed them on this.

ry0ohki 13y ago

I was surprised when I opened the CNN app on Monday, not a single story was about this issue, yet the BBC app had 3 in the top stories. Reminds me of the articles going around comparing media in Turkey to that outside of it during the protests...

JPKab 13y ago

For the record, I watched Fox News while eating lunch yesterday, and bounced between it and MSNBC. Fox was much, much worse about attacking Snowden. They brought in an FBI profiler who sat there and pretended to know what kind of personality Snowden has. She basically painted him as an attention whore. Then the Fox reporter made fun of his girlfriend for being rather "hippyish" and enrolling in circus classes, and asked leading questions that were clearly heading down the path of "this guy is a fruitcake liberal." The fact that he donated money to Rand Paul was ignored, naturally. Oddly enough, MSNBC was actually criticizing Obama, and running a story comparing him to George W. Bush. Calling CNN partisan is absurd. They're not. They are biased, of course, but to their corporate sponsors. Just thought I'd pop your factless bubble with an anecdote that completely destroys it. The "liberal media" bullshit is just that: bullshit. Journalists who are classically trained tend to be liberal because of their college background, but are tempered by both age and the "journalistic ethic" drilled in to them. "Conservative" media isn't really ideologically conservative. They instead play to an elderly reader/viewer base that hates change and resents a country that isn't as white, Christian or rural as it used to be. Hence the fact that John Boehner is on TV calling Snowden a traitor, while the ACTUAL Conservatives who have a true ideology call him a hero.