Post AzF9LCsp5cyUni26vA by wjmaggos@liberal.city
(DIR) More posts by wjmaggos@liberal.city
(DIR) Post #AzF33qfLqAdJFO4US0 by wjmaggos@liberal.city
2025-10-15T18:35:39Z
1 likes, 0 repeats
The podcasters who hate the mainstream media build their shows mostly off reporting done by those same outlets. While they obsess when the #M5M gets something wrong, the vast majority of their commentary accepts it as fact, so that they can use it to complain about what lefties and Dem politicians are doing. But they couldn't even do that if they required the news be originally from sources they trusted. They don't exist.Shouldn't they then want to build better news organizations?
(DIR) Post #AzF3ToP2sQDvl2pCYi by gabriel@fedi.libresolutions.network
2025-10-15T18:40:32.869429Z
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@wjmaggosIt's because the hatred for the MSM isn't about reporting per-se but actually about interests and 'alignment'. It doesn't matter how truthful an organization is if they're perceived to be or actually working to oppose your interests.That's what makes the "alt-mainstream" the trash fire that it is. It's all a bunch of people saying "we're on your side" but little else of value.Shouldn't they then want to build better news organizations?That takes work and resources that are being squandered, but some of it has to do with talent being largely correlated within the mainstream. They don't bother to train independent talent because nobody in that space is playing the long game.
(DIR) Post #AzF4nwnZTJQ3XfSgjY by MandyJane@spinster.xyz
2025-10-15T18:42:58.464178Z
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@wjmaggos That is one of the most annoying things about being a regular person trying to find out what is going on. I complain about the mainstream media all the time, but then if I need a source (arguing on the internet lol) I end up having to use the mainstream media. Especially if I am arguing with someone who believes the media. It's difficult to know which non-mainstream media to trust a little bit. I don't think I'll ever just trust any media now, like I did maybe 10 or 15 years ago.
(DIR) Post #AzF4ny62e7mvZF6xA8 by wjmaggos@liberal.city
2025-10-15T18:55:08Z
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@MandyJane people trusted the media years ago because there were fewer outlets. imo they were basically just as wrong as they are now, but reporting on their mistakes just couldn't reach us (or not as quickly). it's now a viable business to report on their failures, but also good business to make them seem worse than they are. that's all much easier to do and make money on than trying to do the actual reporting and get people to pay you directly for it, avoiding biased owners and advertisers.
(DIR) Post #AzF6aGpWOlBhWSypP6 by MandyJane@spinster.xyz
2025-10-15T19:06:18.066681Z
2 likes, 0 repeats
@wjmaggos I definitely wonder if the things I believed from the media in the past are true. For example, do you remember the woman who spilled coffee on herself and sued McDonald's in the 80s? I had no idea the mainstream media read corporate press releases as a real news report back then. I had no idea that lady had 3rd degree burns, and was only suing for medical costs and for McDonald's to change the design of their cups. I had no idea the jury decided to give her much more than she asked for, and I had no idea she ended up losing on appeal and had to sign an NDA just to get on with her life (which ended not long after). I remember one of the famous news readers (I think it was Jane Pauley) basically mocking this woman. This particular case is the thing that made me realize we are bullshitted all the time.
(DIR) Post #AzF6aI1xvyjhFLoHRI by wjmaggos@liberal.city
2025-10-15T19:14:59Z
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@MandyJane I think I knew some of that. Wikipedia is not perfect but they have a decent process of argument among editors and requiring decent sources.At the undergrad dorm conversation level, what we think we know is really about our own critical thinking and institutions of trust. It can often become much more about the communities we feel a part of than a serious pursuit of best evidence, if we're not careful.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liebeck_v._McDonald%27s_Restaurants
(DIR) Post #AzF7c6GyijKZJVG84O by MandyJane@spinster.xyz
2025-10-15T19:17:28.476227Z
1 likes, 0 repeats
@wjmaggos From what I understand wikipedia is okay for some topics, but if the article is about anything political, or identity it is not reliable.
(DIR) Post #AzF7c7GJ2iO4Nhx6f2 by wjmaggos@liberal.city
2025-10-15T19:26:40Z
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@MandyJane I think that complaint is overblown. when doing my show, I'd often find myself being corrected towards the right after reading something there. especially re SCOTUS decisions that would help me understand nuance and where the more conservative justices were coming from. way more balanced than any pundit.
(DIR) Post #AzF8yW7NPRbLnP1MlU by LostInCalifornia@spinster.xyz
2025-10-15T19:42:10.595125Z
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@MandyJane @wjmaggos I remember that story. I also remember it was the jury who made it a large settlement.It depends on which sources you read. I think it was MoJo that got it correct, or some other written source outside the mainstream. It could have even been a MSM outlet, like the LATimes.TV news only has a few seconds to cover an entire story, and they go for the sensational. Ditto, online sources, except the ones still committed to long reads.
(DIR) Post #AzF9LCsp5cyUni26vA by wjmaggos@liberal.city
2025-10-15T19:46:08Z
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@LostInCalifornia @MandyJane that's why I love reader apps with text to speech. but we've gotta find a better way to get the writers paid beyond paywalls etc. otherwise most people won't pay and will still be poorly informed.@wallabag is great but I wish it had #ActivityPub integration. same with podcasts.
(DIR) Post #AzF9fINiMCRTe33rQ8 by LostInCalifornia@spinster.xyz
2025-10-15T19:49:54.706354Z
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@wjmaggos @MandyJane @wallabag It is a long standing problem. Pre-dates the Net, but the Net has made it worse.Personally, I'm now paying for select magazines again. Online versions, but I'm paying. Only way to keep my head clear. I share choice articles, but it's what I'm doing until things get better.