FC/OT: HBO's Last Week Tonight with John Oliver and the Sad State of Journalism...

[Kiber]

just to be 10000000% correct, they are called out for a perceived bias in who they attack. not that they are inaccurate in their information or criticisms.

They just attack the same side, same people all the time. So I do not believe it is "perceived" bias, I believe we can just call it "bias".

Why call it "perceived". Are you saying that Stewart & Oliver are not agenda driven. That would be like someone saying "The perceived bias of Rush Limbaugh".

 

[Nitt1300]

^^^^^ 1,000,000 % correct ^^^^

Sadly when people watch a John Oliver or a Jon Stewart they take their information as if is the same as the team at 60 Minutes. And guys like Stewart and Oliver make their presentation as if they were 60 Minutes. But when they get called out for their lopsided bias, they always hide behind the "we are comedians.... and all is fair when you are a comedian" card.

This is probably true- of some very stupid people.

But that's really not as bad as people taking FOX or MSNBC as legit news sources, which they both pretend to be.

Oliver, Stewart and the like aren't posing as newsmen, they are comics. The fact that all humor is rooted in truth naturally makes them very unpopular in some circles, but that's life.

 

[simons96]

They just attack the same side, same people all the time. So I do not believe it is "perceived" bias, I believe we can just call it "bias".

Why call it "perceived". Are you saying that Stewart & Oliver are not agenda driven. That would be like someone saying "The perceived bias of Rush Limbaugh".

except Limbaugh is a deliberately lying sack of potatoes

 

[olelion]

Ignoring Oliver's on-going liberal bias, it was an interesting piece. What stood out to me was the Tribune Co. segment and the "rollout" of Tronc. To me it was Mckinsey and Co. does a newspaper company. Slogans, journeys, graphics, and buzzwords..........a lot of bullshit. No one could have a clue of what the phuck that gal was talking about.

 

[Obliviax]

True, but what did Oliver state in this piece that was off the mark? It's one thing to question the messenger if you have some bias towards him, but can you at least point out where this very vanilla piece was leaning somewhere or dishonest?

i was making a general statement and warning not to take his comments as 100% true. Then, he has an additional

This is probably true- of some very stupid people.

But that's really not as bad as people taking FOX or MSNBC as legit news sources, which they both pretend to be.

Oliver, Stewart and the like aren't posing as newsmen, they are comics. The fact that all humor is rooted in truth naturally makes them very unpopular in some circles, but that's life.

The problem with that is, of course, discerning the "truth" from the "fiction". Given the misinformation out there (studies claiming coffee kills you only to see the next study saying coffee extends your like...red wine..white wine..pomegranates..vitamins). How the heck is someone supposed to know? Then, you listen to these guys and even if you KNOW its satire, it goes in. Why does IBM put their signs on hockey rinks that just say "IBM"? There is no conversation or product, just IBM. Why? It builds the brand, it makes a statement, it twists the viewer's mind.

 

[jim cummings]

i was making a general statement and warning not to take his comments as 100% true. Then, he has an additional


The problem with that is, of course, discerning the "truth" from the "fiction". Given the misinformation out there (studies claiming coffee kills you only to see the next study saying coffee extends your like...red wine..white wine..pomegranates..vitamins). How the heck is someone supposed to know? Then, you listen to these guys and even if you KNOW its satire, it goes in. Why does IBM put their signs on hockey rinks that just say "IBM"? There is no conversation or product, just IBM. Why? It builds the brand, it makes a statement, it twists the viewer's mind.

Irritable Bowels Matter

 

[Obliviax]

Irritable Bowels Matter

I've Been Mislead

 

[Lion Lineage]

Have you ever heard someone attempt to present both sides of an issue, a rare occurrence, but something that does happen on occasion? Mind-numbing, positively mind-numbing.

One might not agree with Oliver, but he is thought-provoking, much more so than Liebowitz-Stewart, who starts out that way and then typically degenerates into a buffoon.

You could have just put Stewart's name in parentheses like on Twitter.

 

[Aoshiro]

Curious..what are the legitimate sources of news these days? Seems like Assange, Snowden and Wikileaks as everyone else has a slant.

Thanks, but I'm not going to get my "news" from an accused rapist who has gone on the lam to escape justice.