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Vox: Tracking the Trump scandals on rightwing news sites. Here’s how they covered it

A

alr1ght

bish gets all the credit :)
https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2017/5/18/15646098/right-wing-media-collective-memories

The past week of Trump scandals for people reading mainstream news outlets has gone something like this: President Trump fired the FBI director who was investigating his campaign’s connection with Russia — and then the next day, Trump shared classified information with Russian officials.

But on conservative news outlets, the narrative was very different. It was about an FBI director whose firing was long overdue, and a liberal media desperate to take down Trump.
Click to expand...

comey_firing.png


scandals_all.png


That means the conservative media narrative went something like this:

Trump fired FBI Director James Comey for his mishandling of the Clinton investigation and his stubborn insistence on continuing the Russia investigation despite no evidence of collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia.
The liberal media drove this narrative to take down Trump, who only wanted the investigation “done properly,” and then started to question Trump’s mental stability.
The “deep state” leaked classified info to the Washington Post. Plus, Trump has the right to disclose classified information to Russians, and National Security Adviser H.R. McMaster agrees.
Comey is getting revenge with memos that reveal Trump asked him to shut down the investigation into his first national security adviser, Michael Flynn.
Click to expand...

Let’s be clear about what’s happening here: Right-wing media is creating coherent alternate storylines with different characters and different context — but a narrative that competes with contextual facts that support a more accurate story. Even amid some of the most troubling presidential news in decades, a huge portion of this country is having a very different experience of these events, and repeating it over and over. Our collective memories — and, in turn, our shared culture — are being splintered.
Click to expand...

One way to form an alternate storyline: by ignoring context

Let’s focus on the Comey firing here.

The New York Times stayed laser-focused on how Comey wanted to expand the Russia investigation just days before his termination. This framing falls in line with reporting from several other outlets, as well as Trump’s interview to NBC saying that he fired Comey because of the Russia investigation.
Click to expand...

nyt.png


But Breitbart and Fox News removed that context from their coverage.

Breitbart only mentioned the Russia investigation to reiterate that Trump’s connections with Russia — or lack thereof — were a settled matter. The big red “enough about Russia” summarizes their coverage.
Click to expand...

breitbart.png


Fox News barely mentioned Russia. Instead, it focused on Comey’s handling of the Clinton email investigation and who would replace Comey — and then ultimately pivoting to other stories to lead the site on Thursday, May 11, before coming back to focus on Trump saying he supports a Russia probe “done properly.”
Click to expand...

fox.png


These are fundamentally different stories. One is about a president who is interfering with an investigation, and the other is about an FBI director whose firing was a long time coming.

It’s quite disconcerting when a major piece of context is missing from your understanding of a story. This is a literary technique many TV shows use to keep the audience on their feet. (Game of Thrones comes to mind.) But in this case, the reveal might never come. After all, according to a poll, two in three Republicans still believe Comey was fired over the Clinton investigation.
Click to expand...

More at link
 
mr stroke

mr stroke

Member
Interesting looking at both points of view, it always makes me wonder what GAF would be like if it were right.
 
Z

Zaru

Member
Meanwhile the alt-right was basically in a completely different reality, repeatedly chanting "HIS NAME WAS SETH RICH" and accusing anyone who wasn't talking about Seth Rich a Soros-funded sliding shill or whatever, while all the Trump headlines kept coming and coming.
 
P

pirateluigi

Member
Reading through that I recognize word for word matches to the right wing posts I see on facebook. It explains so much.

I wondered how otherwise fairly intelligent people could so misconstrue and misunderstand top news stories. It's because the "news" they get is so incredibly slanted. I guess I never realized how slanted it was.
 
Y

yanipheonu

Member
One good article I read remarked that it's no longer America, it's two separate countries called Leftland and Rightland. And each country reads and watches different news, and are effectively different Nations.

I don't know how a country recovers from that to be honest.
 
H

hey_monkey

Banned
It's funny - at one point I had six or seven landing pages open to do this sort of comparison, so I remember these headlines. There were certainly tangible differences. But I think Vox is sloppy here in the way they reword for charts. It's good info, though, despite the fact that it will mostly be seen by people who already know (which is the real problem).
 
M

Master Yoshi

Member
This is the most dangerous aspect of modern day America.

Not the elected officials, not the President who isn't fit for office. The truly DISHONEST media, who report the news as if they are playing a game of chess with the American public.


I find it fascinating that I sound exactly like Trump or one of his brainwashed supporters, yet I'm on the opposite side of the issue and can clearly see the ulterior motives of the right wing bullshit.
 
L

Lord Frieza

Member
yanipheonu said:
One good article I read remarked that it's no longer America, it's two separate countries called Leftland and Rightland. And each country reads and watches different news, and are effectively different Nations.

I don't know how a country recovers from that to be honest.
Click to expand...

The only way to really recover is doing something that a lot of people are going to be comfortable with, from either the left or the right: Make stern laws about fake news and propaganda
 
G

gcubed

Member
yanipheonu said:
One good article I read remarked that it's no longer America, it's two separate countries called Leftland and Rightland. And each country reads and watches different news, and are effectively different Nations.

I don't know how a country recovers from that to be honest.
Click to expand...

something blowing up in spectacular fashion.

"Rightland" is getting smaller and smaller, but it will get to a point where it is a concentrated form of hate and internalization unless something breaks through.

Master Yoshi said:
This is the most dangerous aspect of modern day America.

Not the elected officials, not the President who isn't fit for office. The truly DISHONEST media, who report the news as if they are playing a game of chess with the American public.
Click to expand...

the internet was a mistake
 
J

Jeffrey

Member
I'm reading that msnbc and CNN views surpassed fox news the past few days at prime time slots.

Seems like even Fox fans are switching channels to get them FBI news.
 
L

Lord Frieza

Member
gcubed said:
something blowing up in spectacular fashion.

"Rightland" is getting smaller and smaller, but it will get to a point where it is a concentrated form of hate and internalization unless something breaks through.
Click to expand...

I mean, the truth is that it's already there without Fox News. If Fox News were to disappear and/or totally refocus, "Rightland" would be a island barely visible on the map.
 
G

gcubed

Member
Enter The 36 Chambers said:
Hahaha what.

People who like cars and bikes are now conservative by default?
Click to expand...

no, but thats generally where you find an offtopic section that is equivalent to opposite-GAF. Where you have a few liberal posters who have been there a long time and a bunch of conservative posters in the the same "bubble" as liberal-GAF.
 
C

Couleurs

Member
yanipheonu said:
One good article I read remarked that it's no longer America, it's two separate countries called Leftland and Rightland. And each country reads and watches different news, and are effectively different Nations.

I don't know how a country recovers from that to be honest.
Click to expand...

Just let the south secede again and watch it immediately become an impoverished nation due to unchecked Republican policies combined with no longer receiving taxes collected from blue states on the coasts.

(With a grace period and assistance to help people move to other states so innocent people aren't trapped)
 
H

Hycran

Banned
Zaru said:
Meanwhile the alt-right was basically in a completely different reality, repeatedly chanting "HIS NAME WAS SETH RICH" and accusing anyone who wasn't talking about Seth Rich a Soros-funded sliding shill or whatever, while all the Trump headlines kept coming and coming.
Click to expand...

I wouldn't worry too much about /pol/ if I were you.
 
A

Akuun

Looking for meaning in GAF
yanipheonu said:
One good article I read remarked that it's no longer America, it's two separate countries called Leftland and Rightland. And each country reads and watches different news, and are effectively different Nations.

I don't know how a country recovers from that to be honest.
Click to expand...
Probably needs to be reunified by something that both sides agree on strongly enough to put this shit aside.

Something like the "NeoGAF talking about video games vs NeoGAF talking about porn" picture.
 
D

DonShula

Member
pirateluigi said:
Reading through that I recognize word for word matches to the right wing posts I see on facebook. It explains so much.

I wondered how otherwise fairly intelligent people could so misconstrue and misunderstand top news stories. It's because the "news" they get is so incredibly slanted. I guess I never realized how slanted it was.
Click to expand...

I love the comparison to TV dramas. Important pieces are missing, but they may never appear to provide the proper context. It's a strategy that click bait sites use often, extended to hard news. "Petulant snowflake child demands apology from Pence" never becomes "Child with autism has touching moment with Pence" because no one from Fox News bothers to get the entire story before unleashing their pundits. The motives behind this are reprehensible.
 
D

DonShula

Member
Jeffrey said:
I'm reading that msnbc and CNN views surpassed fox news the past few days at prime time slots.

Seems like even Fox fans are switching channels to get them FBI news.
Click to expand...

Fox finding that being the opposition is better for ratings than being conservative, maybe. Hopefully.
 
Alec

Alec

Member
gcubed said:
no, but thats generally where you find an offtopic section that is equivalent to opposite-GAF. Where you have a few liberal posters who have been there a long time and a bunch of conservative posters in the the same "bubble" as liberal-GAF.
Click to expand...

This has been my experience as well.
 
Phoenix RISING

Phoenix RISING

Banned
yanipheonu said:
One good article I read remarked that it's no longer America, it's two separate countries called Leftland and Rightland. And each country reads and watches different news, and are effectively different Nations.

I don't know how a country recovers from that to be honest.
Click to expand...

Revolutions and Civil Wars take place. That's how this kind of division is resolved, historically.

Or, in a country's fractured instability and weakness, another power swoops in to take advantage.
 
J

jack_package_200

Banned
sangreal said:
why is the seth rich conspiracy not on fox news? it was their bs story and it was definitely on foxnews.com
Click to expand...

http://www.mediaite.com/online/slain-dnc-staffers-family-demands-retraction-from-fox-news/

Slain DNC Staffer’s Family Demands Retraction from Fox News

Here’s what you need to know: Last July, a young man named Seth Rich was found killed in D.C. Conspiracy theories sprung up that somehow implicated Hillary Clinton in the murder. Yesterday morning, Fox News’ Fox & Friends ran with a new report that Rich had been in contact with WikiLeaks before his death, which the young man’s family quickly and forcefully denounced. Then, news broke that a right-wing millionaire had been funding an investigation into Rich’s death.

All of that chatter continued yesterday in spite of Rich’s family being demonstrably against the politicization of the staffer’s death and numerous sources with information on the murder investigation coming forward to contradict the Fox reports. In fact, last night, Sean Hannity featured the story on his program as the rest of his time slot competition was busy focusing on new reports that Donald Trump may have asked James Comey to drop an FBI investigation.

Now, Rich’s family is done with plain old statements. According to CNNMoney, they want retractions not only from Fox News, but from WTTG-TV, where the reporting this week originated. Family spokesman Brad Bauman said the following:

“The family is officially asking for a retraction and an apology from Fox News and from the Fox 5 DC affiliate for inaccurate reporting and damaging the legacy of their son… They need to retract the story or issue an apology or the family will consider other options, including legal, to clear their son’s name and get Fox to do what’s right.”
Click to expand...
 
G

Galactic Barret

Member
Thanks for this. I've been trying to parse through right wing news media myself, but I never seem to come across pertinent information. Now I know why.
 
D

drspeedy

Member
gcubed said:
go to a car, motorcycle or gun forum.
Click to expand...

I had to stop going to my favorite car forum for that reason. Endless stream of alt right Facebook reposts.

Car aficionados can be almost cult like in their devotion, that I get, but even then they typically poke fun ("lol! Maybe that's because you drive a Mustang" kinda joshing) rather than spew pure distortions. It basically became 4chan
 
R

Regulus Tera

Romanes Eunt Domus
This is what happens when freedom of the press collides with state media in authoritarian regimes. The difference is that 1st amendment protects a free press so you cannot silence the opposition easily.
 
Clockwork

Clockwork

Member
The thing I hate is that the right wingers I know pretty much discount any news about Trump as fake news now. Even when Trump himself admits things.


It leaves very little room for discussion or debate.
 
H

hammysaurusrex

Member
Expected. It's amazing how the far right needs a Clinton anchor to make sense of the world right now. I don't think I've ever seen a media campaign so obsessed with the loser of an election before.
 
Oppo

Oppo

Member
Lord Frieza said:
I mean, the truth is that it's already there without Fox News. If Fox News were to disappear and/or totally refocus, "Rightland" would be a island barely visible on the map.
Click to expand...

I don't know the numbers but I bet Breitbart et. al already have a greater reach than Fox News. Via FB sharing if nothing else.

Then again the oldsters like cable still so who knows. But the new alt right (which is just "the right", now) is purely a net-driven creation.

Clearly some sort of central authority is needed but who on earth could set that up at this point. Who would be trusted. NASA says the earth is burning and people ignore them. And they're fucking NASA.

hammysaurusrex said:
Expected. It's amazing how the far right needs a Clinton anchor to make sense of the world right now. I don't think I've ever seen a media campaign so obsessed with the loser of an election before.
Click to expand...
Their narrative doesn't work unless there's some Big Bad Foil. I mean seriously who gives a fuck about George Soros. He only exists as a media figure to provide that villain character for right wing folks.
 
R

Rebel Leader

THE POWER OF BUTTERSCOTCH BOTTOMS
Zaru said:
Meanwhile the alt-right was basically in a completely different reality, repeatedly chanting "HIS NAME WAS SETH RICH" and accusing anyone who wasn't talking about Seth Rich a Soros-funded sliding shill or whatever, while all the Trump headlines kept coming and coming.
Click to expand...


So that's confirmation that the whole gop includeing trump is under soros control!
 
E

Empyrean Heaven

Member
yanipheonu said:
One good article I read remarked that it's no longer America, it's two separate countries called Leftland and Rightland. And each country reads and watches different news, and are effectively different Nations.

I don't know how a country recovers from that to be honest.
Click to expand...

Well considering it happened 150 years ago, I would say it never has.
 
F

FrontalMonk

Banned
sangreal said:
why is the seth rich conspiracy not on fox news? it was their bs story and it was definitely on foxnews.com
Click to expand...

jack_package_200 said:
http://www.mediaite.com/online/slain-dnc-staffers-family-demands-retraction-from-fox-news/

Slain DNC Staffer’s Family Demands Retraction from Fox News
Click to expand...

This is pretty disappointing. I used to live in the DMV and the local Fox affiliate always seemed on the up and up. I usually watched WJLA, but Fox 5 was usually fine.
 
G

Galactic Barret

Member
Couleurs said:
Just let the south secede again and watch it immediately become an impoverished nation due to unchecked Republican policies combined with no longer receiving taxes collected from blue states on the coasts.

(With a grace period and assistance to help people move to other states so innocent people aren't trapped)
Click to expand...
I was thinking (but not advocating) Civil War II, but this is a much better idea.
 
J

Jeffrey

Member
I wonder what happened. Can you not have conservative views these days that aren't riddled by conspiracy theories racist and #fakenews?

I'm generally more left leaning but there are plenty of valid conservative ideas and theories that I agree with too, but all that stuff is flooded by all this noise.

Not saying far left is amazing either lol.
 
B

BlackLagoon

Member
mr stroke said:
Interesting looking at both points of view, it always makes me wonder what GAF would be like if it were right.
Click to expand...
Well, in spite of its political bent the thing that makes NeoGAF attractive is it's focus on promoting facts and discussion, and a moderation team that actively supports this. Not sure where you'd find that on the right, especially among groups that fully support the current GOP and Trump. If you look at something like /the_Donald/, all its participants seem to want is to dogpile onto anything that supports their existing views, regardless of the source. It is actively hostile to discussion, with moderators who quickly weed out and ban contrary viewpoints.
 
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