How the media decides what news we will hear and what is newsworthy (healthcare, Barack Obama)

[vec101]

Are US citizens getting more stupid and frivilous or does the media just think we are so they lead the charge down the primrose path?

The news coverage today of Obama's healthcare TV special provides interesting insight into the thinking of TV "news" execs........
NBC:

Today,” “which still claims to be an arm of NBC News, .........Jim Bell, executive producer of “Today,” said he chose to make Obama’s comments on Gates the lead story about an hour before airtime.

“That story was fresher, more interesting and talkable,” Bell said. “The healthcare discussion has been going on for about a week ..... “Healthcare is starting to feel old,”

Obama's comments on Gates trump healthcare debate on some media outlets | Show Tracker | Los Angeles Times

ABC:

Jake Tapper, ABC’s senior White House correspondent, said he originally put Obama’s Gates remarks at the end of the piece he did for “Nightline” and “Good Morning America” about the healthcare news conference, then decided to flip the two elements.

“It was the only really new comment that he made last night,” Tapper said. ......... it’s the news, not the olds. ..........If Obama’s main message of the night was overshadowed, he had only himself to blame, Tapper said............
Obama's comments on Gates trump healthcare debate on some media outlets | Show Tracker | Los Angeles Times

What does seem pretty likely/obvious is that the subject of Gates was interjected into the end of Obama's healthcare speech to deflect attention away from the healthcare issue.

It worked - what are all the headlines today?

So, are the sheepole so distracted that they have forgotten that old boring issue of healthcare?
I think not.
Plus, don't think the wool is being pulled over their eyes........

One blimp in the possible deflection stategy - in some aspects the Gates stunt backfired.

CLEVELAND - President Barack Obama said today he was surprised by all the hubbub over his comments that a white police officer in Cambridge, Mass., had acted stupidly" ....... .http://www2.tbo.com/content/2009/jul/23/white-house-qualifies-obama-remark-about-arrest/

"Cambridge Sgt. James Crowley has taught a class about racial profiling for five years at the Lowell Police Academy after being hand-picked for the job by former police Commissioner Ronny Watson, who is black, said Academy Director Thomas Fleming." Mass. police 'deeply pained' by Obama's criticism | National news | Chron.com - Houston Chronicle (http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ap/nation/6544452.html - broken link)

On Thursday, the White House tried to calm a hubbub over Obama's comments by saying Obama was not calling the officer stupid. Mass. police 'deeply pained' by Obama's criticism : 24 Hour Breaking News : The Buffalo News (http://www.buffalonews.com/260/story/742552.html - broken link)

[ryanst530]

Well duh.

What rock have you been hiding under ??

Of course the media is selectively hiding information. That is how they keep society in order.

[vec101]

Not often you get to see such a blatant example - and where they are pretty much admitting it.

[texdav]

Theyt all go by ratings. Otherwsie why would a politcal discussion guy taslk about michael jackson.Obama comes on day after day saying the same thing;he is wearing his news making ablity out. Its like listening to the campaign allover again;people are tired of listenign to speeches that say the same thing.