Tuesday, June 15, 2010

SunTV - False Premise, False Dichotomy

While this blog has been dark for a while, I need to weigh in here. Be prepared, I intend to ramble a bit.

Let me start by saying I burst out laughing a few times today when Kory Teneycke (pictured here), sought to rebut any criticism of the station, SunTV, being compared to FOX NEWS. His comment? Their 'potential' competition was simply bashing the station before it had been established.

No, no, no Kory. A) Your friends at Fox would be insulted, B) Your stance and use of the term MSM is precisely what FOX is known for and C) it would be you who is doing the bashing.

Of course they are following the FOX NEW model! Is anyone surprised? Can't think of why he'd deny that...oh wait, there is a CRTC ruling yet to happen and that might, just maybe, explain that bit of nonsense.

In later interviews, without mentioning the name of the station, or answering simple questions, it was clear that a formula was being followed and it is that of FOX. Kory can try to include CNN and MSNBC in that group, but he cannot deny his political stance, ergo...FOX NEWS is what they are presenting.

What is astonishing, is the false premise that is being put forward. Now, the Conservative party is famous for both false premise and false dichotomy. That is their raison d'étre. It's all about duping you and sadly, many buy the pitch. Black and white is their deal. False dichotomy has no grey...yet that is where intelligent debate, throughout the ages, has occurred.

Their false premise being that in Canada, we do not have real debate and all news stations basically echo each other. They are too politically correct and to use his term, (which is a good one), they "file the edges" of debate. In my world, that would be translated to, keeping it civil...but whatever.

Underlying all of this of course is that the 'right' want to establish a greater voice. The irony is that the 'right' controls most media in this country, and their voice is predominant. Talk radio, Sun media, most editorials in major papers, (recall Harper endorsements) come from the 'right'.

The false premise, inferred, though not articulated, is that the evil MSM is bias...toward the 'left' of course. What utter BS! What is not 'right' leaning is balanced overall. Kory may not like the fact that people in this country actually fall to the middle and look for news that is factually accurate, but that is indeed what most want and what we get. Indeed, Kory is not keen on fact.

The serious side of all of this is one that worries me. We saw this assault in the States under Bush, Rove...etal, and then saw the US media over-compensate. I see that happening here since Kory made his outrageous claim over the pollster used by the CBC.

I don't know why, but when this government says jump!, the media in this country don't seem to ask how deep the abyss they might descend to is. That makes me a bit crazy, but that said, I think the last thing we need is FOXNEWS 'like' station here.

If the premise had been to invigorate a real news network more competition, I would have applauded. That is not what this is. It is a blatant attempt to skew news and tempt the competition to provide an out of reality balance...false dichotomy engagement, intended to dumb it down. This, we do NOT need in this country.

I have to make a couple of personal comments here. Two people have been announced. David Akin and Brian Lilley. I've met David and have had conversations with Brian. They both strike me as good people. David I think is a really professional newsman, and I went after him the other night on Twitter for his buy in (read: sell out) to this. I've since apologised and David, ever the gentleman, told me not to sweat it. I still don't see it as a good move for someone of integrity. In fact, I'd love to see him do CBC Politics and Power. I guess that was not an option.

Brian Lilley I know from his reports on CFRB, now Newstalk1010. He also reports for CJAD in Quebec if I'm not mistaken. Both stations are decidedly conservative and while Brian reports the news as it happens, he brings a slant to it. He's also on some of the shows and panels, and it's clear, he takes a Conservative view. That said, I do not discredit him, I just think it is disingenuous to portray him as having no position. He is a serious reporter though. He doesn't ignore fact.

So, here we are. The "Far Right" is making a play for the airwaves. You knew it was coming. I have to say I don't think this would have happened had the current government been defeated, but here we are.

What say you? I think you know where I stand.

27 comments:

WesternGrit said...

Great to see the "dormant" volcano erupt. Welcome back. Good post. Good premise. I think we need to start bitching about the "right wing bias" in media and clamor for a left-wing fifth column (not that I could support the left either) network... Imagine a 24/7 labor-sponsored, pro-union, socialist news network in Canada? How it would bring debate back to the center.

Being a former union steward, I can certainly say that there is a need for such reading. Union stalwarts would always read the union papers, but, hey, if there's a whole channel dedicated, ... wow...

I'm a rabid centrist, but the more the left disappears in this country, the more the center becomes the left by default, and the center pushes to the right... This is why I don't agree with a merger with the NDP. Let the left be strong, active, and vocal. It allows the center to "be", and keeps the Conservatives a measly 33%, rather than able to push 50%.

WesternGrit said...

Great to see the "dormant" volcano erupt. Welcome back. Good post. Good premise. I think we need to start bitching about the "right wing bias" in media and clamor for a left-wing fifth column (not that I could support the left either) network... Imagine a 24/7 labor-sponsored, pro-union, socialist news network in Canada? How it would bring debate back to the center.

Being a former union steward, I can certainly say that there is a need for such reading. Union stalwarts would always read the union papers, but, hey, if there's a whole channel dedicated, ... wow...

I'm a rabid centrist, but the more the left disappears in this country, the more the center becomes the left by default, and the center pushes to the right... This is why I don't agree with a merger with the NDP. Let the left be strong, active, and vocal. It allows the center to "be", and keeps the Conservatives a measly 33%, rather than able to push 50%.

A Eliz. said...

It makes me wonder what in the devil Harper was doing last year talking to Rupert Murdoch and another man who had to do with Fox.
I am beginning to think that this is more of Harper controlling... as if it isn't bad enough now.!!
I have had enough, but do not know what to do about it.

philosoraptor said...

What concerns me the most is the move towards more partisan news overall. I fear that the reaction to a far right news network is the movement of other news networks to the edges of the political spectrum, in whatever direction they choose to go. The result is, as you put it, a perpetual black-and-white view of the news, with no appreciation of nuance or intelligent debate. That is, I'm afraid that your predicted mode of operation for SunTV News will propagate to the news sector in general, with the ultimate effect of there being NO politically centre news sources that strive for objectivity.

Fred from BC said...

Let me start by saying I burst out laughing a few times today when Kory Teneycke (pictured here), sought to rebut any criticism of the station, SunTV, being compared to FOX NEWS.


I burst out laughing when I saw that you were still sorting through pictures trying to find the most unflattering ones possible to represent Conservatives (even resorting to PhotoShopped ones when necessary). Act your age, KNB...this is beneath you...

Gletscher Eis said...

Viewers in Canada will be skeptical about the kind of TV programs being broadcast on this channel. Hopefully these viewers will also be wary of the ideological messages being repeated over and over again on the shows.

Canadians are much more media savvy than people in the U.S. (Well, except for maybe Albertans.)

Karen said...

Good to see you WG and good comment.

I would agree with you.

Karen said...

Annie, the only thing we can do is keep talking about it and getting the media to talk about it.

Karen said...

philosoraptor, yes, we agree.

There are principled journalists in this country though and I'm hoping they will continue to be vocal

Karen said...

Yeah, because the post was all about the photo Fred.

Good grief. I chose one that hasn't been seen a hundred times and for the record, I don't actually think it's a bad pic of Kory.

Oh, and as I've told you before, I have never photo shopped a pic.

If you don't like how I post, don't visit.

Karen said...

Gletscher Eis, I do think you have a point, but there comes a time when something is repeated often enough, people accept it as fact.

Consider the ridiculous lies and advertising aimed at Diion and Ignatieff. Polls, specifically those who use simplistic language to frame questions, tend to reinforce the message.

On the whole though, I do think most Canadians are reasonable and if this station does go forward and shapes up to be a scream fest, á la Ezra Levant, few people will take it seriously.

Mr. Lorne said...

I am sensing a great deal of fear in the liberal camp these days...

Karen said...

Really Leeky Sweek? Then I suggest that you don't quit your day job, because you're moonlighting as a psychic isn't going too well.

Mr. Lorne said...

Wow, KNB, put that vein back in your head. Struck a nerve, did I?

Karen said...

Not at all. I'm quite calm and you are just wrong.

My post has nothing to do with being fearful. It has everything to do with the direction this government is taking the country and the simplistic mentality that accepts it.

Mr. Lorne said...

I don't think I'm wrong at all. If a right-wing news outlet isn't wanted in this country it will fall into finacial ruin. If it wanted, then it's healthy for democracy.

penlan said...

Gee Fred, that pic is recent one of Teneycke & was taken & released by Sun Media. You know, the one that wants to start a Fox North. Go tell them you don't like their pic.

Dame said...

On the sideline
Ever wondered why Wunderkid Kory had
remarkable short worktime with the Big Guy ? .. and radher unexpectedly left ??? I Think in reality he is far from what he was expected to accomplish ...

penlan said...

Hi Dame,
I disagree with you. I believe this whole thing was planned with Teneycke & Harper & Teneycke is still working for Harper.

Dame said...

Penlan ..I see how Cory is working To the ultimate cons. goals.. but I Think there was some conflict between him and the Big boss's super- coded messages and the two EGOS .Frankly I was very irritated by his tone and words a Few times I saw him On TV ...

“We’re taking on the mainstream media,” Teneycke said at the launch event. “We’re taking on smug, condescending, often irrelevant journalism. We’re taking on political correctness. We will not be a state broadcaster offering boring news by bureaucrats, for elites, and paid for by taxpayers. We’ll be unapologetically patriotic.”

a kind of naive rebell ?

We will see anyway soon

Fred from BC said...

KNB said...

Yeah, because the post was all about the photo Fred.


No, but the post itself wasn't anything I haven't already seen a dozen times (or more) on other Liberal/NDP blogs, with the same undercurrents of fear and paranoia as all the rest. Needs no comment from me.


Good grief. I chose one that hasn't been seen a hundred times and for the record, I don't actually think it's a bad pic of Kory.


I see. Half your face in shadow makes everyone look good, right? So why haven't you posted any pictures of Liberals looking like that, then?

Oh, and as I've told you before, I have never photo shopped a pic.


And as I have responded before, I never said that you did the actual PhotoShopping, just that you sought out the worst possible pictures of all Conservatives. That's teenage girl crap, and you know it.


If you don't like how I post, don't visit.


If you don't like my responses to your posts, don't post baseless smears and inane, childish personal attacks on anything and everything Conservative.

Fred from BC said...

penlan said...

Gee Fred, that pic is recent one of Teneycke & was taken & released by Sun Media. You know, the one that wants to start a Fox North. Go tell them you don't like their pic.


Really? That's fascinating...I wonder how Reuters forged a copy and back-dated it to September of 2008?

penlan said...

Fred,
You sound like an angry, VERY bitter, old man. Don't know what happened in your life to cause you to be so full of hatred (that's what you sound like). To choose to pick a fight over a photo you don't like, & to be vitriolic about such a small thing makes you look petty as well. I think the pic is a good one & compliments Teneycke. Artistic expression is in the eye of the beholder & we all have different tastes.

To try & belittle & denigrate KNB over a photo is small-minded. Surely there's more to you than that.

Tomm said...

KNB,

Why are you afraid of open discussion?

All this news channel will be doing is opening up what they think is a opportunity to carve a niche for themselves.

You don't want Dave Rutherford on TV?

Were you just as vocal about Radio Canada pushing separatism?

Karen said...

No Tomm, if I'm honest, I don't want Rutherford, or Adler or any of the other vacuous voices from the right given more air time.

They dumb down the debate, construct straw men base little to nothing in fact and they certainly do nothing to elevate the debate.

If on the other hand, the station has debates between serious c/Conservative thinkers and serious l/Liberal thinkers, they will have accomplished something.

I have no confidence that this is what we are looking at though. I'd love to see serious debate in this country, about serious issues and that is a shot at all parties. A debate that isn't 'pretend', but is civil without ridiculous invectives being thrown out at will.

Time will tell.

Fred from BC said...

penlan said...

Fred,
You sound like an angry, VERY bitter, old man. Don't know what happened in your life to cause you to be so full of hatred (that's what you sound like).



You sound like you must have missed most of my oft-stated amusement at the lengths some people will go to in order to smear the Conservatives party and all their supporters. I have yet to see anything here worthy of "hatred", sorry...and if anger, hatred, vitriol and bitterness are what you really see in my posts, get some glasses. :)


To choose to pick a fight over a photo you don't like, & to be vitriolic about such a small thing makes you look petty as well.


This is not the first time I've noticed KNB doing this, nor is it the first time I've pointed it out. "Petty" applies to the person searching for the worst possible picture of an opponent to post, not to the person pointing out that fact.


I think the pic is a good one & compliments Teneycke. Artistic expression is in the eye of the beholder & we all have different tastes.


Not to mention different political agendas. You see a good picture, do you? I see one meant to evoke fear and mistrust.


To try & belittle & denigrate KNB over a photo is small-minded. Surely there's more to you than that.


No. "Small-minded" is blindly defending the indefensible.

Fred from BC said...

KNB said...


If on the other hand, the station has debates between serious c/Conservative thinkers and serious l/Liberal thinkers, they will have accomplished something.



And yet you're not willing to wait and see what happens, preferring instead to go with the standard liberal knee-jerk reaction and vehemently attack the very idea of a news network that might show a different political viewpoint than the one you approve of.