Last night, Fox News, in the person of Shep Smith, was reporting that Mr. Pierce “threatened” to cut off LA’s electricity. Mr. Smith then smirkingly reported that he “doesn’t have the power” to do such a thing. It was obvious that whoever had written that particular “news” story had NOT actually read Mr. Pierce’s letter.
This morning, the Fox News morning crew, with the exception of one of the interchangeable guys whose name I can’t remember, was pretty much repeating the same BS.
In both cases, I had to change the channel before my head exploded.
Are they idiots? Do they have poor reading comprehension skills? Do they just read whatever is put in front of them without questioning? If so, who is WRITING their drivel?
Does anyone know the answers to these questions?
Partly. They rewrite each other. So if AP (the usual suspect) distorts facts, so do most other newsrooms because they base their reporting on what AP (and other wire services) provide them.
Shep Smith has been particularly egregious IMO. He's so full of himself he now regularly editorializes, substituting his own opinions for verified facts.
There's also what I call the "meme factor" or "bandwagon effect." Once someone actually prints or broadcasts a wildly incorrect story it's taken by others to be "factual," especially if they agree with it, even if they suspect it's not. That happens all the time right here on Free Republic.
YES!
Yes, yes, and yes.