Just some follow-up on the NPR controversy.
Today I listened to the NPR programme 'On Point,' which I normally do not care for. I find the host irritating. But today was worthwhile for those who are interested in this whole affair. He had the Ombudsman on the show with liberal and conservative commentators. They did a good job covering some of the fundamental issues surrounding this story. Issues like...what is news? What should a news organization be attempting to do?
The conservative Mona Charen pulled out the 'objectivity is impossible' argument which I have addressed in other posts. It's true, no one can be objective, but journalists should be people committed to truth above all else...regardless of personal sympathies or the powers that be. Will it be perfect? No, but that doesn't mean we then deliberately spin history and current events to match with our preconceived notions, our grid.
As bad as media has been and can be at times, there are people out there who really want to report the story. If you read history and current events one theme you find repeatedly is that of disinformation. Think of all the wars, budgets, hatreds, and historical legacies that have resulted from perversions of the truth. It's staggering. There are some people, even lost people, who really want to see that corrected. Do they have a theological/philosophical basis for doing this? Not really, but who ever said fallen man is consistent? I think God's general benevolence, His Common Grace can account for this. We can be thankful that even in a fallen world, there are some fallen people who want to seek and report the truth...even if they can't explain what Truth is.
Will one's outlook determine what is even newsworthy? Charen also raised this point. Yes, and this would be a point where NPR's outlook does indeed come through. They will cover human interest stories that at times may seem quite liberal...but they've also shocked me from time to time by covering something that seemed narrow and only of interest to conservatives.
FOX usually spends extensive amounts of time covering celebrity gossip and reality television...topics NPR won't even touch unless it reaches national headline level. Sometimes, like in the case of Michael Jackson's death, it's an international story that can't be ignored. But you won't find Britney Spears, Hannah Montana, or Dancing with the Stars being talked about NPR....mainstays over on the 'conservative' FOX 'news' network.
So for those interested, here's the link to the NPR programme.
I also read Gary North today. He thinks NPR is 'liberal' and 'boring.'
I would expect him to find NPR to be liberal. Boring? Hmmm....I think that says a little more about his conception of the world and what it means to cover the news. As I've often said, Theonomists have little interest in investigation and analysis. Their worldview teaching has already provided all the answers. Facts are only facts when interpreted by the 'right' worldview.
News for many conservatives is nothing more than a platform, a starting point to launch into a directed discussion, an agenda. That's an assertion, but if you listen to the 'On Point' clip, you'll see that there are others who see this as well.