Political party conventions deserve unbiased criticism
Recent Daily 49er editorials about the Republication National Convention have left me concerned about the uninformed, one-sided, mean-spirited tone, such as the piece titled, “The Republican National Convention is Unbearable to Watch,” by Shane Newell.
I hope I’m wrong, but I’m guessing that we will see glowing editorials about the Democratic convention.
Whether student or professional, journalists must be open minded and skeptical, look at both sides of issues and serve the public through informed, balanced reporting and opinion pieces based on substance.
What place in the public dialog does language like this have: “Republicans are blind, ignorant, mindless people who are focused solely on having more material possessions?”
I am a Republican, and I know a lot of others; none of us fit this caricature.
Sounds like Mr. Newell has gotten a hold of some Democratic talking points – just as he accused Rick Santorum of “merely spitting out another Republican ‘talking point.'”
If this passes for journalism at a top J-school newspaper, we are truly in trouble.
Biased journalism only serves to “select out” people who think differently. Just look at what has happened with the New York Times, according to it’s outgoing ombudsman: “A just-released Pew Research Center survey that found that The Times’s ‘believability rating’ had dropped drastically among Republicans compared with Democrats and was an almost-perfect mirror opposite of Fox News’s rating. Can that be good?”
He also acknowledged that a progressive (i.e., liberal) view “bleeds through the fabric of the Times” and impacts its coverage.
Unfortunately, it looks like Mr. Newell and his 49er editorial would be right at home at the Times.
The students, faculty and staff at CSULB deserve better.
Barbara Sullivan is a part-time lecturer at Cal State Long Beach and teaches public relations courses.
