Or at least, that’s what this report would lead you to think. The story? False (or old) news report says United is bankrupt. Again. Traders scramble to “sell sell!” United stock drops a shitton within a few hours, all before someone realizing this “news” is false. Fishy about how it got out there, to Bloomberg News and all, but there it was.
While I found this report slightly hilarious and somehow feel little sympathy for United (or the traders), it also got me thinking in the broader terms of our media and the impressions we take from them, especially with the nebulous world of politics and political reporting. Ah, the sometimes parallel universes of finance and, um, everything else that matters. Consider how the media are covering the election and How Much This Really Matters. A lot of people have too many things on their plate to pay attention to every detail coming out of each of the campaigns, and thus, we’re often left with impressions. Impressions largely shaped by the media. Nothing new, but I think increasingly frightening right now with the political stakes so high.
Take Campell Brown of CNN’s questioning of a McCain spokesperson about the Republican nominee’s new pick for VP, the Lipstick Pitbull Palin. Doing what journalists are supposed to do, Brown questioned the campaign spokesperson about what qualifications Pitbull has regarding foreign policy issues. She had to ask the question a good three times, each time receiving a non-answer, where the spokesperson deflected the question to, “She is running with an experienced candidate,” and, “Well what experience does Obama have?” Post-interview, the McCain campaign is up in arms about the media’s “smear” campaign against the Reds and their liberal bias. Aren’t journalists supposed to, um, ask stuff? Til they get answers? You may remember recently hearing much fluff coverage about how much people love Palin and her “straight”, simple ways, which seems to be the media beginning to soften its previously-totally-appropriate coverage of her.
I was scared of the pitbull. Now I’m scared of the microphones chasing her around, and how little they’re going to ask her about anything that matters when you’re in charge of the country. You know, like war, possible war, healthcare, the economy. Whatever–Drill, Baby, Drill! That’s a line I can remember.
out of curiosity 