Tell Me Something I *Don't* Know

Ah yes, the world of academia.....

A study was published recently by three researchers, 2 from Baylor and 1 from the University of Houston - Clear Lake, entitled: "Harry Potter and Children's Perceptions of the News Media."

This study (which can be found here: http://www.acjournal.org/holdings/vol10/01_Spring/articles/sturgill_etal.php ) manages to tell us that through the first six Harry Potter books, the portrayal of the news media is overwhelmingly negative. Their concern is that this portrayal could give children a belief that "all news media are slanted and deceptive."

LOL And your point is? Why *not* give children this portrayal, since it is obviously closer to the truth than those deceptive and slanted journalists would have you believe.

Hey all you non-slanted journalists, you care to explain these photographs to me?

It was completely obvious to anyone following last year's presidential election that the American news media had a collective hard-on for Senator Obama. Journalistic integrity out the window.

Obama's family -- Off Limits!

The Palin Family -- Open Season!

Maybe we should look at the respect that "journalists" show each of the two most-recent Presidents.


The authors of the study make this statement: "The ideal goal of journalism is to ensure an informed citizenry in an objective and truthful manner."

Maybe someone should have told that to Dan Rather before he broadcast forged documents regarding President Bush's military service.

To Misses Sturgill, Winney and Libhardt -- I submit to you that you are correct. The portrayal of the news media in the Harry Potter books, through Rita Skeeter, The Daily Prophet and the tabloid-esq The Quibbler is overwhelmingly negative. I submit to you however, that this is *precisely* how we should represent the media to our children since, notwithstanding the journalistic "ideals" which you've highlighted, is actually the way it really is.

We should teach our children the truth.