Why is it always the left’s first response to ban words?
wo researchers penned an op-ed for CNN that aims to defend the network against the accusations of “fake news” by President Trump. Of course, instead of suggesting reporters do their jobs and report facts, the piece argues for banning words.
Like all leftists do when backed into a corner, Hossein Derakhshan and Claire Wardle want to change the language, and in this case, outright “Ban the term ‘fake news.’” That’s easier than accepting criticism:
When we use the term “fake news” it is not only self-defeating, it oversimplifies a very complex problem.
A year ago, this wasn’t the case. The term actually meant something. It described a particular type of website that used the same design templates as professional news websites but its contents were entirely fabricated.
But earlier this year, the term started to become meaningless. It became used to describe any piece of information that someone else didn’t like. Increasingly the term has become weaponized by politicians who use it to undermine independent journalism in an effort to reach the public directly through their own channels.
“Fake news” has even gained steam overseas and has been used to undermine efforts in foreign countries “where a free press is a luxury.” The writers found that “people in three other countries increasingly believe that the ‘mainstream’ media peddle fabricated stories.’”
And what if they do? That’s of no concern to Derakhshan and Wardle, who are more offended by a term than the ramifications of its truth:
Terminology matters, and using it simply “because everyone else uses it” is no longer good enough… The term is also woefully inadequate for describing the complexity of the situation.
“[W]hat about satirical news websites? What about misleading headlines designed solely to drive traffic?” the authors ask. “We need to rethink our vocabulary.”
Clearly, these people don’t believe Americans are capable of their own research and are just blindly believing everything they read on social media. But let’s not forget CNN regularly uses misleading headlines and click bait-tactics to push its leftist agenda. And their “proof” of these so-called facts? Yep, “Anonymous sources.”
Trump set off several CNN employees over the weekend with this tweet which seemed to confirm the feelings around the globe that the media isn’t always the truth tellers they claim to be:
.@FoxNews is MUCH more important in the United States than CNN, but outside of the U.S., CNN International is still a major source of (Fake) news, and they represent our Nation to the WORLD very poorly. The outside world does not see the truth from them!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 25, 2017
State of the Union host Jake Tapper tweeted back, “Thinking about @cnni and my brave and hard-working colleagues there who cover famines and wars and politics and terrorism and everything else. Amazing men and women, thank you for your continued excellence.”
Chief National Security Correspondent Jim Sciutto said, “@realDonaldTrump My @CNNi & @CNN colleagues regularly risk their lives in #Syria #Iraq #Afghanistan #Niger and beyond, following US Troops into war-zones, chronicling natural disasters, holding dictators to account & profiling everyday heroes. #FactsFirst”
CNN International, taking the biggest hit, fired back including an apple emoji because of the network’s highly ridiculed “Facts First” campaign:
It's not CNN's job to represent the U.S to the world. That's yours. Our job is to report the news. #FactsFirst ?
— CNN Communications (@CNNPR) November 25, 2017
But Trump kept it coming, tweeting on Monday:
We should have a contest as to which of the Networks, plus CNN and not including Fox, is the most dishonest, corrupt and/or distorted in its political coverage of your favorite President (me). They are all bad. Winner to receive the FAKE NEWS TROPHY!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 27, 2017
Truth be told, CNN was asking for it.
Source: Truth Revolt
