In publications of the past, assignments were issued, journalists covered events and wrote about them, editors decided how best to present them–and that was that. Popularity? As long as what was published had been deemed important by professionals who devoted their lives to making such decisions, and as long as the result was as accurate as possible, their job was done.
Who cared whether a given story was “popular?” That was for 13-year-olds, not professional journalists.
Besides, what does it mean when a reader responds that he “likes” a certain story, and “dislikes” another one. Are they well-written and poorly written, respectively. Objective rather than subjective? Compelling rather than dull? Or are they really saying they “like” story one because they agree with it, whereas story two gets a thumbs-down because they disagree....
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Looking for a trip that turns abruptly into a nightmare–right at the airport, upon arrival? Then, look no further than Canada, our alleged “neighbor” to the north.
Perhaps you, too, can be subjected to a barrage of vile, hostile, intimidating queries that pry brutally and abusively into your private affairs and personal history. Rather than receive a welcoming gesture, I was humiliated, insulted, demeaned, and degraded, in disgraceful ways that I’d never even imagined in my many years as an international traveler. All in the name of “protecting” the Canadian economy from the possibility, however remote, that an arriving visitor might be thinking of toil rather than tourism.
Click here for the complete essay on arriving in Canada
More than any election in many of our lifetimes, the 2012 Presidential contest could shape the future of the American experience for years, indeed decades, to come. The candidates and their backers could hardly be much further apart. Conservatives insist that the election of Romney/Ryan will begin to restore the country’s financial balance, making the economy safe, welcoming, and successful for corporate interests. Liberals deplore the prospect of a Romney/Ryan victory, many of them (including ourselves) fearing that a far-right Republican presence in the White House will bring an end to the American way of life and the political philosophies that shaped the nation envisioned by the Founders.
Meanwhile, both sides are raising millions upon millions of dollars, squandering gargantuan sums on “attack ads” that blend venom with distortions, as well as outright lies. Both sides have been guilty of ignoring facts and reality, as witnessed by the presence of a fleet of fact-checkers who busy themselves after each debate, and in between such appearances, rooting out instances of untruths and egregious distortions. Few can deny that the Romney/Ryan side has been guilty of the most gross and grotesque prevarications, tossing out lies willy-nilly, ignoring facts and reality in their deceptive quest to attract a few more voters to their quest for power.
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Also see Part II: Yes, deceitful political ads can sway voters - but only if we let them
Please see Part III, written on Election Day: What can Progressives do if Romney/Ryan come to power?