On the Media: The Wrong Fires

What happens when minor stories detract media attention from urgent crises?

As wildfires blaze across the United States, some right-wing politicians and pundits are blaming racial justice protesters. On this week’s On the Media, how to stay focused on the realities of climate change when everything is politicized. Also: Does journalistic convention give more airtime to less important stories? Plus, how an independent French film criticizing the hyper-sexualization of children stoked controversy on the right. And, the assumptions we make when we talk about human trafficking.

1. David Karpf, George Washington University media and public affairs professor, on how journalistic convention can bury urgent truths. https://www.wnycstudios.org/podcasts/otm/segments/aint-your-usual-horserace
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2. Kate Knibbs, Senior Writer at Wired explains how “Cuties” on Netflix became mired in controversy peddled by the right. https://www.wnycstudios.org/podcasts/otm/segments/how-cuties-outrage-followed-gamergate-playbook

3. Michael Hobbes, co-host of the podcast “You’re Wrong About” and Senior Enterprise Reporter at The Huffington Post, debunks embellished stories of child sex trafficking busts. https://www.wnycstudios.org/podcasts/otm/segments/debunking-child-sex-trafficking-trope

4. Amy Westervelt, climate journalist and host of the podcast “Drilled” on how to sort through competing narratives in coverage of the wildfires. https://www.wnycstudios.org/podcasts/otm/segments/fog-fire

Full episode audio:
https://www.podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3/audio.wnyc.org/otm/otm091820_cms1052747_pod.mp3

Another week, another excellent media analysis by Bob (Brooke is away this week).

https://www.wnycstudios.org/podcasts/otm/episodes/on-the-media-the-wrong-fires

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