Thursday, February 4, 2010

Gawker is on top of the Scientologists in Haiti story--

The Today Show, not so much.

I definitely recommend following the links on the firsthand account of what they are doing there and profiteering.

Just as with the Baptist missionaries who tried to smuggle kids out of Haiti, my first instinct is that these are well-intentioned people, but while I don't always question the motives of people, I am always skeptical of the motives of organizations. With the reputation Scientology has, well, color me extra-skeptical.

Regarding the Today puff-piece, I think that religions often do get an uncritical treatment in the media, and especially t.v., because it seems like it's "bullying" or "putting down other people's faith." To avoid being criticized in return regarding a topic that can really stir emotions, it benefits them to keep their framing positive and nonjudgmental. But any institution (even churches) can be capable of abusive or just plain wrong behavior at times, and it's just good journalism to look into that. (I think one of the better things about the internet over t.v.news--stories can unfold serially and there isn't a need to frame as much as report, but that's my Old Media vs. New Media bias.)

Anyway, I dig that Gawker followed up about it.

1 comment:

dotlizard said...

You know, I wouldn't have thought Scientology would get the whole "it's sacred" pass in the news media, but then again, they have *money* and influence in the entertainment world. I guess I'm (like you) used to the new media coverage, the general eye-rolling and oh, look, it's those crazies again.

I am, once again, absurdly grateful for the internet. Hate to even imagine what it would be like with only the five corporations who run mainstream media providing "infotainment". ugh.

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