Chuck, that's not fair.  I wanted to answer this one, but you did a
great job.

I just wanted to point out that the news in Europe is so slanted to the
left and for so long, the Europeans are totally unaware of what is
really happening in the world.  The only get the socialist slant on the
news.  About the only beacon of some type of balance comes from the UK
where a few news organizations try to show a different side, but they
are drowned out most of the time.

On the continent, forget it, it's all bunk.  Every time I went there, I
felt cut off from reality. Thankfully there is the Internet.  In Europe,
it's all opinions, never the news, just the news.

Remember, in Europe and even in Canada, what we call centrist here is
what they call extreme right-winger.  What we call leftist here is
mainstream in Europe.  The Left wing in Europe is outright militant
Marxism or Stalinism.

Anyway, a little while back someone asked to be shown examples of biases
in the reporting.  There are so many, it would take years to show them
all.  Instead, I offer the following:

Many years ago, a good friend of mine by the name of F. Alfredo Rego
wrote an article in which he explained how to read a manual.  I am sure
it is at his web site and I urge you to read it.  I would suggest to the
folks that when they next read an article or view a news report, to be
on the lookout for words or turns of phrase that denote "opinion" as
opposed to "reporting."  If you are reading the opinion page, that is
one thing, but if you are reading page 1, look at the story, see how
they say things, especially in the first paragraph.  Check the title
against the story itself.  Many times the title is misleading.  Read the
story to the end, sometimes the "reporter" leaves important facts for
the last paragraph, which in many instances is not even read.  I have
seen stories totally contradict themselves at the end.

If a statistic is used, where does it come from?  Was it made up on the
spot? A tactic widely used by the left and usually unchallenged by the
"reporter."  If a statistic is attributed to someone or some
organization, that does not automatically make it right.  It could be
misused or the source could have fabricated it outright.  Check it out.

I do not want you to believe everything that comes from known
"Right-wing" news services either, you need to study those as well.
However in my experience, these stories and books are more researched
and have more backup than the regular (aka Left-wing) press and books.
They have to be since people will question those more.

It is a good thing to read both sides of the story.  It just takes more
time.

Denys

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