I <heart> Daily Show...

[khedron]

Even though I don't have cable these days, I know the Daily Show is still out there, and it warms the cockles of my heart to read things like this transcript about the role of the media:

CORDDRY: I'm sorry, my *opinion*? No, I don't have 'o-pin-i-ons'. I'm a reporter, Jon, and my job is to spend half the time repeating what one side says, and half the time repeating the other. Little thing called 'objectivity' -- might wanna look it up some day.

STEWART: Doesn't objectivity mean objectively weighing the evidence, and calling out what's credible and what isn't?

CORDDRY: Whoa-ho! Well, well, well -- sounds like someone wants the media to act as a filter! [high-pitched, effeminate] 'Ooh, this allegation is spurious! Upon investigation this claim lacks any basis in reality! Mmm, mmm, mmm.' Listen buddy: not my job to stand between the people talking to me and the people listening to me.

The person linked to above goes on to say he found this funny, until a day or so later when he saw someone making this exact argument for real. This has become a pet peeve of mine in recent years, so I sympathize. Journalistic objectivity does not mean giving equal time (and weight) to looneys! When the reporter or conversation mediator says, "Okay, now we've heard from the NASA scientists, what does the Flat Earth Society think?", implying that each viewpoint is equally credible, that hurts us all.