WAPO One Sided on Wrong Issue

By: Eric
Published On: 1/27/2008 12:01:36 PM

Most of you know that we at RK are highly critical of the "fair and balanced" approach the Media takes toward Global Warming.   So frequently they try to create a 50/50 balance between those that say the world is facing serious environmental problems and those that claim everything is fine (hell, we can still breath, right?  Nothing to see here...).   This is, of course, utter foolishness, there is no 50/50 balance or controversy, yet the media are determined to play it that way.

So today, the Post comes out with an article about the Tyson's Rail Project that is ONE SIDED!   Huh?  With this particular issue there ARE ligitimate dissenting opinions.  There ARE serious questions about the financial prognosis for the project. 

Yet we're treated to a completely one sided story that paints the FTA as vile monsters repressing the good people of Virginia for their own sadistic pleasure.  Oh, the horror, the horror.

I'm not going to pretend that our concerns and doubts about this project are part of the majority opinion.  I feel we're well justified in our position, but admittedly it is not the majority opinion.  That's fine.  BUT WHERE IS THE MINORITY OPINION COVERAGE IN THE ARTICLE?  WHERE IS THE BALANCE?  If you weren't up to speed on this issue and read that article, you'd think no one is against the project.  You'd think that there aren't any problems - except mindless red tape and one evil government agency.

That isn't quality news reporting, that's propaganda.    

 


Comments



"That's propaganda" (Lowell - 1/27/2008 12:03:37 PM)
And, sadly, that's what has become of a once great newspaper.


Free Press Time (voter4change - 1/27/2008 1:11:31 PM)
The WP just gave to the rail bunch probably $100,000 worth of free press.  Will the WP give free press time to those citizens who have followed the Tyson Rail Project (often called Dulles Rail) the same amount of free press time?  The very same folks who have said from day one and who have poured over rail documents that state that Dulles Rail will not reduce traffic congestion.  I don't think so.  That would be fair and unbiased reporting.  WP does not have a good track record of being fair and unbiased.

 



Also factually incorrect (Hiker Joe - 1/27/2008 12:52:05 PM)
The article states that the FTA declared "The 23-mile Metrorail extension from Falls Church to Dulles International Airport" unfit for funding. This is untrue. The project for which FTA funding may be denied is 11.6 miles and only goes as far west as Wiehle Ave.

There is currently no funding for extending it to Dulles Airport. In 2003 the Town of Herndon and many western landowners rejected establishing a special tax district to help fund Phase II to the airport.



post... (Veritas - 1/28/2008 11:59:28 AM)
(sorry slightly off-topic)
The Editorial page is garbage. Anyone see them trying to defend their pro-war views in an editorial looking at the primary candidates for both parties? I realize that it's in the opinion part of the paper, but whenever people view support for the war as self-evident, as the post does, you have to be wary.