Vigil For Civility

Project excellence reported that from Sept 8th to Oct 16th there was a huge bias in coverage between the candidates favoring Obama. While some could claim that varying degrees of favorable coverage are deserved, no one could possibly agree that the extreme level of bias shown on this graph against McCain was merited.

While it is not the role of the Vigil to pick sides between the candidates, it is clear beyond all doubt that if we are expecting a clean and fair election with ensuing peaceable acceptance of the results, there must be not only perceived, but actual responsibly unbiased media coverage. The conduct of the press in recent weeks, with clearly biased agendas is reprehensible. The result is twofold: 1) a trumped up popularity for one candidate which subjects voters to seeking information amidst biased messaging; and, 2) resentment and frustration from supporters of the dis-favored candidate (McCain in this case) who see this happening and respond with a combination of despondency, anger and the use of more extreme rhetoric in retaliation, which further polarizes the camps. Bottom line… biased reporting from the media creates divisions and hardens people into unyielding positions. Media leaders need to take ownership here.

Driving wedges between groups of people is a basic tenant of Machiavellian politics, and voters accept this is something they have to deal with in deciding our leaders, and they take it into account in what they like or don’t like about the candidates. What we cannot afford however is for the media, under the guise of objectivity, to be an active participant in creating divisions.

Therefore, for the context of the Vigil, participants here are encouraged to add the media to their watchlist, making it part of their AOV, and insisting on a better standard of journalism from all agencies. Civility dictates a rational investigation of the facts. Therefore the trust we invest in the media to dig up those facts(not feelings or bias) should not be betrayed. We stand united on the principles of honest and passionate debate, and I at least feel the media can be doing a much better job in its role in American politics.