Biased Press

There have been scores of recent articles decrying the bias of the press against Donald Trump.  As proof they compare the percentage of negative articles written about Trump during these first months of his presidency vs. the percentage of negative articles written about other presidents.  Regardless of the veracity of those numbers, the argument falls down for two reasons or at the very least requires significantly more investigation before those numbers really mean anything.

The first is that while there clearly are news outlets with bias (Fox News is clearly one, but so is MSNBC), as a general rule, the news media is biased towards the sensational.  In a world where they compete with the internet and truly fake news, they look for the sensational to catch the attention of an audience.  Whatever one thinks about Donald Trump, he pours out the sensational each and every day.  Stories that under normal circumstances would be front page - the attack by the Turkish president's  body guards on US citizens on a Washington DC street - barely get any mention because there simply isn't room.   It can be argued that the overwhelming coverage of his campaign by the mainstream press was the equivalent of millions of dollars worth of free advertising and clearly contributed to his winning.  Donald is always on the news because he is always doing something sensational.

Now, this leads to the real question... how many of those sensational actions of DT are negative?  If one president does 50 negative things while andother does 100, doesn't it make sense that the second one would have  twice the negative articles?  If one acomplishes three major legislative intitiatives while another accomplishes 1, doesn't it make sense that the first one would get 3X's the positive press?  So, does DT do 40% more negative things than did a given previous president?  I would argue, "yes."  I'd be hard pressed to come up with anything I could point to as a positive thing done by the current administration  and the negatives roll off the tongue.  From everything that I can see, reality has a negative take on DT's administration.

One might argue that the reason that is so is because I am a stooge for the mainstream news, the "enemy."  Actually, my local paper (which I do read) is one of only two I believe that endorsed Trump for president.  If there is a biased outlet, it is that one and it is clearly pro-Trump.  I do read some articles in the NY Times, the Washington Post, and the Guardian online but I am aware of what the "other side" is saying.

Clearly I am not pro-Trump.  My avatar on Facebook still says "resist" and will until this administration and the spineless Republican legislators who keep putting power before country are gone.  I was never one willing to give him the benefit of the doubt because I agreed with almost nothing he promised during his campaigns and find him as a person utterly with redeeming qualities.  That does not stop me from acknowledging that the rise in the stock market increased after his election (maybe a good thing).  The point is that if I saw something that looked positive, I think I could grudgingly agree it was there. 

Nope... the press is not biased against Trump nor are they out to get him.  He simply is an easy target who keeps doing  ridiculously stupid things.  As long as that continues... that is what we will see in the news.

Islam and the Power of the Press

We have a small Muslim community in Santa Barbara.  There is a student organization at the University of Santa Barbara and a single mosque that currently does weekly prayers at the Goleta Community Center.  They've been trying to build a proper mosque for about 10 years... so goes building in this area of California compounded by the fact that it is a mosque...

It is a wonderful community of people.  Because it is the only mosque and the community is relatively small, Shia, Sunni, and any other brand of Muslim worship together.  They are comprised of folk from very conservative countries like Saudi Arabia all the way to folk from more "western" cultures like Bosnia, immigrants, students, professors, and folk whose families have been US citizens for generations.  That mix certainly has its tensions, but in large degree they work it out.  Folk from the mosque have also been very involved in the larger interfaith community, building strong relationships with Jews, Christians, Buddhists, and Hindus.  They are both appreciative of and advocates for what more than one of them has called the "genius of America" - freedom of religion.  They have also clearly condemned religious violence and spoken strongly against acts of terrorism.

When I think of Muslims, it is these folk who come to mind.  When I read statements like, "Why aren't moderate Muslims speaking out?" I shake my head and want to point to my friends. 

About a year ago, Muslims in Great Britain have begun a campaign on the web #NotInMyName and the phrase and hashtag is being used all over the world.  Yesterday our local mosque organized a march and vigil to speak out against religious violence, particularly in response to the terrorist act in San Bernadino.  They invited interfaith partners and all people of good will to be part of the event and representatives from every faith tradition and no faith tradition walked with them and stood in silence in memory of those killed. 

I'm not good at estimating crowd sizes (and we all know that pastors tend to exaggerate numbers), but on what Santa Barbarans call a frigid night, I'd guess about 300 people walked, listened to speakers, and stood in silence following the Imam as he and his congregation affirmed that Islam is a religion of peace and tolerance and that above all, they desire to be part of the larger American community.

One of the local televisions stations covered the event.  As far as I could see, the others did not.  I picked up this morning's paper - The Santa Barbara News Press - and the headline article with a large photo was that a group of students from Westmont College had gone to the Children's Wing of the local hospital to sing Christmas Carols to the ill children.  The event was not even mentioned.

Now, I have no idea how many similar events have taken place around the country or the world.  I do know that Muslim leaders and Muslim scholars have spoken out again and again against religious extremism and especially against terrorist violence.  If the press does not cover these events, how can "moderate" Muslims get their message out?  To what degree does the media feed off and support the narrative proposed by fanatics?  And in doing just that, are they not complicit?

This message and similar ones are out there...

Teamsters!

I'm a union supporter. Yes, I know about the excesses of the national unions through the years and the corruption that has been there but I am still pro-union. I have seen the results of strong unions. I have also seen what happens when workers have no power.

I grew up in Pittsburgh in the days when steel was still king. The steelworkers had strong unions and that meant that Pittsburgh was a great place to be a blue collar person. Salaries and benefits were good. Pride was high among everyday folk who could provide a good living for their families by the sweat of their labor. My father was not in a union but he was blue collar. We benefitted from what they did. We also suffered when the shop owner who was my father's boss decided to break his word to his workers. They had no recourse as they weren't unionized.

I learned very early that a strong union is the only way that everyday folk can stand up to the power of very wealthy business owners.

Last week the unions won here in Santa Barbara. The Santa Barbara News Press was prosecuted by the National Labor Relations Board for their lack of recognition of the vote taken by the newsroom workers to join the Teamsters. Last week the NLRB ruled that the Graphic Communications Conference of the Teamster's Union is now officially certified as the bargaining unit for the newsroom employees at the News-Press.

There is an ongoing fight regarding employees who contend that they were illegally dismissed for engaging in union activities.

All in all, it is an important step in an important case regarding the way newspapers function in our society.

One Year Later

It has been over a year since the mess at the News Press, the local newspaper in Santa Barbara, began. Some 70+ employees including over 50 in the newsroom alone have been fired or resigned over the practices at the paper. One response was the formation of a website - Santa Barbara Newsroom which was an attept to keep the news coming. It was run by a number of former News Press reporters who were fired for union activities. Well Santa Barbara Newsroom is no longer live (they ran out of money) but their swan song is a documentary that shows what has happened in Santa Barbara.

The documentary teaches us some important lessons regarding the role of a newspaper, the necessity for unions to regain their strength, and the disaster that occurs when wealth and power run unconstrained. It runs about 29 minutes, but it is worth watching.

It also reminds me that the battle is not over and that we must not forget it and move on to the next thing... if you live in Santa Barbara and have not cancelled your subscription to the News Press, do it today. If you have friends or family here, ask them to do so. If you visit stores in Santa Barbara, encourage them to find other venues for advertising and patronize those businesses that do advertise elsewhere. Fight the good fight!

It's a Miracle!!!

Now, I am a Christian and I believe in the power of God. I believe in the possibility of miracles. And more than that, I am a Baptist so I believe in the possibility of conversion, of radical changes in direction for people... of redemption. I believe in hope that overcomes cynicism and grace that transcends evil.
I was soooo excited this morning when a quick glance at Travis Armstrong's editorial in the News Press included these words, "what should disturb everyone in our county, is the reliance on alarmist rhetoric and disinformation..." I was a fraction of a second away from singing "Halleluia!" when I read the rest of the commentary. It wasn't a confession. It was a condemnation of those with whom he disagrees regarding the Chumash.

Now I have no position on the controversy surrounding the Chumash. I'm not even sure what it is. I'm sure it is important for the Chumash and for some who live in the Santa Ynez valley but I've got other issues that I'm worried about... wouldn't it be wonderful if we discussed them all with an absence of alarmist rhetoric and disinformation? Wouldn't it be wonderful if we could sit together across ideological lines and talk about what needs to be done to address housing needs, poverty, homelessness, gang violence, environmental stresses, even the controversy around Chumash expansion plans or the lack thereof, and a hundred other issues that shape the lives of the members of our community? Wouldn't it be wonderful if the News Press helped set the tone for those discussions by using facts, a civil tone, and allowing fair hearing for all sides of the issues?

That would be a miracle! And I believe in miracles!

Yet again Travis?

Yesterday Travis Armstrong continued his attacks on some of the local clergy, this time singling out Teena Grant, the president of the Santa Barbara Clergy Association.

He wrote...

Regarding this criticism, I was taken aback a bit by the somewhat snarky e-mail the Rev. Teena Grant, president of the Greater Santa Barbara Clergy Association, sent to me from her Cottage Hospital work e-mail address. I guess I just expect the clergy to be a cut above the rest of us in how they respond and act. (Note to Cottage officials: In light of this, will the hospital's "spiritual care services" be open and welcome to me or my family if needed?)

First off, do you have any idea what "snarky" means? I assume it is bad from the context, but I sure don't know. And expect more than what? We have no idea what Teena said in the e-mail, but then if he had quoted her, I would bet there would be no way to condemn her as Teena is a woman of grace and integrity and I expect that would be evident in the e-mail.

As to his implications that Teena would use her job to hurt someone with whom she differs, let me quote wikipedia on psychological projection...

In psychology, psychological projection (or projection bias) is a defense mechanism in which one attributes ("projects") to others, one’s own unacceptable or unwanted thoughts or/and emotions. Projection reduces anxiety by allowing the expression of the unwanted subconscious impulses/desires without letting the ego recognize them.

Every day Teena puts her heart on the line as she cares for our community in times of trauma and dis-ease. More than once she has provided pastoral care to families of victims of gang violence and has offered a calm and supportive presence while they waited for word regarding a loved one. More than once, she has allowed her own heart to break at the pain of others.

Mr Armstrong consistently uses his position to bully others without allowing them fair opportunity to respond. As far as I know, he has never spoken to any of the members of the clergy association. I am fairly sure that he has been invited to attend our meetings. He uses hot button words to smear people when he cannot rebut their argument ("liberal-leaning," "funded by developers"). And he consistently either misunderstands or misrepresents the views of those with whom he disagrees. More than once he has complained about these "liberal-leaning" clergy trying to meddle in News Press "private" matters. Surely he realizes that the clergy have no interest in the private business matters of the News Press but we do have interest and a stake in fair reporting, a newspaper that is more than a hobby for some wealthy interests, and even intelligent and informed opinions (whether we agree with them or not). A newspaper has significant influence in a community. We are only concerned that influence is used responsibly.

And again, he questions the priorities of the clergy... but how can he know what those priorities are? Has he interviewed any clergy? Has he looked at the budgets or programs of any local congregations? I'd be glad to sit and have coffee with him and talk about what is happening. I'm sure other clergy would as well. Yes, he covers his behind by saying that "some have done little to work directly with parents and children" but the implication is clear.

Oh Travis!

There is an aphorism in legal circles that goes somethng like this... "if your mouth is moving, you better be telling the truth." I would bet that journalists have one that goes something like, "if your fingers are typing, you better have some facts."

Once again, Travis Armstrong of the News Press here in Santa Barbara shows his utter contempt for both truth and facts. In today's editorials he blasts the clergy for doing nothing about gangs while being involved in areas they have no business such as housing and interferring with a free press. (Of course he forgets the responsibility of a free press to be unbiased). He implies unfairness by the clergy and blasts a church for hosting an event that was "anti-free press" all the while knowing that he and other representatives from the News Press were invited to be there and present and refused to come.

To the gang situation... first off, I am guilty. I have not done everything I could. To that degree you are right Travis. Still, I doubt you would find any section in our communty that does more for families than the faith community with more results. A pediatrician friend once told me of a study that showed that the single most important indicator for whether an African American male would end up in jail was whether or not his mother attended church. It wasn't economic status, educational status, or even whether the mother was a single mom. Just being at church made the largest difference. And the faith community does so much more from youth programs, to feeding programs, to educational support, to mentoring, to foster parenting, to adoption, to (dare I say it) housing. You can't tell me that working 3 jobs to pay the rent helps a family or that making absent parents because they drive 60 miles each way to and from work while their teenage kids are at home unsupervised helps diminish gang problems.

FWIW, the clergy association and the Interfaith Initiative co-sponsored a worship service last night - From Grief to Hope, a Community Response to Gang Violence, to confess our complicity, call for repentance, build community, and finally offer hope and commitment to making a difference in young people's lives. We ended with a simple action where the attendees where asked to write the name of a young person whose life they would work to make better during the coming year.

Personally, I am trying to figure out how I can free up some more time to mentor a few more young people. Perhaps you can join me Travis? Maybe put your life where your fingers are and get down and dirty interacting with a few at risk kids? And before you write again, call 5 faith communities at random from the telephone book and ask what they are doing.

Unions!

I have to admit that I am pro-union... always have been. I grew up in a blue collar home in Pittsburgh and knew from a very young age that if it hadn't been for the unions of the steel-workers, blue collar life in Pittsburgh would have been very very different.

I know that there have been union misdeeds and corruption through the years but that doesn't outweigh the important gains that unions have procured for working people. So, my basic orientation to unions is that I'm for them until there is a really good reason to be against them.

The local paper in Santa Barbara - the News Press - has made the news over the last months as management has fought against the news staff, firing many and watching others resign. When the reporters tried to form a union, the gloves came off. The News Press filled four objections in court and claiming that the union used unfair organizing tactics. Yesterday, the judge ruled against all four objections and now the News Press is officially a union shop. The News Press has 14 days to appeal.

Here's the interesting piece... I heard the story last night on the local television news. There is an associated press article traveling around. The story is all over the web... here, here,and here are examples. Yet, if the News Press reported the ruling, I can't find it either in today's paper nor on their website. This is a paper that has been yelling that the union was stopping them from balanced reporting and running full page anti-union advertisements! And when a judge rules in favor of the union, against the paper, nothing appears in print?

There are more lawsuits yet to be decided in this mess and a community forum planned by the clergy association that will give both sides the opportunity to speak their opinions.