Actually, Karen, the question is not whose minds are closed but how you go about trying to understand the structures out of which politicians and journalists make statements. Both, individually, are quite capable of shading things, even, obviously, of creating things, of telling lies, etc.
But the incentive structures push them, however individually they act, in different directions, at least at this moment in political time. Journalists are judged by the accuracy of their reporting and the density of their interpretations; politicians are judged by their ability to get elected and reelected. Thus, the ethic of offering the truth as they understand it is a much more pressing business with journalists than with politicians. The latter know the ethic is there but it is subsidiary to saying their version of it in a way that doesn't endanger their next election. And the culture which supports this structure is even more a problem now than, say, twenty to thirty years ago. |
