John Kass on Distinguishing News From Opinion: Don't Watch TV - Western Springs, IL Patch

Longtime journalist Charles Madigan said news readers need to learn to filter opinion from straight news if they want to gain a clearer understanding of political issues.

"Noise is noise and you need to know the difference," Madigan told a group of nearly 200 people at a League of Women Voters of the La Grange Area event Tuesday night at Lyons Township High School, 100 S. Brainard Ave.

Madigan, Presidential Writer in Residence at Roosevelt University, along with Chicago Tribune columnist John Kass, and nationally syndicated family and culture columnist Besty Hart, took part in a panel discussion called "Public Debate in the Age of Anger", which addressed the degree in which public agendas are informed by the media.

In an age when the airwaves are dominated by political pundits from both the right and left side of the aisle, Ann Serafin, the panel moderator, said it's hard to sort news from spin. Serafin, a La Grange Park resident and Emmy Award winner with more than 25 years experience in Chicago TV news reporting and producing, asked the panelists to explain how to differentiate between news and opinion.

Kass, a Western Springs resident with children who attend LT, said it's easy. All people need to do is read newspapers and forget about television news. He said television news channels are more about selling a product than they are about doling out unbiased information.

"Read the newspaper and then take the dog out for a walk … turn off the TV," Kass said.

Madigan agreed with Kass. He said people need to look to see if a story answers the timeless questions of who, what, when and where.

"I look for the answers to those questions. The rest is just 'flapdoodle,'" Madigan said.

Hart, though, said she appreciated all the various news noise. She said the modern arena is only 20 years removed from a time when there were few news outlets. She said with the various news publications, multiple cable channels and Internet news sites, people have access to far more information. She added, though, that people need to be discerning about the sources they use for media.

"There are some kooky outlets out there," said Hart, who also lives in Western Springs.

One audience member wanted to know why media outlets do not provide detailed analysis of political policy. Madigan said whenever media outlets attempt to put out detailed analysis readers typically "turn away."

Kass said newspapers do a good job of providing detailed analysis. However, he said television news does not.

"Television deals with pictures and emotion," Kass said.

One woman asked the panel how voters could convince candidates to refrain from using negative campaign ads. Hart said that idea will always fall on deaf ears because negative ads work.

"They work and they work well. And people should be glad because negative ads means some policy issues will be brought up and have to be defended," Hart said.

While the discussion much of the night centered on the role journalists take in the political debate, audience member Duane Everhart said he believes journalists can do more. He said the media should serve as a watchdog for the people and provide intricate details concerning political policy.

"This was supposed to be about anger and I'm angry about what's happening in this state," Everhart said. "I'm angry at the financial irresponsibility we've seen for years, I'm angry about unfunded pensions and I'm angry we have a governor who only cares about Chicago and not the rest of the state."

Kass responded that he's angry over the same issues, but he said he can't be angry every day in his column.

When the two-hour discussion ended Everhart said he was still angry. He said he believed the event was supposed to be about voter anger and what voters can do about it.

"I wanted to hear about how and why newspaper editorial boards make their endorsements and whether or not they always fall along a party line like it seems they do," Everhart said, "Instead all we got were platitudes."

via westernsprings.patch.com

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