Posted by Bill on 01/11/82 11:50

Sometimes a story becomes hot because it becomes a story about how hot
the story is. It doesn't matter what the reporter thinks of the issue--
the fact that other reporters are writing about it and people are
reacting to it becomes justification for the story.

Often you will see reporters describing, with a straight face, staring
into the camera, in prime time, how many people feel a story has been
blown out of proportion...

That's why the arrests of so-called "terrorists" in Toronto last week
created a media frenzy for a few days, that has all but dissipated
completely now.

Astute political consultants of both stripes know this very well when
they want to smear somebody. Make a scurrilous accusation-- that a
politician has an out-of-wedlock mixed blood child, for example, or that
he uses cocaine-- and force your opponent to deny it. The act of
denial, reported soberly by the press, becomes a form of confirmation to
some.

And I promise to not stray from the proper subject of the newsgroup anymore.

Richard Crowley wrote:
> "Bill" wrote ...

>
> Only "hot" to the illiterate.
>
>

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