Korean Job Discussion Forums

[freethought]

I'm approaching two (non-consecutive) years spent in Korea. During that time I've read at least three Korean English language dailies every day, and I try to watch Korean news on TV. Not that I'll understand it, but rather just to see what the stories are.

What I've noticed is an absurd level and degree of propaganda in the media. I'm critical of networks like Fox News in America, but the Korean english language media often surpasses Fox for its lack of objectivity.

Yesterday I posted a story that was pretty bad that blindly criticized American movies. Today I've spotted a couple more stories on the main pages of the English language dailies that are also dubious.

So my question here is twofold;

1. Are the national medias in your home countries filled with as much national propaganda and blinding ignorance as the Korean English Language media?

2. For those who have more advanced Korean than my own, is the Korean language Korean media better than the English language korean media on these fronts?

[CasperTheFriendlyGhost]

In the west we are heavily propagandized from a young age. We stop even seeing it. In korea we have fresh eyes for the propaganda mechanisms. Thhey are also quite less subtle here.

Also, in the west, we like to think of our objective journalism, as if there ever could be such a thing, except perhaps as reported in the predicate calculus of logic and math. In Korea, there is no pretense to objectivity -- the media tells you what to think. A Korean friend told me that last part.

[ajgeddes]

In Canada, we have 2 major national daily newspapers. One is very right-wing leaning and the other left-wing leaning. I don't know anybody that reads both of them. People usually find whichever one fits their tastes more and sticks to it while also reading other smaller daily newspapers, such as from their cities. I think if you read both of the two major newspapers and were able to form opinions from both of them, you would get some pretty good news, however like I said, most people stick to one of them.

[Bibbitybop]

[ajgeddes]

[wylies99]

[CasperTheFriendlyGhost]

[wylies99]

Do you have any idea how many media outlets are available in the US? Or in each major city? Or alternative media? MORE THAN ONE.

Presidential elections are controlled by MONEY, not the media.

[dmbfan]

[wylies99]

People who've only lived in Korea assume the US is just like Korea. IT'S NOT.
In the US, there's a lot of information and news to choose from, and everyone can select their sources and make informed choices.

A greater problem with elections in the US is the low voting turnout. This means very few VOTERS actually select the leaders.

To say "Everyone in the US is a robot and they vote the way they're told" is just BS. There are plenty of sources of information in the US. VERY few people in the US vote. Anyone who has lived in the US understands these things.

[Whistleblower]

Who do you think plants stories in the US Media? I shall help, it starts with "C" and ends with "A".

Who do you think plants stories in the UK Media? I shall help, it starts with "M" and ends with "5".

The reason why MI5 didn't stop the terrorists bombing during 7/7 and 9/11 was 'cos the media and the public needed a reason for a war against Muslim.

Sorry to side track the thread.

[mack4289]

An interesting article about the Korean media:

http://joongangdaily.joins.com/article/view.asp?aid=2874719

"In major professional sports events in Korea, such as baseball, football, basketball and volleyball, there are a large number of foreign players; they are often called �mercenaries.�
A mercenary is a hired solder who receives payment to serve in the military. Therefore, it has a negative image. When we call foreign players mercenaries, it implies in our minds that they they are despicable �hired players.�
Pervis Pasco, of the LG Sakers, who last Thursday assaulted a referee and a member of the opposing team after he got fouled, is also a mercenary.
Although he admitted his wrongdoing, Pasco said he was discriminated against because he was �a mercenary� and the umpires pretended that they did not see the fouls committed by the other team, which threatened his safety.
His colleague, Hyun Joo-yeop, supported Pasco�s claim. He said, �Players commit serious fouls against foreign players that they don�t dare commit against a Korean player.�"

Considering how long Korea's had a free press and how open it is to the world (not that much), the racism in the media isn't surprising. It's wrong, but it's to be expected. You would never see this now, but during World War II, the mainstream American media put words like "N*ps" in front-page headlines about the Japanese. Even Bugs Bunny got in on it http://www.bookmice.net/darkchilde/japan/bugs.html.