The problem with winner/loser framing
MEDIA
If you’ve been paying attention to just about anything, you might have noticed a particular way stories are often framed in the media.
Take this email I received from The New York Times this week. Notice something off in the subject line?
Can we really say that Ukraine is “winning?” It’s tough to get a true accurate count, but recent figures estimate more than 18,000 Russian soldiers have died, along with an additional 3,000 Ukrainian soldiers. That doesn’t even include the approximate 4,600 civilian casualties or the 5 million refugees who have fled Ukraine since the fighting began.
I’m not sure how many Ukrainians would say they’re “winning.”
This is just one example of an inherent problem we see in the news media: the framing of stories with winners and losers. Conflict is a core tenant to storytelling, so it’s not surprising that reporters, editors and media folks try to frame things in this context. It can help us understand things to a point.
However, it also leads to a framework where we are forced to “pick a side” in each argument, or every story. Here’s an example of such framing, in this political cartoon from Clay Jones.
It’s meant to illustrate how one presidential administration’s family is up to some shady dealings, while accusing another presidential administration’s family of doing the same thing. This cartoon essentially asks us to look at the hypocrisy of the Republican party and right-wing media. But, in reality, this kind of thing fails to ask the actual important question (pardon my all caps frenzy here).
WHY ARE ANY FAMILY MEMBERS OF ELECTED OFFICIALS ALLOWED TO DO ANY BUSINESS WITH ANY FOREIGN GOVERNMENTS?
To me, the issue isn’t which family members were right or wrong. Frankly, they’re all wrong. This type of thing should be outlawed full stop - and the media needs to do a better job bringing up the actual core issue.
Look, I know. A political cartoon, who cares? Well, it’s not just that. These types of partisan “battles” and conflict are used constantly. Why? To draw viewers. Don’t believe me? Look at this video that was trending on Twitter this week (put your sound on).
Hear that music? It’s like Russel Crowe is about to face off against wild tigers in the Colosseum. And how about that end graphic, huh?
When it’s one versus another, you’re forced to pick a side. And neither of them have my or your interests at heart. Trump wants to tout his lies, while Morgan wants to draw attention.
Another example, this time from 2016.
We are better than this. Don’t be fooled.
Commercial media isn’t alone, however. This piece aired on National Public Radio this week!
I encourage you to look past the headline and listen to this story. It’s about how Republicans and their chosen candidates will fare against their opponents, amid abuse allegations. No question as to why the Republican Party continues to support and prop up candidates with these issues, no investigating into the underlying issues here. It’s just, “How will Candidate X (with all his issues) do against Candidate Y?”
These stories are important, but not because we want to know if they’ll win a fucking election. We need more investigations into these people.
The lesson here to remember is that we are all in this together. Enough of the winners, losers, battles, rounds and spars. We’re way too divided as is. Let’s stop treating everything like a game. We need to understand what is a game and what is life.
When we turn everything into a competition, it becomes harder to understand that in the end, we’re all neither winners nor losers; but just people. (But that doesn’t draw viewers).
Rose / Thorn / Bud
What has caught my attention this week
Rose (the good)
CNN+ shutters after one month. This is a great lesson in how “if you build it, they will come” doesn’t always work. When corporate media wants you to buy or subscribe to yet another thing, be sure to ask what value you’re actually getting.
Thorn (the bad)
Houston Public Media has decided to launch a new series looking at climate change and energy, in partnership with Chevron?
Even worse, management has told reporters and staff to not engage with criticism.
Oof. That is just…bad. On so many levels. Did I mention it’s Earth Day tomorrow?
Bud (what I’m looking ahead to)
Cannabis workers in Denver are working to form a growhouse union, and after, were systemically fired and rehired as contract workers. I want to see what happens here, and how that could inspire similar action throughout the U.S.
Weekly Recommendation
Music, Art, Comedy, Books
For my first recommendation, I highly suggest grandson’s Death of an Optimist album. Listen from start to finish. This guy can go from an incredibly thoughtful, cerebral song to a banger that you can dance to in one breath. And his lyrics really hit on a lot of our issues today. Here’s part 1 of the video that goes with the album.
Thank You!
Thanks for reading. Send ideas, tips, thoughts to higherthinking@substack.com. Follow me on twitter @imnoahglick. And if you want to support this work, feel free to venmo or paypal me a couple bucks to keep the coffee flowing.
Podcast versions of this newsletter will be available in the coming weeks.
Be good to each other!
Cheers,
Noah