Asymmetrical Polarization

[Robert Mahnke]

Bothsiderism is a result of previous media environments where the fixed
costs of running a local newspaper or TV station are high and there are
network effects (e.g., people want to advertise where the viewers are), so
for business reasons it made sense for outlets to adopt centrist voices
that don't offend anyone, letting them sell more advertisements. You can
call this whoredom if you want, but it's the function of letting the market
function. It makes less sense now because the internet makes it so much
cheaper to publish, and that has led to a proliferation of outlets
(although not as much in local news, which still has substantial fixed
costs of newsgathering that deters entry). FOX News has made a lot of money
by focusing on right-wing viewers, and leaving everyone else to other
outlets. Google and Facebook have made far more money by giving people a
way to find what they want to hear, unfortunately in news as well as a lot
of other things. If only someone could figure out a way to make money in
the pursuit of truth.

On Wed, Dec 13, 2017 at 5:26 PM, David Morris <fqmorris at gmail.com> wrote:

> https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2014/06/yes-
> polarization-is-asymmetric-and-conservatives-are-worse/373044/
>
> 1.  Bothsiderism is a result of media whoredom.  Ratings over truth (and
> morality).
>
> 2.  Republicans are the real problem, on many levels.  Trump has pushed
> this reality to the forefront of everyone's consciousness, except for the
> Walking Dead.  We should thank him for that.
>
> David Morris
>
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