As I was walking down the street today towards a class, I scanned the headlines on the row of newspaper boxes. Whenever I do this I notice that the headlines of The Toronto Sun are always the most sensationalist, irrelevant and unprofessional of the lot. In reality The Sun is essentially a tabloid disguised as a real newspaper. I've seen crazy headlines on the front of The Sun before, but the headline today seemed especially unworthy of a "newspaper."
Dalton McGuinty says his government rates a 'B' ... yeah, it stands for BROKEN PROMISES
First off I'll give some background for those who are not Canadian or who are not from Ontario and have no idea what that headline is referring to. Dalton McGuinty is the Liberal Party leader and currently Premier who recently won an election brining him into office. During the campaign McGuinty made some promises that many are now alleging that he has not kept. Obviously this kind of stuff happens all the time in political campaigns but this issue seems to have become especially controversial.
Today McGuintry said that he would give his government a 'B' grade in terms of their performance thus far.
Now, on to The Sun's headline. I find it absolutely outrageous that they print such a sensationalist biased headline on their front page. The front page of a newspaper should provide people with as much objectivity as possible. Not only is this headline incredibly biased, but it is written in a completely unprofessional snarky and sarcastic tone which, in my opinion, is inappropriate for a newspaper. Not only is it editorial where it shouldn't be, but it is dumbed down, exaggerated editorial in a place where it shouldn't be. Obviously each newspaper has it's own bias which shows through in it's headlines and all articles, but when it goes this far I question the use of the name "newspaper" for this kind of publication. In The Sun, there isn't really any news; there seems to only be over-the-top editorial.
Let me make it clear that I am not saying that The Sun is wrong to call McGuinty out on what they perceive to be broken promises. In fact, I think this is a good thing. What I take issue with is how it is presented in a place which should be devoted to "news" and moreover written in a somewhat intelligent tone.
That is why this is Ridiculous Rhetoric.
I agree that the Sun is basically a tabloid in a weak disguise. I disagree about this example being irresponsible journalism. The government has broke a lot of their election promises and this paper is calling them out for it. They shouldn't just be polite and let them get away with it. That would be far too Canadian.
OK, I have no problem with them calling McGuinty out on the issue. Politics aside, I think it's great that people question the government. However, what I take issue with is a snarky sarcastic front page headline. You can't go around calling yourself a newspaper well you are presenting editorial like that.
If it was on their editorial pages I think it would be great. Or if the Sun labeled themselves as The Toronto Sun - The Opinionated Voice. They don't. They pretend to be a newspaper but they don't even attempt to hide their bias as any real newspaper should.
Newspapers are supposed to hide their bias? You would rather they lie to you then tell you outright what they think?
They are supposed to report the news. Newspapers have editorial pages to tell people what they think. If the Sun were to label itself as complete editorial then I would have no problem with it.
I'm not saying newspapers should lie at all. On their editorial pages they're free to have that sort of headline. A proper headline for this issue of the Sun would have been "McGuinty Gives Government a 'B'" without any of that snarky non-news added on. That is not lying to anyone, it is simply reporting the news. Then they can go on and write a column later in the editorial section which says that B is for broken promises.