On Friday, comedian Bill Maher engaged in a heated debate with Seth MacFarlane, the creator of “Family Guy,” regarding the credibility of journalism in the era of social media and intense partisanship.
The host of “Real Time with Bill Maher” discussed social media and how certain jurisdictions are clamping down on its detrimental effects on society.
As soon as MacFarlane attacked comments made on articles shared on social media sites like Facebook and Instagram, the topic of discussion swiftly shifted to the validity of contemporary journalism.
“The second you start reading the comments, your initial impression of that article is radicalized one way or the other,” MacFarlane said, noting that journalists go through a rigorous process before publishing a story, unlike random internet commenters, who espouse opinions.
Maher interrupted to ask, “What if it’s just slanted? What if it’s not wrong? It’s just slanted?”
“Then write a letter to the editor! Do your research and formulate your argument coherently,” he said.
Maher claimed that since no one recalls the initial article, it takes some time for a letter to the editor to be published and by then it’s too late.
“There’s this thing we take for granted, now that the journalist who did the work gets to have their piece put on the same shelf as everyone else’s spur of the moment bullshit,” MacFarlane explained his point of view.
Maher remarked, “You seem to trust journalists more than I do.”
“Trust certain journalists. Yeah,” MacFarlane retorted.
Maher stated that although he has faith in some journalists, he generally doesn’t give much credence to what he reads.
“Everything I read. Whatever source. It’s only half the truth,” the host said. “They print the narrative. They don’t print truth.”
When MacFarlane referred to that viewpoint as a “generalization,” Maher responded, “Well, it is, but it’s because it’s generally true.”
Before MacFarlane interjected, he said, “By the way, that’s exactly what Donald Trump wants.” He continued by saying that the media only publishes one side of the story. He wants just what you just said.
In response to MacFarlane’s Trump comparison, Maher stated, “Hitler was a vegetarian. Doesn’t mean I’m like [him]… But they print the half that they want there — that is going to make people like you who are a partisan, very partisan. You want to read something that. Oh, that that makes me feel good.”
Maher said, “They’re stroking business in the audience.” “That’s what the media does, that’s what.”
After MacFarlane said that was a generalization that might be too wide, the debate came to an end. Maher then put an end to the back and forth and moved on to the next section.
On Maher’s show, the subject of trust and the media has been a recurrent heated topic. Conservative commentator Andrew Sullivan and MSNBC anchor Ari Melber recently got into a heated argument over Sullivan’s assertion that the left-leaning network always airs “propaganda.”
