Comedian Bill Maher went head-to-head with “Family Guy” creator Seth MacFarlane on Friday about whether journalism should be trusted in the age of social media and hyper-partisanship.
On his show, “Real Time with Bill Maher,” the host discussed social media and how some states are cracking down on its negative impact on society.
After MacFarlane took aim at comments left on articles posted on social media platforms such as Facebook and Instagram, the conversation quickly turned to the credibility of modern journalism.
“As soon as you start reading the comments, your first impression of the article is that it’s radicalized in some way,” McFarlane said, noting that unlike random internet commenters who support an opinion, journalists publish articles. He pointed out that it would go through a rigorous process before doing so.
Mr. Maher interjected and asked: What if it wasn’t wrong? Is it just leaning? ”
“Then write a letter to the editor!” Do your research and frame your argument coherently,” he said.
Maher said letters to the editor take time to be published, but because no one remembers the original story, it’s too late.
Mr MacFarlane made his views clear. “It’s almost like there’s something we take for granted, because the journalists who did this job ended up having their stories put on the same shelf as everyone else’s random shit.”
“It seems like you trust journalists more than you trust me,” Maher said.
“Trust certain journalists. Yeah,” MacFarlane retorted.
Maher said that while he trusts certain journalists, he gives little credit to what he reads.
“Everything I read. Whatever the source. It’s only a half truth,” the host said. “They print stories. They don’t print truth.”
MacFarlane called that view a “generalization,” and Marr said, “Yes, but that’s because it’s generally true.”
He added that journalists had printed the front page of the story before Mr MacFarlane could intervene. “By the way, that’s exactly what Donald Trump wants. What you just said is exactly what he wants.”
Mr. Maher rejected Mr. MacFarlane’s similarities to Mr. Trump, saying: “Hitler was a vegetarian. Doesn’t mean I look like him. [him]…But they print half the amount they want — that would make partisan, very partisan people like you. you want to read it. Oh, that feels good. ”
“They’re in the business of stroking the audience,” Maher concluded. “That’s what the media does, that’s what it is.”
The debate ended with MacFarlane saying that was a generalization that might be too broad, and Marr ended the exchange and moved on.
The topic of trust and the media was a recurring topic on Maher’s show. Conservative commentator Andrew Sullivan recently got into a heated debate with MSNBC host Ari Melber when he claimed the left-wing network was pushing “propaganda all the time.”
