Effectively used, framing facts with sensationalism or inaccuracies on a repeated basis changes the public perception of those facts. The tool is often used in communications to promote a specific message or narrative.
News media typically seek to report those activities that are outliers on the bell curve of activity and information, not the status quo. Yet, while taking that approach certainly grabs attention (in the form of increased viewers, readers or web hits), the labels or repeated descriptions given to certain institutions, people or organizations can bend the truth about their true performance.
Case in point: If you were to base the safety of the American airline industry on the number of news accounts of safe landings of airplanes versus the stories of crashes, in-flight problems and the use of air travel by terrorists, you’d have to conclude you are doomed to danger when traveling by air.
But that assessment would be wrong. A five-year retrospective analysis published by CNNMoney.com in May 2015 stated, “Nothing is safer than U.S. commercial planes, which have been involved in very few crashes” when compared to motorcycles (“a traveler’s most dangerous option”), automobiles (the highest occurrence of accidents and death due to volume), and commuter choices such as trains and buses.
Let’s take a look at the performance of Tennessee’s 109th General Assembly. The state’s budget is balanced with no tax increases. Legislation was passed to begin the final elimination of an income tax – the Hall Tax – that targeted the income of those who save and invest. Our state, only for the second time in its history, received a triple-A rating by all three credit ratings agencies because of its financial integrity in the past, present and foreseeable future. Teachers received a pay raise. Money used in previous years to pay for TennCare was returned to the road fund.
After 1,087 public acts, 68 private acts and 1,387 House Joint or House Resolutions and 993 Senate Joint or Senate Resolutions, Tennessee continues to lead these United States in its operation as a governing body serving as the steward of its collected taxes, budget, job growth and cost of living.
Yet, stories about bathroom privacy, gender identity and children’s safety as well as the official state book and gun managed to grab the headlines. Watching the news, Tennesseans might be convinced all residents walking the streets in the Volunteer State will be armed (not just the criminals).
But remember, Tennessee’s General Assembly did its job and kept its promises. Granted, some want to use your tax dollars to access services as if the government were a vending machine. Those folks aren’t happy because restraint in spending includes telling some interests, “No.”
In the Volunteer State, our leaders have taken heed to the wisdom of the ages:
“I predict future happiness for Americans, if they can prevent the government from wasting the labors of the people under the pretense of taking care of them.” – Thomas Jefferson
“A government big enough to give you everything you want is a government big enough to take from you everything you have.” – Gerald R. Ford
“A nation of sheep will beget a government of wolves.” – Edward R. Murrow
“As government expands, liberty contracts.” – Ronald Reagan
“The state is that great fiction by which everyone tries to live at the expense of everyone else.” – Frédéric Bastiat
Tennessee is, indeed, “America at its best.”
Robin Smith, former chairwoman of the Tennessee Republican Party, is owner of Rivers Edge Alliance.