In a great editorial in yesterday’s Chosun Ilbo, MBC and their PD Notebook was roundly criticized for basing their findings on false information for purely sensationalistic purposes.
Per the editorial:
The images broadcast by the program were fresh in the minds of people across the country who came out into the streets to take part in candlelight vigils. Now it turns out that the main points made by “PD [Notebook]” were false….
Staggering and falling down, also known as “downer cow” symptoms, are not the main symptoms of bovine spongiform encephalopathy. The symptoms can come from problems with metabolism, fractures, and weakness due to disease. But “PD [Notebook]” inserted the caption “BSE-infected cow” as it showed a downer cow….
After it was cited numerous times for inaccuracy and was referred to the Press Arbitration Commission, “PD [Notebook]” on May 13 belatedly and grudgingly acknowledged at the end of a follow-up program on U.S. beef that all downer cows were not infected with mad cow disease… It’s as if MBC had virtually set the entire country on fire and was trying to hide the matches.
(Emphasis mine) You can read the rest here.
17 Comments
Little off tangent, but is PD 수첩’s official English translated title PD Diary or PD Notebook? I’m writing a narrative encyclopedia entry on Hwang (fun, right?) and found myself alternating between the two.
It appears to be more commonly translated as “PD Notebook.” 수첩 is in fact a notebook and 일기 is the more common word for diary. It was generally referred to as PD Notebook by the foreign press during their expose of Dr. Hwang’s fake cloning research.
It was translated as “PD Diary” in the editorial. However, for consistency’s sake, I’ll change it from Diary to Notebook.
I don’t think it’s fair to put this program under yellow Journalism because of recent programs on “Mad cow disease”. Especially Chosun ilbo (or Cho-Joong-Dong) shouldn’t be the one criticizing MBC “PD diary”. Chosun was the one who created all propaganda story about “Mad cow disease” under Rho admin. I think most of time MBC “PD Diary” played well on its mission. And did we already forget how it dug out the facts on “Hwang Woo-seok” syndrome?
What MBC did (and seem ready to do again) is practically the definition of yellow journalism. But I agree, why stop with one outlet in an industry riddled with shoddy producers?
I’d like to see someone in Korea uncover payments or other unseemly behind-the-scenes dealings at MBC in connection to the Mad Cow travesty.
What MBC and PD basically did was yell “Fire!” in a crowded theater.
I too would like to see if someone at MBC accepted a thick white envelope to get PD to hash out that sorry excuse for “journalism.”
Already aired clarifications? How about a “we’re sorry” to the tens of thousands who they made look bovinely foolish to demonstrate because of complete falsifications?
You know, I’m happy the Press Arbitration Commission found against “PD Notebook,” but still, it has to give you a chuckle to see the Chosun Ilbo celebrating the use of the Media Arbitration Commission by the government to punish a media company for running an anti-government report.
Are all Korean media sources ignoring the distinction between CJD and vCJD? I fail to see how someone suffering CJD is relevant to BSE.
I think it’s time for some Frank:
You will obey me while I lead you
And eat the garbage that I feed you
Until the day that we don’t need you
Don’t call for help…no one will heed you
You’re mind is totally controlled
You will be stuffed into my mold
And you will do as you are told
Until the rights to you are sold
Hey!
My favorite part is the “Hey”!
I believe the whole thing is a conspiracy, propogated by the manufacturers of candles to boost sales.
Question:
I didn’t know about the “press arbitration commission” but I’m glad there’s a watchdog out there, and hope it’s non-affiliated.
Is there any system in place to recognize excellence in journalism here in Korea; does the commission give credit where it’s due, as well as smacking the baddies?
Do you think think that kind of thing would help — kind of a domestic equivalent to the Pulitzer Prize? Carrots generally work better than sticks, and something desperately needs to be done to raise the bar, to give young journalism students something to aspire towards, rather than falling into the habits of their seniors, who were trained in the Park Chunghee “Media as Government’s PR Department” days.
퓨릿저 프라이즈, here we come!
These days, news media are nothing but edutainments. They entertain you and sell advertizement.
To gain and keep viewers, these entertainment ventures have to re-inforce viewers’ pre-existing bias.
Yellow journalism? All journalism are yellow.
If journalists are appointed by presidents and serve life-term of “unbias fact-finding”, then we may see something other than yellow journalism.
Nah, they’ve got their friends and relatives.
There is a Press Arbitration Commission, really, where have they been lately. I like your idea Roboseyo, but the judging panels of these competitions in most other countries are made up of the press unions or organisations, it would be interesting if this committee did that instead. And unfortunately the pressure from the editor to make a attention grabbing headline may be greater than the prestige of a peer awarded prize.
Any program that creates reasonable suspicion that the USA is trying to do something underhanded or evil to Korea will create a firestorm in this country. Its what the general public has been taught for a long time. For most young Koreans, the greatest political enemies of the Korea are Japan and the USA. Thus, any story true or false will simple reinforce long held beliefs. PD Notebook by its nature tries to engage in sensational journalism.
It doesn’t really matter to me whether it’s this commission or some other group that does it — just anyone, anyone, set up a foundation and get some good minds on the panel to reward good journalism!
Lee Geon-hee, now that you’re not working for Samsung anymore, but still loaded. . . here’s your chance to rescue your reputation from the dung-heap. Considering the way you nearly managed to get the press to demonize your whistle-blower and discredit him, and then later, the press was all crying out, “Don’t go after Samsung — look the other way. . . FOR KOREA!”, it’d be especially poetic if it were you — kind of like the inventor of dynamite creating the Nobel Peace Prize.
You can even pretend it was your idea. I don’t mind.
More yellow journalism?:
Korea not the world’s broadband leader anymore!?! Surely a damnable lie! And moreover:
See the chart on the link. Korea’s now #5 for broadband - not that it matters, apparently.
http://www.economist.com/scien.....d=11434920
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[...] “PD Diary”, which aired on April 29, consolidated the belief among Koreans both young and old that U.S. beef equals mad cow disease by showing horrific images and featuring shocking incidents for 10 straight minutes. The images broadcast by the program were fresh in the minds of people across the country who came out into the streets to take part in candlelight vigils. Now it turns out that the main points made by “PD Diary” were false. [Chosun Ilbo via TMH] [...]
[...] AND STUFF PD Notebook’s bout of Yellow Journalism (The [...]