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As excited as I am to be here with the president, I am appalled to be surrounded by the liberal media that is destroying America, with the exception of Fox News. Fox News gives you both sides of every story: the president's side, and the vice president's side. But the rest of you, what are you thinking, reporting on NSA wiretapping or secret prisons in eastern Europe? Those things are secret for a very important reason: they're super-depressing. And if that's your goal, well, misery accomplished. Over the last five years you people were so good -- over tax cuts, WMD intelligence, the effect of global warming. We Americans didn't want to know, and you had the courtesy not to try to find out. Those were good times, as far as we knew.

Stephen Colbert#36

MediaSatireTruthAccountabilityPolicy

About this quote

What does it mean?
A satirical speech criticizing media for ignoring hard truths while praising outlets that avoid them entirely.
In plain terms
Reporters ignored bad news so people stayed happy.
What can you take from it?
Comfort often beats truth in media.

Where it applies

  • public discourse
  • media consumption
  • political debate

Putting it to work

  • support deep reporting
  • accept discomfort

Questions to consider

  • What stories are avoided for comfort?
  • How do you stay informed on upsetting topics?

Another view

Satire can preach to those already convinced.

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