tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7179048494901365426.post7328136286289434305..comments2024-01-16T03:21:37.695-08:00Comments on Gancho: Dilemma for 2011 (and 2012, 2013, et cetera)pchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13973333514392213258noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7179048494901365426.post-85199076065881609662011-01-06T17:33:12.164-08:002011-01-06T17:33:12.164-08:00There's no question that there is a lot of tru...There's no question that there is a lot of truth to that, which is why I think it's hard to fault individual news organizations. Though I think there could also be more detailed political reporting like what you see on PBS or in the NY Times; not a lot of that here. That's not good news, per se, but it's useful info for the public to know and it gets short shrift in my opinion. Anyway, even though I dont think you can say Media Outlet X is guilty for writing story X, the overall effect is nonetheless pernicious, and it feeds a sense of and fear and cynicism. Confronted with all of these outlets doing these types of stories, I think it becomes hard for consumers of media to maintain a sense of perspective about what Mexico really is confronting, and it helps build this idea of the narco as 10-foot super men. <br /><br />RE Colts vs. Ravens, I'd rather play Flacco, even this year, than Manning and the Colts. Jury's still out on him in the fourth quarter.pchttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13973333514392213258noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7179048494901365426.post-21187292310087529482011-01-04T14:07:24.280-08:002011-01-04T14:07:24.280-08:00Agree that the tone and quantity are interesting i...Agree that the tone and quantity are interesting issues for the domestic press. As far as alternative stories or self-presentation, however, the essential problem is that you need actual good news, and good NEW news at that, if you want to counteract "if it bleeds, it leads." Successful forestry management models and the world's biggest chimichanga will only garner so many stories. Mexico's status as, despues de todo, a generally awesome country ain't gonna cut it for either the domestic or international press.<br /><br />At least for this week, I'm a Colts fan inasmuch as I'd rather play them than Baltimore in Round 2. The Chiefs would be the greatest gift of all, obviously, but Ed Reed and Terrell Suggs are bigger badasses than Nnamdi Asomugha and Richard Seymour, and we saw what happened to Matt Cassel the other day.jdnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7179048494901365426.post-17857177999548030302011-01-03T19:00:53.806-08:002011-01-03T19:00:53.806-08:00Likewise. I'm expecting big things from 2011. ...Likewise. I'm expecting big things from 2011. <br /><br />And don't go overlooking the Colts!!<br /><br />I think the incessant focus on Brazil as the terrain for the argument is a bit odd and not particularly enlightening, but I am interested in the debate about how much attention the media should give to crime stories and what tone they should use. I dont agree that Mexican individuals and news outlets themselves are foolish for focusing on it, exactly, although Im not sure Aguilar does either (hence the lack of blame handed to individuals). After all, individually, virtually all the crime stories are newsworthy and interesting, even if they are of limited national impact (i.e. la Pelirroja from Monterrey this week and last). But the impact of all the attention as a whole is negative, or better said has a significant negative side effect, and Mexico would be better off were it lessened.pchttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13973333514392213258noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7179048494901365426.post-67746650762362288492011-01-03T15:55:24.205-08:002011-01-03T15:55:24.205-08:00I tried to follow that exchange a couple weeks bac...I tried to follow that exchange a couple weeks back but gave up. The premise is dumb. The international press is still happy to cover Rio crime stories. The fact is that even though Rio's problems are still massive, the trajectory is toward improvement. As is the case for Brazil as a whole. Contrasted with Mexico's obviously worsened security situation and the much more difficult economic environment over the past few years, the differing narratives are, more or less, correct. There may be plenty to bitch about with respect to Mexico's self-marketing and self-confidence, but contrasting with Brazil isn't very illuminating (and Gomez's purely Mex-prismed response isn't much help either).<br /><br />PS Speaking of natural pessimists: Go Steelers (until we get to Foxboro).<br /><br />And happy new year...jdnoreply@blogger.com