Tribune vs. Texan headline demonstrates media manipulation of news

I’ve a clear example for you of how drastically different the same story can be colored by media outlets with just a headline.

The liberal-leaning Texas Tribune ran this headline on 9 July: “Border apprehensions dropped in June, but federal officials say crisis continues.” The summary subhead read: “While announcing the number of migrants apprehended along America’s southern border, the Trump administration also warned that the one-month change does not signal that the influx of people crossing is over.”

The conservative-leaning subscription site The Texan ran this headline about the same statistics released by the feds: “Border Apprehensions Remain Above 100,000 For Fourth Consecutive Month.” The summary subhead read: “As expected, overall border apprehensions dropped from their 13-year high in May as the summer heat takes effect, but totals still remain in six-figures.”

Same story, opposite meaning delivered to readers from the headlines and subheads.

The Tribune wants you to think that the border crisis has eased and only “officials say” the crisis continues which of course means they could be making it up. The Texan points out that even with the so-called “easing” we are catching over 100,000, a whopping number if ever there was one. The Texan implies, rightly by the way, that the summer heat usually causes a drop in the numbers.

Most readers only scan headlines, subheads, and possibly the first paragraph. That’s one reason is it so easy to mislead or put a story in a particular light. Scanning through and picking out the actual facts in a story goes a long way toward avoiding being fooled.