TENTATIVE THESIS (ROUGH): Why does media bias matter in the news articles on Oakes Farm?

NEWSWEEK article

INFOWARS article

CONTEXT

Who

What

Where

When

Why

How

NBC News Correspondent who posted the video = Sam Brock

A 15-second video clip of a grocery store went viral

Grocery Store Owner is Alfie Oakes

Grocery Store is Oakes Farms Seed to Table Market

grocery store in Naples, Florida;

video posted on Twitter

Wednesday, February 3, 2021

Almost everyone (customer and employee) were not wearing masks. Sign posted outside allowed for exemptions w/ no ?s

posted on twitter; lots of retweets/shares

Voice

1 quote from Brock's tweet: "As Florida fights community spread of COVID on a massive scale, this is a 15-second snapshot of a supermarket in Naples. Many employees and customers—even older ones—with no masks on inside. Store sign outside cites 'medical exemptions,' we can't ask questions."

Shiva Bagheri (anti-mask protestor): described those taking part as "freedom lovers" in a clip streamed on Facebook Live.
"All about control, this has nothing to do with a deadly virus... because a mask does not protect you from a deadly virus," Bagheri said, disputing guidelines from health experts and scientists which have been imposed across the world amid the pandemic.

mainly observational

"fight" -- a bit sensational/slanted

assertions without evidence ("all about control.../nothing to do with a deadly virus"; "a mask does not protect you"

opinion stated as fact: "freedom lovers"

Slant

Factual Evidence

STAT/Harris poll: "The poll found that 75 percent of the public supports the idea of mandating a mask and a similar number believe people should be required to get tested if they feel sick.
The survey found two-thirds of Americans think President Biden should ban gatherings involving more than 10 people. Nearly as many, just under 60 percent, said the administration should temporarily close non-essential businesses such as restaurants and gyms and make vaccination mandatory."

Harris poll--longest standing and largest data set on COVID tracker in U.S. / STAT health-oriented news site

guidelines from health experts and scientists which have been imposed across the world amid the pandemic.

seemingly unsubstantiated but "common knowledge"

"Anti-mask demonstrations took place in grocery stores and other public shopping areas across the U.S. Earlier this month, a group of anti-mask protesters were met with opposition or refused entry into stores as they staged a demonstration against coronavirus safety protocols in Los Angeles.
The protesters live-streamed their antics as well as being followed by local reporters as they made their way through the Westfield Century City mall. Videos of the protest posted on social media include a number of physical and verbal altercations and one of the organizers appearing to be detained by police.

Last year, Oakes came under fire for claiming COVID-19 and the Black Lives Matter movement were hoaxes on Facebook


inclusion of detail (police)--no links

"antics" --spin

unsubstantiated; links to general topics; yet, easily google-able

unsubstantiated claims

mudslinging

lack of factual evidence

link to "national file" cite on CDC lying about #s

Slant

“There is hope in Naples, Florida” (1st line)

“NBC News’ Sam Brock did a hit piece on this fine establishment, spotlighting the store’s Optional Masks policy. The press is trying to scorn Oakes Farms’ owner who disputes the official COVID numbers. (READ: CDC Inflated COVID Death Numbers).

“But the real truth is actually a heartwarming source of citizen pride for anti-maskers and people with breathing-related medical conditions, according to sources on the ground.”

STRAND: “Citizen activist” ... “any patriot can choose to patronize [this store]” “populist fervor” “people rule[d] over”

Contrasted to “the press (1), globalist elites (1), “elites” (2), “establishment scold”

strand: "this is freedom"; hope; “fine establishment”; “heartwarming source of citizen pride for anti-maskers and people with breathing-related medical conditions”

(READ: CDC Inflated COVID Death Numbers).

establishment scold

“The press is trying to scorn Oakes Farms’ owner who disputes the official COVID numbers.”

also unsubstantiated

But the real truth is actually a heartwarming source of citizen pride for anti-maskers and people with breathing-related medical conditions, according to sources on the ground.

real truth of what? comes after quote on press "scorn[ing] owner for disputing official COVID #s

sources on the ground--what "ground"? the store? already a specific sample (avoiding other perspectives, etc)

unreliable source

pattern of exalting establishment

hope for what? "freedom" our country?

us vs. them

real people vs. "establishment" "elite"

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