Logical Fallacies in the Media

Paper Summary:

This paper demonstrates techniques that exist in the media that present facts and events that cause those viewing or listening to the media to respond in predictable ways. The paper reports how these 'logical fallacies' are very effective techniques for drawing forth the desired response from news media observers.

Outline:
Objective
Introduction
I. Argumentum Ad Populum
II. Argumentum Ad Misericordiam
III. The Anonymous Authority
Summary and Conclusion

From the Paper:

"Argumentum Ad Populum refers to that which is a commonly held belief. One example of this is the supposed fact, as touted by news media and the present Washington Administration that the country of Iraq had 'weapons of mass destruction' which where a threat to the national security and safety of the United States. In fact an entire war was based on these 'weapons of mass destruction' which have been found to most definitely 'not' exist. This use of the technique of 'Argumentum Ad Populum' has been used in the past by the government but not to this great extent or to the cost in terms of lives that these logical fallacies perpetrated. "

Sample of Sources Used:

• A List of Fallacious Arguments (2006) Online available at: http://www.don-lindsay-archive.org/skeptic/arguments.html.
• Dombrowski, E. (2006) Tricks of persuasion: fallacies of argument: The top hits of bad reasoning (2006) Media: Thinking Critically Online available at: http://peernet.lbpc.ca/edombrowski/media_criticism/02gfallacies.html.
• Fallacies (2006) Online available at: http://tkdtutor.com/04Students/Fallacies.htm.
• Hemsoth, Teresa (2006) Logical Fallacies and Media Awareness 9 Jan 2006 - Online available at: http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/16949/logical_fallacies_an d_ media_awareness.html.
• McCluskey, A. (2000) Anonymous, Arbitrary Authority....Or it is? 3 September 2000 Connected the Whole Universe is in Each One of Us. Online available at: http://www.connected.org/rights/trial.html.

More papers on Logical Fallacies in the Media:

• Essay # 83512 : "Fallacies in the Media"
• Analytical Essay # 60446 : "Fallacy and Critical Thinking"
• Persuasive Essay # 125386 : "The Negative Impact of Advertising"

APA Citation:

MLA Citation: