Accomplishment Quote by Erick Erickson
“The press heralded this as a major accomplishment. The rush from the press as soon as it was announced suggested a high level of coordination. Like lemmings in a staged dive off a cliff, 'historic' became the media's rallying cry. There is nothing historic about the deal. In fact, news reports from November 2012 noted that China expected, in 2012, that its carbon emissions would begin to decline after 2030 because of factory upgrades, efficiencies, etc.”
About This Quote
The quote criticizes media hype that exaggerates events as historic despite lacking substance, comparing it to mindless behavior.
In simple terms: Media overhype can mask lack of real significance.
Questionify and verify claims before accepting hype.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- news consumption
- policy analysis
- public discourse
- media literacy
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- How can we discern genuine progress from hype?
- What responsibilities do journalists have in framing events?
The quote itself may be overly cynical, dismissing genuine achievements.