Why the news is not really News
We are in a strange place these days where the “News” is no longer really the news. At least not in the traditional sense of News being unbiased, researched, factual.
The problem started years ago but is really gaining momentum now.
It seems to be a three headed monster creating a perfect storm of half truths and ignorance delivered in a whoever screams loudest is right reality.
Fox news is a major culprit here but its not the 10 million Fox news viewers that are the problem. They were never going to change their mind or were that interested in real news anyway and would watch whatever extreme news source told them what they wanted to hear. The problem with Fox news is that it supplies “Fox news” reports to their local new stations in cities all over the coiuntry. This means the casual viewer is getting Foxified facts in their daily local news program. This scenario is repeated in other venues with other titles as syndicated news stories are cheaper then original reporting. This is further inflamed by the cable tv model and 24 hour news cycle which means they need something to put on tv. Think a couple of news spinners setting the national news coverage for hundreds of outlets.
This is happening at the same time that America’s Newspapers and network tv news gathering organizations have been decimated by budget cuts, layoffs or outright closures. No more reliable newspapers and newsrooms means less journalists which means less responsible reporting and uncovering of truth which means more Foxified and syndicated news going unchallenged.
The third leg in this stool of News dilution is in fact the rise of the internet which interstingly is also largely at the root of the demise of Newspapers and Network News rooms. Now through the wonder of the internet any idiot can be a journalist and report. Sitting at a laptop they can write about whatever it is that moves them, email a crony for an opinion and voila the story is now validated with second and third sources and spun out on the internet into syndication on hundreds of sites looking for free content. This is how opinion becomes news today when in another time it would not have been more then a cocktail party rambling of a moron or even worse a person with an agenda.
This combination of Fox News*, demise of professional News organizations and journalists and rise of self proclaimed reporters in internet silo’s has created a perfect storm of stupidity, misinformation and general national ignorance about important issues. This has created the rabid, reality driven, those who scream loudest are right culture that truly threatens the American position in the world. Its hard to know where all this is going but it is clear this is a new, uncharted and dynamic reality.
For better or worse, a professional News class in America at least kept the national dialogue intelligent which can only be good for a country that wants to compete, improve and lead.
Sarah palin would be our worst nightmare–all mouth and she doesnt even respect the america we all love–she has a fake adventure in alaska to show how down to earth she is…all she would be in Government is a pawn for the republicans to control all—she has been used and doesnt even know it—the bad part of it all is many americans would vote for her ( not knowing what they did) and it woukld destroy our well efforts to be number one—I cant even imagine her as Governor of alaska– well again i can– she talks to the animals like the polar bear who does not repond back—wow that sure gives her qualifications to run for office—then her daughter who feels the world owes her a dance contest–wow whats become of us–i quess you can buy anything today she does anything to keep people thinking about her—what does she know on how to handle the worldly problems ZERO — President obama needs to find his spirit again– when he does.. he can win at anything— Mr President dont let anyone step on you again we believe in you– so start believing in you.. you have more power than you know—