Anyone else annoyed/bemused with US media?

mammasan

Dan Rather made a good remark on Bill Mahr a few weeks ago when he stated that reporting the news has taken a back seat to entertainment. He stated that the media in this country has stop presenting the facts, he included himself in the criticism, in favor of ratings.

FromWayBack

Even though posting this here will be preaching to the choir...

Bill Moyers is starting a new show on PBS called "Bill Moyers Jounral" and the first topic is how the mainstream press screwed up the war coverage.

Go here for more details:
http://www.pbs.org/moyers/journal/index.html

bookmuse

Jeanwah wrote:

I can see how this could be true, seeing that the news in the U.S. has become nothing but entertainment. Now the question stands is how they can make the news as entertaining as Dancing with the Stars and American Idol...They'd better continue updating us on the saga of Anna Nicole's baby, cause no one seems to want to hear actual news anymore, and Bush's administration continues to keep the real news hidden.

Maybe people watch American Idol and Dancing with the Stars because there is so much "bad" in the news, people want to tune out...

I scan headlines to read the news I want and skim over a lot of the more horrifying stories, i.e. the children who were murdered then thrown in the washer and dyer etc...I think too much of the grisly and sensational has been reported (the news is like a Jerry Springer show anymore and is unfit to watch with your kids in the house) instead of more of the high level report on the state of things. It's correlates to parenting-concentrate all your efforts on the bad, you will get and see the bad. The news needs to get back to finding good stories and reporting responsibly on this horrible war and not sensationalizing and analyzing school shootings and celebrity issues. People have been de-sensitized or others (like myself) feel so disconnected because I can not physically or mentally tolerate this so called news anymore and don't watch it.

People really need to stop watching and contact these media outlets (Grandpa Simpson style, maybe) and say NO MORE...we want responsible journalism and will not watch until they change. There are plenty of outlets or entertainment-the news -well, I hate the fucking news. I can not believe CNN had a shot ticker (Boycott time)

Brain of J.Lo

bookmuse wrote:

Maybe people watch American Idol and Dancing with the Stars because there is so much "bad" in the news, people want to tune out...

I really strongly believe there is something to this. I also think this is the reason for the sudden influx of tabloid/entertainment "news" out there.

bookmuse

cutback wrote:

something i've wondered and i think i'll ask it here........i just got home and turned on the tv and dateline is on and stone jackoff is interviewing the father of one of the vt victims...........my question is......why would anyone want to go on tv and be exploited like that?.........i just lost my daughter in a violent murder so please mic me up and lets chat..........:rolleyes:

That's always puzzled me too -not sure how that would help the grieving process. The media catches them when they're still in shock maybe? Or that 15 minutes of fame thing -they want to be on T.V.. It's hard to know what one would do if those shoes were their own but I'm pretty damn sure that would be the last place I'd be if that were my kid.

bookmuse

Brain of J.Lo wrote:

I really strongly believe there is something to this. I also think this is the reason for the sudden influx of tabloid/entertainment "news" out there.

Yes, I agree. Mindless entertainment and escapism. Life is very stressful and hard and it may be comforting to some to see that rich, beautiful and famous people are just as messed up as anyone one of us.