It has been brought up quite a bit in other threads, but I thought we could make a new thread for discussing it separately. I don't like our media, and not many people do from what I've read here, but what is the problem? We've blamed the media and we've blamed each other for buying into it, but who drives the stories. Why do we have to hear about Anna Nicole rather than real issues? Is it that the viewers really care more about some washed up super model, is this an example of a biased media, is the media trying to hide something in the more pressing issues, is it just a ploy for the government to cover up its mistakes, or is Anna Nicole really that important?

My problem with the media (most reporters) is that they put their personal opinions in what they are reporting. This did not used to be the case, at least not as bad. When I watch the news I want the facts, not the facts with someones opinion mixed in. When this happen, people have trouble deciphering what is fact and what is fiction. This leads to people misunderstanding what was reported.

 

I like reporters who report the news without opinion. The same way I feel about Hollywood. I like many actors in movies, but I do not want to know what their opinion is on world or state politics. They may be great actors, that is their job, that does not mean that they know how to run a state, country, or the world. This is the same with the media, a reporter may have the looks, voice, and personality to report the news, but that does not mean they could run a state, country, or the world.

Ask 100 people to point to Iraq on the map. Ask them who the Secretary of Defense is.

 

Ask 100 people to pick Anna Nicole out of a lineup of 20 people. Ask them what her son's name was. Ask them what her daughter's name is.

 

I think people are tired of the war personally. They don't really care about the day to day over there because a majority of people don't think we need to be there.

 

You have one pro-Republican 24-hour network and two pro-Democrat 24-hour network. The war is the big topic now and they have run it into the ground.

 

What gets higher ratings? CNN's War Room or Extra! MSNBC's Hardball or Inside Edition?

 

For whatever reason, our society has shifted away from the hard news and structured TV shows and has become a entertainment-based society that thinks it's more important to watch Survivor than the Evening news.

 

Who was voted off Survivor Thursday? What was the top story on the local news?

Another big problem with the media is the spread of corporate ownership. When you've got bean-counters calling the shots instead of legitimate news people, news coverage will always suffer at the expense of squeezing a few extra pennies out of the product.

Another big problem with the media is the spread of corporate ownership. When you've got bean-counters calling the shots instead of legitimate news people, news coverage will always suffer at the expense of squeezing a few extra pennies out of the product.

VERY true...

Another big problem with the media is the spread of corporate ownership. When you've got bean-counters calling the shots instead of legitimate news people, news coverage will always suffer at the expense of squeezing a few extra pennies out of the product.

Are you suggesting all media should be designed as only not-for-profits?

We see what the Gatekeepers want us to see. Sensationalized media is what sells, as sad as that may be it is true. People want to see the murder, sex, drugs, the newest scandal, what ever it may be. Its not just the "news" anymore. It is a production, it is entertainment. Call it wagging the dog, call it whatever. We are talking about it and thats what "they" want.

Are you suggesting all media should be designed as only not-for-profits?

 

I don't know if I'd swing that far in the opposite direction. I would suggest instead that they squeeze a bit less from the product and instead invest those profits in better salaries and equipment, which would result in better coverage and ultimately a better product.

 

To put it another way: I have found it very hard at times to give my best to the papers I've worked for when I struggle to pay bills and student loans off.

The media's job is to report the news,regardless of who's toes it steps on.However,when it begins to report with a biased viewpoint or to report in line with views of a corporate sponsor,credibility must come into question.

The people should be cautious about allowing the media to become a fourth branch of government,unfettered by checks and balances. Sometimes I feel that we ar awfully close to this!

I don't know if I'd swing that far in the opposite direction. I would suggest instead that they squeeze a bit less from the product and instead invest those profits in better salaries and equipment, which would result in better coverage and ultimately a better product.

 

To put it another way: I have found it very hard at times to give my best to the papers I've worked for when I struggle to pay bills and student loans off.

In our free enterprise system, the goal is to make a profit. Lots of ways to do this. High quality product with high cost, low quantity sales but high dollar sales which translates into profit.

 

Or low quality product with low price and lower cost that translates into major sales and can mean more profit thant the first.

 

Either way, a business in our country is setup to make a profit. If you leave News Media as a business, don't you expect them to make a profit? And shareholders want high profit. You have a business and the bosses have shareholders wanting a return on their investment to answer to. And a good profit is not good enough. Sorta like being the coach at UK.

 

I don't know the answer but I don't feel outside of local newspapers, I can trust much of what is placed in the newspapers or on television outside of the sports or cartoon section.

 

I am 100% honest when I say that much of what I learn and believe about this nation and the things happening in the world I get through the filtering of debate over articles posted on BGP. While you and I agree on hardly anything, your debate on issues plays a HUGE ROLE in how my views are developed.

In our free enterprise system, the goal is to make a profit. Lots of ways to do this. High quality product with high cost, low quantity sales but high dollar sales which translates into profit.

 

Or low quality product with low price and lower cost that translates into major sales and can mean more profit thant the first.

 

Either way, a business in our country is setup to make a profit. If you leave News Media as a business, don't you expect them to make a profit? And shareholders want high profit. You have a business and the bosses have shareholders wanting a return on their investment to answer to. And a good profit is not good enough. Sorta like being the coach at UK.

 

I don't know the answer but I don't feel outside of local newspapers, I can trust much of what is placed in the newspapers or on television outside of the sports or cartoon section.

 

I am 100% honest when I say that much of what I learn and believe about this nation and the things happening in the world I get through the filtering of debate over articles posted on BGP. While you and I agree on hardly anything, your debate on issues plays a HUGE ROLE in how my views are developed.

Civil debate...that's what I'm talking about!! We may not always agree,but we can at least talk about it..and usually we all get something to think about!!! The way things were meant to be!!! Good Post!!!

In our free enterprise system, the goal is to make a profit. Lots of ways to do this. High quality product with high cost, low quantity sales but high dollar sales which translates into profit.

 

Or low quality product with low price and lower cost that translates into major sales and can mean more profit thant the first.

 

Either way, a business in our country is setup to make a profit. If you leave News Media as a business, don't you expect them to make a profit? And shareholders want high profit. You have a business and the bosses have shareholders wanting a return on their investment to answer to. And a good profit is not good enough. Sorta like being the coach at UK.

 

I don't know the answer but I don't feel outside of local newspapers, I can trust much of what is placed in the newspapers or on television outside of the sports or cartoon section.

 

I am 100% honest when I say that much of what I learn and believe about this nation and the things happening in the world I get through the filtering of debate over articles posted on BGP. While you and I agree on hardly anything, your debate on issues plays a HUGE ROLE in how my views are developed.

 

That is all true in theory, but the bane of a free market system is dumb consumers, IMO.

 

With that in mind, this is my follow up question: We know a lot of worthy news goes unreported while a spectacle is made out of a trashy celebrity break-up, but is this really what the consumers are demanding, or is it what the media feeds them and they are too dumb to change the channel?

That is all true in theory, but the bane of a free market system is dumb consumers, IMO.

 

With that in mind, this is my follow up question: We know a lot of worthy news goes unreported while a spectacle is made out of a trashy celebrity break-up, but is this really what the consumers are demanding, or is it what the media feeds them and they are too dumb to change the channel?

I hate to say this..and I know I'm going to get some flack over it..but I think it says a lot about,not just the intelligence of the average consumer,but the fact that sometimes the media grinds on one subject for so long,that ANY change is welcome,whether relevant or not. We,as a people,as a whole,have forgotten how to think for ourselves,and depend on the media to do it for us! And we digest whatever drivel they feed us.

In our free enterprise system, the goal is to make a profit. Lots of ways to do this. High quality product with high cost, low quantity sales but high dollar sales which translates into profit.

 

Or low quality product with low price and lower cost that translates into major sales and can mean more profit thant the first.

 

Either way, a business in our country is setup to make a profit. If you leave News Media as a business, don't you expect them to make a profit? And shareholders want high profit. You have a business and the bosses have shareholders wanting a return on their investment to answer to. And a good profit is not good enough. Sorta like being the coach at UK.

 

I don't know the answer but I don't feel outside of local newspapers, I can trust much of what is placed in the newspapers or on television outside of the sports or cartoon section.

 

I am 100% honest when I say that much of what I learn and believe about this nation and the things happening in the world I get through the filtering of debate over articles posted on BGP. While you and I agree on hardly anything, your debate on issues plays a HUGE ROLE in how my views are developed.

 

I appreciate that; it means a lot to me, and the feeling's mutual.

 

As far as earlier comments: I don't have a problem with making profits. But I think the news media is far too important in terms of its responsibility to inform the public and act as a watchdog for government to leave the major decisions in the hands of accountants — who don't care about the bigger picture, only the bottom line.

 

And the bottom line on newspapers — I can speak to that from experience, don't know so much about TV/radio — is incredible in comparison to the average business. The average newspaper clears about 20 percent profit margin.

That is all true in theory, but the bane of a free market system is dumb consumers, IMO.

 

With that in mind, this is my follow up question: We know a lot of worthy news goes unreported while a spectacle is made out of a trashy celebrity break-up, but is this really what the consumers are demanding, or is it what the media feeds them and they are too dumb to change the channel?

That would be my 2nd free enterprise example. Low quality product in mass marketing makes large profit. Low risk of loss.