Freedom of the Press

The Death of Media

I recognize that all things change and grow with time. I also know that time also allows decay and atrophy to set in. The media is a shell of its former self and is dying before our eyes. The unfortunate byproduct of the death of media is the vacuum of information that is has left in its wake. Why is it important to have news and where do we get it from?

In past generations, the media linked people to the government. The media was a watchdog and kept an eye on the government in the peoples’ interest. The media relished the opportunity to dig and find truth. Once the media became a corporate interest, it was no longer about presenting the news of the day to people. The media no longer cares about educating or informing citizens. The moment that “host” replaced “anchor”, the role of media shifted from news to infotainment. The News, which used to be one of the most important shows on the original three networks, is now about entertaining the audience and achieving ratings. In some cases the news is wholly about ideology so every story is skewed left or right.

One of the most laughable catch phrases of the last decade or so has been Fox News with “Fair and Balanced”… Many of the hosts on Fox are neither fair nor do they deliver the information in a balanced way. Fox News is pushing ideology. Bill O’Reilly, Hannity, and the rest of the cast or characters are clearly advocates for a conservative ideology. On the left, carrying the liberal message are the arrogant stylings of Keith Olberman and Rachel Maddow on MSNBC. Channels are now pumping out ideology in place of real news.

I don’t care about Tiger Woods, his smashed up SUV, how many social climbers, porn stars, or others that he slept with. Tiger Woods is a degenerate and a lousy father and husband, but he does not warrant “news” coverage. If anything, a message across the bottom of the screen is sufficient. People didn’t even know that the President was making a prime time address last week from West Point about widening the war in Afghanistan. On the other hand, people know the name of the newest woman to come forward about sleeping with Tiger Woods. If you buy the Vietnam War parallels, and there are many, then this foreign policy decision can have major implications on a reelection bid. It was a one day story.

The 24 hour news cycle has destroyed one of the most important of American institutions- the free press. The press is no longer free if it’s been bought and paid for by corporate America. News is no longer about fact; it’s about spinning a truth.