News channels like CNN, Fox (yes, I watch it sometimes), MSNBC, CBS, NBC, ABC.... all of them, all they do is sensationalize the news, make headlines with incomplete truths and offer comments instead of unfiltered and un-bias pieces of information.
Where did the honest and accurate reporting go?
Are Jon Steward and Stephen Colbert the real reporters now?
I understand that reporters and news channels are owned by big corporations with management and boards that have a need to sell products through advertisers that have a political preference (either liberal or conservative). If that works for them, fine! This is a free country. However, I don't understand why people take this kind of BS in silence.
I read and listen to both sides of the story all the time. I listen to conservative radio and read conservative news. I listen to NPR and watch CNN and MSNBC. I want to know what everyone has to say and how they report it. Then I make my own opinion about the truth.
Do you? Does anyone else?
Alright, I may have a lot of time in my hands (not!) or I may just be very cynical (more likely), but that is how I was raised. My parents thought me to be informed and use my own brain to figure out what is real and what is a plain lie or an exaggeration of the truth for the sake of selling air minutes. The latter is what strikes me the most. How can reporters be truthful to themselves when they know that they do not spend enough time on a story but instead they put something on air because they are told to do so or because they know it will sell advertising, capture audiences or give them more time in the air? Think of Dan Rather and his piece about George Bush's military record during the 2004 presidential campaign. That was a moment of stupidity that caused him his credibility. Was it worth it? I'm sure he wished he could turn time to go back and change his mind. Not that he lost his job at CBS or anything but people will not look at him the same way since that flop.
The other interesting thing about the stupidity in the media today is that when there is nothing sensational to report, news shows will blow up other things out of proportion.
For example:
Who the heck cares if the CraigList killer is getting married or not? Do you? How does that affect the populous in any way or form? This story is in every news website, just in case you wondered.
Is the swine flu such a big deal? Are schools closing because it is a dangerous infectious disease or because the news channels are making such a stink that parents are fricking out all over the country? Yes, the CDC called it a pandemic because it is expanding so fast but is it treatable? Yes. Do people really die? Yes, if they are not properly treated. I'm not saying that you can go and kiss or touch someone that has the swine flu, or that you don't have to be careful but from that to panic? You don't need me for that, you have your friendly news casts for it!
I used to laugh when I lived in California and they would suspend a show on regular TV at any point in time because they needed to air a police car pursuit live. There was this reporter, I can't remember his name, that used to comment every twist and every turn as if people couldn't watch it themselves unravel on the small screen. Fascinating (not!).
When I first moved to Texas, I was amazed that there weren't any bad news on TV so some news shows would have "special interest" pieces where they would teach people how to cook the perfect egg! (no, I'm not making this up).
And all of this was going on while brave young americans were fighting the war in Afghanistan or dying in Iraq ... it is sad, very sad.
I have yet to see a news program that actually informs people of what is really going on around the world. For example that the Taliban is taking more control of nuclear-loaded and capable Pakistan (www.reuters.com) or that there is a war going on in Sri-Lanka (http://www.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idUSTRE54004720090501), or that there are kids still dying every day in Africa or that the number of kidnappings in Argentina has grown to levels such as those in Colombia in the 1990s...
But why would any corporate giant want to show these news? What can we gain from Sri-Lanka, from Africa, or South America?
There is no oil to take, no land to exploit, no commercial gain from interfering with those areas of the world.
So, if you want to be informed and know what is going on in your country and around the world. Read newspapers, watch all sorts of news shows, surf the internet, listen to the radio, ... get the information and form your own opinion.
If you are lazy and want others to tell you what is going on... then stick to your favorite news channel and remain smiling in your bubble because that is where you live "in a bubble that is far apart from reality!"
Opinionated Out ...
