Surrender, Integrity

I don't watch much CNN anymore, or TV news in general for that matter. I figure since there's no longer a steady paycheck to provide the requisite level of incentive, there's really no need to subject myself to most of the horseshit the networks try to pass off as legitimate news these days.

The average human digestive tract can handle only so many breathless reports on the latest out-of-control teens or bombastic warnings about the threat posed by plastic water bottles before it goes all Lovecraft and starts trying to force itself out of any orifice it can find. I'd like to believe that joining the ranks of those who play 24/7 watchdog to the news industry -- the ones attempting to Quixotically stand against the tide of daily abuses -- will make some kind of difference, but I'm just not sure that's the case.

As much as I want to feel otherwise, I don't think organizations like Media Matters really, well, matter. They're fighting the good fight and bringing the power of new media to bear against a previously unchecked leviathan, sure -- but there are times when I can't help but believe they're stoically trying to empty Lake Michigan with a spoon. I realize that this kind of thinking stands in sharp contrast to some of the antagonistically insurgent, all-or-nothing statements I've made in the past. But when a discordian convergence of the magnitude that we've witnessed in the past several days occurs, it makes me just want to throw in the towel, take my Paxil and let the chemically-induced somnambulance wash over me like a warm bath.

It started last week, at the annual National Association of Broadcasters convention in Las Vegas. The event's keynote speaker was none other than actor, activist and occasionally pompous ass Tim Robbins; he took the opportunity to verbally scold America's broadcasting community while simultaneously calling upon it to remember its responsibility to the public, reinvest itself in quality product and turn away from celeb-fellating, political ass-kissing, ratings-driven nonsense. Needless to say, Robbins received a warm reception and a staunch chorus of amusingly indignant "hear hears" from the crowd, which then dispersed to head back to the bar, then to the casino, then to the panel discussion entitled "Tits and TV: How To Make a Freezing Cold Air Conditioner Work for You," then to the Cheetah lounge.

Given the amount of lip service paid to Robbins's noble but perfunctory attempt at forcing change from within the industry, you'd figure on at least a minor grace period of self-reflection and soul-searching from America's broadcasters before completely disregarding any drunken vows taken in Vegas to clean up their act. You'd of course be wrong. Sure, executives say they want to see integrity and honor restored to television and radio -- particularly when it comes to news. But here's the thing: Each person sincerely believes it's the other guy who's to blame.

Finding a news or programming manager who'll say that he or she is even partially responsible for inundating the airwaves with crap is like trying to nail down Warren Jeffs on Father's Day. These people are like addicts: They'll never admit they've got a problem. Which is why, just one week after Robbins' verbal beat-down and the obligatory head-hanging and hand-wringing it produced, two of America's most powerful television networks are still doing what they do best -- and that's whatever the hell they have to do to get ratings, regardless of how shameful an abandonment of their responsibility to respectable broadcasting.

Two nights ago, NBC's strangely successful game show Deal or No Deal was visited -- via a satellite image displayed on a huge, somewhat Orwellian monitor -- by George W. Bush. The president was on hand to lend his support to a contestant on the show -- a captain in the U.S. Army who pulled three tours of duty in Iraq and whom dingbat host Howie Mandel referred to as "the ultimate American." (As Mandel is Canadian, who knows whether he was being slightly facetious.) The surreal image of a giant George W. Bush head doing its self-deprecating "aw shucks" routine while wishing the best to a man who's spent the past few years dodging bullets and picking sand out of his ass in the name of a war Bush himself started was almost too much to take. All that was missing was a final Vaudevillian mug to the camera and a hearty "Sock it to me!"

Despite Bush's on-air joke that he's "happy to be anywhere with good ratings," however, the numbers for the most recent Deal or No Deal actually mirrored Bush's own anemic approval rating these days: The show matched its lowest Monday night numbers ever.

Incidentally, the president's support didn't do much good for the contestant either: The Iraq war vet went from banking around $140,000 to just a little over $25,000 before finally recouping some of his losses -- which makes this just the latest instance of a U.S. soldier being fucked by George Bush.

While there's technically nothing wrong with giving the president a forum on a harmless game show, NBC has spent so much time over the past several years pandering to this administration -- going along with it in the name of condescendingly appealing to the GOP's cheerleading base -- that you'd think by now the network would want to draw a very distinct line between itself and the miasma of controversy that is the Bush White House. This would be particularly important given the criticism NBC News -- and to be fair, most other news organizations -- endured from those who claim the network gave Bush and company a pass during the lead up to the Iraq war. But, once again, network executives aren't interested in legitimacy in programming or news -- they're interested in being able to promote appointment television. In their eyes, that's what Bush's appearance on Deal or No Deal was (although the audience apparently thought differently).

Likewise, NBC saw nothing untoward about handing off an entire hour of Today to first lady Laura Bush and her twin daughters yesterday morning. It may seem innocuous at first glance, but really, think about it: The wife and kids of a low-rated and staggeringly divisive president, taking the reins of a network news show -- even one as toothless as Today. It's a jaw-dropping violation of the fragile but sacrosanct Rubicon dividing the government from those whose job it is to police and maintain an adversarial relationship with it. Murrow would've quit before allowing something like that to happen on his watch.

But if you think that's bad, it's a journalistic parking ticket compared to what CNN just did: It hired former White House Press Secretary and Fox News shill Tony Snow. I've had plenty to say recently about CNN's comically inept attempts at proving to the Fox Fans that it can be trusted with their viewership; the network has basically bent over backward and twisted itself into one ethical pretzel after another trying to gain momentum against FNC's ratings juggernaut -- abandoning every principle it swore to uphold at its inception and napalming the very last vestiges of its journalistic credibility in the precious name of ad revenue.

CNN is as guilty as anyone of not holding the government accountable for its offenses over the past several years; although not the blatant mouthpiece for the White House that Fox has been, CNN in some ways abandoned its post in an even more egregious manner. No one with a brain ever expected Fox to tell the truth, not with Republican interests at stake; CNN had a responsibility to be the necessary beacon in the night -- to balance out the bullshit -- and instead, it drank the Kool-aid, hopped on the bus and did exactly what it was told to do by people like, irony of ironies, Tony Snow. In some ways, it only makes sense that the circle is now complete and the chicken hawk has come home to roost -- but it damn sure doesn't make it right.

CNN, in its relentless pursuit of Fox's audience, has just closed the White House's deal to buy the media outlet that should've been standing against it all along. It really is enough to make even the staunchest defender of journalistic independence give up once and for all. Malcolm X once famously told a crowd, "You've been hoodwinked; you've been had; you've been took; you've been led astray; you've been bamboozled." Turns out, he was only half-right -- because when it comes to today's broadcast media, you're still being hoodwinked, took, led astray and bamboozled. And I'm not sure there's a damn thing that can be done about it anymore.

Follow Chez Pazienza on Twitter: www.twitter.com/chezpazienza

Comments

[coolrepublica]

CNN is worthless because they try to have a balance view of the news and issues. Because the country is not made of only liberals. I know it's hard to believe, but republicans breath air too and they like to watch TV.

So you can't stand CNN because they hires someone whose views you don't like. So as the writer said, stick to Huffington Post. You are guaranteed never, ever to hear any views that you did not already have. Some might call it propaganda, but most who frequent this site like to call it " A Place For Friends."

[kappa08]

CNN?...

[standforpeace]

On Sunday, the NYT had an extensive story on the analysts that the broadcast media brought on to explain what was happening in Iraq. As you all will remember they were prominently featured on every chanel in the first coupld of years of the war (and still pop up whenever there's a new offensive). It turns out that these retired military officers were all in collusion with the White House (for example attending secret briefings to get "talking points"). Also many of them were employed as corporate consultants or had other business interests that benefitted directly from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. These "so called" independent analysts often made assertions that contradicted what reporters on the ground in Iraq were saying, but CNN and all the rest continued to employ them and treat them as independent trusted experts.

Disgraceful!

[booksnmore4you]

Once elected, Obama should sidestep all these goons and deal with the alternative media. Let the biggies have to suck up to the alternative press.

[Marlyn]

"I don't watch much CNN anymore, or TV news in general for that matter."

Me neither. I've been clean for five years now. Don't miss it. In fact it has become part of my religion to avoid TV. It is mostly just advertising anyway.

[drkazmd65]

I still watch PBS News Hour with some regularity, and watch some of the local nightly news for local flavor (at least as long as I can stand it), sports, local traffic in the mornings, and weather forcasts. However, I can't think of the last time I actually intentionally sat down and watched any of the National Network News shows, or any of those alleged investigative news shows like "48-hours".

It is all horseshit almost all of the time.

[mwclarkson]

People in general will always prefer coverage that accommodates their biases. Moreover, inane shouting matches between ignorant blowhards is always more entertaining than calm, rational consideration of issues. It's easy and correct to criticize the networks for not providing unbiased, sane coverage, but we must also acknowledge that they provide it because people desire it. The viewers must also be criticized. Are they not infotained?

[lobear00]

If a Democrat does take the Office, the first thing on the agenda should be to break apart the Corporate Media structure. Its time the media answers for its crimes.

[andyboy]

lobearoo,

Nice dream. Read this if you will:

"Congressional Democrats are backing away from healthcare reform promises made by their two presidential candidates, saying that even if their party controls the White House and Congress, sweeping change will be difficult.­..Sen. Charles Schumer (N.Y.), a member of Senate Democratic leadership and a key Hillary Clinton ally who also sits on the Finance Committee, said he is 'not sure we have the big plan on healthcare­.'...'Heal­thcare I feel strongly about, but I am not sure that we're ready for a major national healthcare plan,' Schumer said..

The Democrats couldn't care less about you or breaking apart Corporate Media.

Or Healthcare reform. Your government hates you and only uses you for the taxes you pay.

No one is going to pay for any crimes. It isn't a crime to buy a station and fill it with content, any content, you want.

Everybody wants to blame somebody else for America's problems.

Just like everybody wanted somebody else to protect the integrity of the media.

It's not my fault. I don't believe al that bullshit on the TV. Did I do anything about it? Well no I thought Nancy Pelosi was on it.

You are getting exactly the America you deserve. You didn't protest. You didn't stand up. You didn't boycott the stations and their sponsers.

Good men sit idly by.

[dave]

Tony Snow is a shameless right-wing hack. BOO CNN!!

I'll watch MSNBC instead where they have truth tellers like Keith Olbermann

[Spockian]

Apparently, no one here - including the author - is aware of CIA Operation MOCKINGBIRD. "Those who will not learn history are condemned to repeat it."

[elisunday]

You nailed it, pal.

[fitconnection]

Couldn't agree more. The television media is worthless.

[janeb]

Then there is only one thing to do about it. DON"T WATCH IT!!! I get my news from the Internet and I do watch Keith Olberman. That is it. CNN may not like it so well if they lose what viewers they have. FOX has the righties. CNN isn't going to change that. They are stupid if they think they win over that crowd. MSNBC had a chance, but they just the same with screwballs like Joe Scarborough, Pat Buchanan, Chris Matthews, and the like. MSNBC does have Keith Olbermann and Rachel Maddow. But thats just about it. CNN has nothing to offer and add to that Tony Snow. Forget about it. Do like me, kick the cable news habit. It ain't that bad. I read books, watch old movies, and read Huffpo. I don't miss them at all.

[Mike O.]

"FOX has the righties"

FOX routinely beats the other stations hands-down in ratings.

What does that tell you about the make-up of the country?

If you guessed that the majority of the country is center-right, you were correct.

When will you libs learn this fact? MSNBCs ratings suck because only about 17 people agree with their garbage. But you just go on telling yourselves that it's everyone ELSE who's wrong.

[holyhandgrenaid]

Well, CNN has Jack Cafferty, and while hes not perfect, at least hes fairly objective

[Dimikats]

RE the MSM, I agree that they're crap...but don't say investigative journalism isn't being done. Mother Jones (yes, they're still around) has a new investigative wing (funded by contributions from you and me, natch) that has been conducting even more in-depth reporting. MoJo doesn't have a television presence, but they do print a monthly magazine and definitely have a web presence http://www.motherjones.org//). I support them as much as I can. And, of course, also watch The Daily Show. :)

[ibivi]

I am positive that Howie knows a buffoon when he sees one. He is very smart and clever but DOND has managed to suppress that side of him. The Bushies get to walk away scott free and their toadies find good jobs (except the former AG). Did you see Snow on the Daily Show a while back? Stewart told him that he admired him. My jaw dropped. So now I have another reason to pass CNN on by.

[wmfor]

But CNN is part of the liberal media. The liberal media. The liberal media. Write it 100 times on the blackboard, and you will believe it. The liberal media. The elitist liberal media. (Just toss that in occasionally for variety.)

[tchristin]

This fantasy that the media is "liberal' is perpetuated by uninformed individuals when the facts are that every single major news source is now owned by a corporation or individual who is anything but liberal. They are not anything, they are simply interested in selling laundry detergent. They don't have a point of view on politics or news anymore than The National Inquirer.

PS - Define the word 'liberal' and define the word 'conservative' so your ocmment can be understood­..

[Mike O.]

The media is liberal. Get over it. This is a fact that cannot be disputed, no matter how much you wish it weren't true.

study done by UCLA:
http://newsroom.ucla.edu/portal/ucla/Media-Bias-Is-Real-Finds-UCLA-6664.aspx

"The fourth most centrist outlet was "Special Report With Brit Hume" on Fox News, which often is cited by liberals as an egregious example of a right-wing outlet. While this news program proved to be right of center, the study found ABC's "World News Tonight" and NBC's "Nightly News" to be left of center. All three outlets were approximately equidistant from the center, the report found.


"If viewers spent an equal amount of time watching Fox's 'Special Report' as ABC's 'World News' and NBC's 'Nightly News,' then they would receive a nearly perfectly balanced version of the news," said Milyo, an associate professor of economics and public affairs at the University of Missouri at Columbia.

Five news outlets — "NewsHour With Jim Lehrer," ABC's "Good Morning America," CNN's "NewsNight With Aaron Brown," Fox News' "Special Report With Brit Hume" and the Drudge Report — were in a statistical dead heat in the race for the most centrist news outlet. Of the print media, USA Today was the most centrist."

Facts...I know liberals hate them, but there they are...

[k6007]

Three different "news" networks. All with the very same three talking points. Played on a loop for 24-48hrs. Musical chairs "commentators" who(surprise, surprise) say the exact same thing. Not only that they all have the very same opinion, about what they think. Hannity, Dobbs,Matthews. MSNBC, FOX,CNN. All the same. Purveyors of misinformation. Fox purchased the tapes of Rev. Wright's sermons, yet one never heard the comments that preceded 'Chickens come home to roost"
Colms, Martin,Scarsbrough. Paid actors, the whole lot of them.
Research your own facts, thats the only way you're going to get them. Oh, that "trip" Wright, Farrakhan, and Jackson took was to negotiate the release of a military pilot being held hostage. Some thanks they received, huh? If I could find that info, and the msm could not, what good are they to the public?

[Oldgypsy]

If more people knew THE FACTS of the "Clinton Family Business" ie: the brokering of America, Hillary couldn't buy a vote anywhere. Last year, Lou Dobbs blows the whistle on "The Dubai Ports Deal" but conspicuously fails to mention Bill Clinton's significant involvement in that fiasco! As I live in Canada, I have no access to MSNBC, very little Fox, and of course, plenty of CNN. It boggles my mind what the media fails to report. They have become a festering sore on the carcas of a profession that once TRIED to enlighten.
More and more, I come to the Huff-Post and The Hill and am seeking more such sources where facts are abundant and MY thinking processes stimulated!
I keep wondering when CNN will find the audacity to bring in as a consultant, the dog catcher of DC?
I want to see if Wolf Blitzer can introduce him with a strait face and if Jack Cafferty can contain his disgust long enough not to vomit on camera?