With a distressed eyeroll at Seanglenn Beckhannity, and a weary headshake at Keithrachel Olbermaddowman, not to mention clenched fists of despair at TalkRadio VonHateScream, let me remind the rest of us -- aka. most people -- that just because the makers of so called News think Balanced and Thoughtful is some long-ago folk duo, it doesn't mean we should join in the sneerfest, and passively watch as standards continue to plummet.
When President Obama is called everything from Gandalf the Wizard or NaziMuslimTerrorGuy it remains every engaged citizens' duty to firmly say, "No he's not!", and to perhaps aim a little humorous scorn at anyone who'd believe such twaddle. But much as I love John Stewart, Stephen Colbert and their colleagues, it strikes me as downright surreal that they, and not the 'real' Anchorpersons and Commentators, seem to be the only people on TV who actively adhere to concepts like fairness, primary sources and....facts. They're comedians for god's sake!! It's not their job to keep journalism from becoming.. a joke! Yet, again and again Stewart and Colbert, while being consistently hilarious, are the only frequently watched TV talkers that 1. bother to put current events into historical context, 2. examine bizarre claims for the few shreds of truth they might contain, and 3. confront their guests with questions that aren't solely intended to add to the noise.
Ironic is too mild a word for the fact that, with rare exceptions, the only professionals on TV who seem to want, in Walter Cronkite's words, "to protect the news.", are the ones using it to get laughs!
It does take courage to confront and lampoon our disgraceful national shouting match, but I think Messrs Stewart, and Colbert would heartily agree that when a handful of comedians are the closest we've got to Uncle Walter, we're in deep s****.
Americans have always had a stand-offish relationship with facts, especially if they run contrary to our ideals, or expose our prejudices. We're equally uncomfortable with censorship, however because after all freedom of speech, and the public's right to know, are foundations of a free society, etc, etc; Which is precisely why Walter Cronkite became so trusted, and ultimately influential. Because we believed the stories he told us. He was a reliable reporter. He protected the news. His opinions carried weight precisely because he expressed them so rarely.
Ted Turner's brilliant gamble of putting news on the air 24/7, was supposed to continue that tradition, but it has failed, with the unintended and lamentable consequence of making us less well informed, and more agitated. Why? Because it turns out that some of the public trust stories told by charlatans, self promoting dweebs, and unstable rageaholics, no matter how fact-free they turn out to be. Could our chronically neglected public education system have something to do with this? Is Talk Radio and Rant TV merely a symptom of a society which seems more and more willing to ignore, or at best laugh at, what's actually happening all around us? Has it become smart to present bullshit as news?
Are comedians the only ones who rely on the truth anymore? Has Comedy filled the void where Substance used to be? Does it have to be a joke to be true? Does the truth have to be funny for anyone to pay attention to it? How funny is globalwarmingconstantwarfarefinancialcatastropheracistparanoia, anyway?
OK, my time's up! Good night folks, thanks for coming and don't forget to tip your waitresses, ah hell, knock 'em right over!? But seriously, I'll be here all week!!
You dont need to be a weatherman to know which way the wind is blowin' ;)
We need REAL NEWS. I find myself turning off the tv for most of the day, because all I hear and see is reruns of the same junk that started out as news and becomes biased and opinionated.
When Beck was on CNN, he was never so churlish. Why do nearly all of these people have to holler at the camera or microphone. As someone else has noted, Rachel Maddow states facts has the material to back up her statements. She DOES get a little dramatic at times, but it's usually to stress a point.
Stewart and Colbert are very good with the sarcasm while grinding someone's face into their own dirt.
Bill Maher could put his points across just as well without all the profanity.
are maybe a much bigger market than the other declining media market.
Consider for instance this video, a flashback to the media / expert hype that was such a menace
before the crash. And now, simply as a re-run, makes an end to that previous menace of false hype:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2I0QN-FYkpw
1. I would put Bill Maher as equal to Stewart and Colbert in terms of allegiance to truth and being an aggressive protector of truth when his guests start spewing absolute nonsense.
2. I think it's a terrible mistake to put Rachel Maddow in the same category as the Fox propagandists or Keith Olbermann. She has an excellent research staff, always has sources and facts to back up her claims, and never lets her guests get away with spewing factless propaganda. Just because, compared to the politics of corporate media, she seems like an extreme lefty, the fact is that she is a Rhodes Scholar, has complete integrity, and her politics would be pretty mainstream liberal (Teddy Roosevelt, Hubert Humphrey, Pat Moynihan, etc.) in any era other than the present.
Although I would contend that for all of his bombastic delivery, Olbermann is at least fact based. He holds the demonstrated hypocrisy of other commentators and politicians up to the light of day.
One of the great things about Jon Stewart and Steven Colbert is that they're willing to lampoon *anybody*, on either side of the aisle, and they know that their name-calling can't get repetitive and old, or else the joke isn't funny anymore.
I be waiting for the next one
thumbup:
(btw, your spelling sucks!)
Again and again I have seen them take the current hysterial being thrust out from politicians and absolutely destroy them by using logic, facts, and showing the actual history behind the individual issues. I have to watch the Daily Show to get my facts???
This is the kind of stuff that I used to expect from News Channels. Its amazing to me that the "News" has thrown those standards out in a mindless quest for ratings. Perhaps its better to say that its sad and depressing that journalism has fallen so far.
Too many TV channels and News Networks are owned by a single individual. It's time to break that up!
Tragically, yes.
Obermann, O'Reilly, Stewart, Hannity, etc., are not reporters. They are entertainers-nothing more. They may comment on the news, give opinions, analysis, and crack jokes, but that's okay. They are not news reporters.
Reporters don't get to be players, opinion makers or movers and shakers. They get to report. Dull, I know. If they want to give their opinions, they should resign their jobs and try to be an talk show host/entertainer. Good luck.
Dan Rather thought that he got to be biased to the left because Rush was out there sucessfully being biased to the right. Wrong! It doesn't work that way. Does anybody even know what the word journalist means anymore?
So, if you are confused about who to rely on for real news-get the actual reporters to give up their VERY onprofessional biases and just report. Straight down the middle, reliable, non-biased, accurate reporting done in a professional manner-that's what we wnat.
I believe in free speech, but when people have a platform that speaks to millions of citizens they should, at least, not be allowed to lie, incite hatred and cherry pick only the facts that support their agenda. We have rules in advertising if they misrepresent the product, but no rules when the Becks, hannitys, Rushs etc tell millions of citizens every day half truths and spread hatred towards our President and the majority of Americans that disagree with their propaganda. Why is that OK? Why are they at least not fined? I don't care if its Olbermann or Beck. If they lie or omit pertinent facts to distort the information they need to be held accountable. This is not jeopardizing free speech. It should be demanded by every American.We deserve the truth and the whole story.Right or left. We have allowed these masters of propaganda to dumb down our news and divide this Country. The damage being done is incalculable and dangerous, but also very effective. Why else do the talk radio hosts go ballistic at the mention of any type of Fairness Doctrine. They must protect the special interests that control the power money and status quo.
1. Beck states that Vancouver Canada lost a billion dollars during their Olympics.
false. The Vancouver Olympics has not yet happened. It is in 2010
2. Beck, Dobbs and others say a group was praying to Obama.
fact. The audio of this shows they are praying to God. (10's of millions hear this lie and go on believing it because these fools do NOT have to retract or apologize for lying)
3. Omission. The noise machine went nuts about the Homeland security report on Right Wing militias. Made it sound like Obama was going after regular Republicans and even our soldiers because the report mentioned these groups like to get ex military.
Omission. They never told their audiences that the report was initiated by the Bush Admin., never said that it was SOP and a report on left wing extremism was done several months earlier. The report does NOT discuss regular conservative voters at all.
After they did this, millions bought more ammo, people felt targeted and afraid of Govt. wore shirts that said "I am a right wing extremist" in rebellion......Lying by omission is what they do best.
Just like in King Lear, just like in the 60's, the truth can only be told by the court jesters.