Just wanted to share this link with you guys, its amazing what the media can get away with. Be careful forming opinions off what you see/hear in the media. See LINK.
To me, it's one of the drawbacks of a "free market" and a symptom of a relatively uneducated population.
The media gives people what they want- they let the market decide (driven by ratings and revenue). The advent of cable created more competition, CNN showed that you could make money with 24hr news, and everyone basically saw that news could be a major money maker.
Keep in mind, this really isn't anything new. Before television, it was newspapers- towns/cities used to have multiple competing newspapers that basically did the same thing you're seeing tv news do today. For a brief time, as television took over and we only had basically 3 options tv news in a way elevated itself "above the fray" by attempting to appeal to the largest audience possible instead of targeting specific demographics. Now that tv news options are as abundant as newspapers used to be, they're following that same model of "picking sides" and targeting specific demographics that old time newspapers used.
The solution? Dunno. Adding controls of some sort via the government ( beyond what's already available) moves you closer to state run news media which isn't constitutional (and nobody with half a brain wants.)
Maybe improve our education? I dunno. It is certainly an issue, but as long as there are enough outlets available, and you do enough cursory research by looking and comparing/contrasting what they're reporting, you can generally find the truth. It just takes a little effort.
but one thing about biased media here, as opposed to those non-free market places, is that there's not a single bias. Here we get several different biases and therefore we should approximate the truth by taking into account all or several of them. That, IMO, is the Fair and Balanced..not that any media outlet is objective; I highly doubt that *any* is...but that they counterweigh each other. That's different from where the biased media is the sole source of information. Note that this also depends upon the consumer. An individual can negate the opposing biases by only viewing/reading/listening to a single outlet.
but one thing about biased media here, as opposed to those non-free market places, is that there's not a single bias. Here we get several different biases and therefore we should approximate the truth by taking into account all or several of them. That, IMO, is the Fair and Balanced..not that any media outlet is objective; I highly doubt that *any* is...but that they counterweigh each other. That's different from where the biased media is the sole source of information. Note that this also depends upon the consumer. An individual can negate the opposing biases by only viewing/reading/listening to a single outlet.
Right. Which is why education is important, IMO. Common sense would be nice, but by it's very definition does not exist.
RE: I think it is a topic worthy of discussion regardless
Keep in mind, this really isn't anything new. Before television, it was newspapers- towns/cities used to have multiple competing newspapers that basically did the same thing you're seeing tv news do today. For a brief time, as television took over and we only had basically 3 options tv news in a way elevated itself "above the fray" by attempting to appeal to the largest audience possible instead of targeting specific demographics. Now that tv news options are as abundant as newspapers used to be, they're following that same model of "picking sides" and targeting specific demographics that old time newspapers used.
The statement above it spot on. The current state of affairs in the media is nothing new. As for a solution, I believe there is none. Americans are not becoming more educated because the primary educational model is becoming more politicized. It is a sad state of affairs with no good outcome.
it can absolutely be viewed as an advantage. The problem really arises when folks just sit in their comfortable boxes and don't look at opposing viewpoints.
Having the option to do so is definitely better than not. Unless I get to run the media, of course.
but I believe that one of the benefits of a free market is 100s of different opinions on every subject and the freedom to express those opinions.
Which also gives me and you the freedom to hear those opinions and decide if you agree with those opinions or not.
People not researching their own news just makes them lazy or ignorant but that shouldnt be blamed on news media at all or the free market.
If you watch Hannity, Chris Matthews, jon stewart or rush limbaugh you have to realize that these people arent reporters they are entertainers and run opinion based shows. If one of those people or someone similar to them is the sole place you gather information then I agree with you the result will be a biased and uneducated person.
I dont think these people hide the fact that they are opinion based shows and have a certain bias towards subjects. If you read the news and tend to agree with them then you will enjoy watching them but again it shouldnt be the sole place you hear news in my opinion
but I believe that one of the benefits of a free market is 100s of different opinions on every subject and the freedom to express those opinions.
Which also gives me and you the freedom to hear those opinions and decide if you agree with those opinions or not.
People not researching their own news just makes them lazy or ignorant but that shouldnt be blamed on news media at all or the free market.
If you watch Hannity, Chris Matthews, jon stewart or rush limbaugh you have to realize that these people arent reporters they are entertainers and run opinion based shows. If one of those people or someone similar to them is the sole place you gather information then I agree with you the result will be a biased and uneducated person.
I dont think these people hide the fact that they are opinion based shows and have a certain bias towards subjects. If you read the news and tend to agree with them then you will enjoy watching them but again it shouldnt be the sole place you hear news in my opinion
I agree. See my post before yours. Sometimes my thoughts don't translate that well in print.
And even if I didn't agree- no offense taken. You're allowed to think I'm stupid.
And I learned a little known trick(although now they've told everybody!)for paying off my mortgage early.
To me, it's one of the drawbacks of a "free market" and a symptom of a relatively uneducated population.
The media gives people what they want- they let the market decide (driven by ratings and revenue). The advent of cable created more competition, CNN showed that you could make money with 24hr news, and everyone basically saw that news could be a major money maker.
Keep in mind, this really isn't anything new. Before television, it was newspapers- towns/cities used to have multiple competing newspapers that basically did the same thing you're seeing tv news do today. For a brief time, as television took over and we only had basically 3 options tv news in a way elevated itself "above the fray" by attempting to appeal to the largest audience possible instead of targeting specific demographics. Now that tv news options are as abundant as newspapers used to be, they're following that same model of "picking sides" and targeting specific demographics that old time newspapers used.
The solution? Dunno. Adding controls of some sort via the government ( beyond what's already available) moves you closer to state run news media which isn't constitutional (and nobody with half a brain wants.)
Maybe improve our education? I dunno. It is certainly an issue, but as long as there are enough outlets available, and you do enough cursory research by looking and comparing/contrasting what they're reporting, you can generally find the truth. It just takes a little effort.
Okay they were the ones who brought in an audio expert to verify that Zimmerman said coons on 911 tape but later proven false oh wait that was cnn
Well, I'm a socialist and a communist and a fascist. State run media with me in charge would completely remove any bias.
You realize that one can accept that capitalism and "free markets" are by far the best option yet still recognize that there are faults, right?
Right. Which is why education is important, IMO. Common sense would be nice, but by it's very definition does not exist.
Keep in mind, this really isn't anything new. Before television, it was newspapers- towns/cities used to have multiple competing newspapers that basically did the same thing you're seeing tv news do today. For a brief time, as television took over and we only had basically 3 options tv news in a way elevated itself "above the fray" by attempting to appeal to the largest audience possible instead of targeting specific demographics. Now that tv news options are as abundant as newspapers used to be, they're following that same model of "picking sides" and targeting specific demographics that old time newspapers used.
The statement above it spot on. The current state of affairs in the media is nothing new. As for a solution, I believe there is none. Americans are not becoming more educated because the primary educational model is becoming more politicized. It is a sad state of affairs with no good outcome.
Having the option to do so is definitely better than not. Unless I get to run the media, of course.
Which also gives me and you the freedom to hear those opinions and decide if you agree with those opinions or not.
People not researching their own news just makes them lazy or ignorant but that shouldnt be blamed on news media at all or the free market.
If you watch Hannity, Chris Matthews, jon stewart or rush limbaugh you have to realize that these people arent reporters they are entertainers and run opinion based shows. If one of those people or someone similar to them is the sole place you gather information then I agree with you the result will be a biased and uneducated person.
I dont think these people hide the fact that they are opinion based shows and have a certain bias towards subjects. If you read the news and tend to agree with them then you will enjoy watching them but again it shouldnt be the sole place you hear news in my opinion
Which also gives me and you the freedom to hear those opinions and decide if you agree with those opinions or not.
People not researching their own news just makes them lazy or ignorant but that shouldnt be blamed on news media at all or the free market.
If you watch Hannity, Chris Matthews, jon stewart or rush limbaugh you have to realize that these people arent reporters they are entertainers and run opinion based shows. If one of those people or someone similar to them is the sole place you gather information then I agree with you the result will be a biased and uneducated person.
I dont think these people hide the fact that they are opinion based shows and have a certain bias towards subjects. If you read the news and tend to agree with them then you will enjoy watching them but again it shouldnt be the sole place you hear news in my opinion
I agree. See my post before yours. Sometimes my thoughts don't translate that well in print.
And even if I didn't agree- no offense taken. You're allowed to think I'm stupid.
That's why the CBS Ch. 2 logo is on the bottom right of the screen during the report.