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The Media: Damned if they do, damned if they don't - 2/15/2007 8:45:38 AM

Gauge

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Joined: 6/17/2005
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There is a post in Polls and Random Stupidity that inspired a question within me. The question basically is the following:

We are subject to the sensationalistic news media every day of our lives. This three-headed monster spews forth (ad-nauseam) topics that are either inflammatory in nature or overstated and beaten to death over and over again. Then (in my case anyway) we get frustrated and seem to love to bitch at length about the media's penchant to exaggerate.

Granted that some topics (war, terrorism, mass murder, disaster) have elements that continue to hold our interest in general and provide several facets to examine but when is enough enough? At what point has a topic played itself out and the media is pushing the envelope of tedium?

On the flip side of this coin, when the media actually shows some restraint in what they are reporting they then come under fire for not living up to our bombastic expectations. When the media shows some caution why does it then become a matter of insufficient reporting and a form of censorship?

I do understand that if one newspaper/TV station/radio station does not cover a story in its entirety (including shoe sizes of the people interviewed) that another form of news media will report it thus "scooping" the one that didn't.

The question is fairly complex but can be boiled down to base elements:

When is going too far with a story actually preying on the publics need for information (negative or positive)?

Can the media actually be reasonable without incurring the wrath of those individuals that expect and demand hyped up over-analysis?

I am not sure that I am stating my question clearly so I will add to this thread when it appears to me that there is a misunderstanding of my topic.

_____________________________

"For there is no folly of the beast of the earth which is not infinitely outdone by the madness of men." Herman Melville - Moby Dick

I'm wearing my chicken suit and humming La Marseillaise.

Post #: 1

RE: The Media: Damned if they do, damned if they don't - 2/15/2007 9:05:40 AM

athenaruls

Posts: 27
Joined: 10/4/2006
Status: offline

I'm going to try to answer this, bear with me.

I've stopped watching the local news for the reason you stated. The news stories they were running were unappealing to me, and they had their priorities a little mixed up. When faced with a choice of the bad roads from the snowfall or a shooting, they almost always chose the bad roads as the main story. Admitedly, the general population (as far as I'm concerned, and in my area, anyway) want to learn about things close to them.

With the media, I think it's a guessing game of what the viewers want to see. People want to be entertained, but not talked down to. They want to know about national news, like the car, but only becuase the US is involved in it. Heaven forbid the media protrayed something that didn't directly affect the country.

I think the media just try to give people what they want, and it's impossible to please everyone. At one point or another, there's going to be a person who is tired of being banged on the head over and over again by a certain topic. And the person next to him/her is going to think there isn't enough coverage of the same topic.

Unfortunately, the media is in a Catch-22.

(in reply to Gauge)

Post #: 2

RE: The Media: Damned if they do, damned if they don't - 2/15/2007 9:07:06 AM

juliaoceania

Posts: 21383
Joined: 4/19/2006
From: Somewhere Over the Rainbow
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quote:

At what point has a topic played itself out and the media is pushing the envelope of tedium?

When people quit watching and reading about it.

I only watch broadcast media that I stream (cspan, Democracy Now) unless I am watching with my mom, who has it on all the time. I would rather read about what is happening... although a "sensational" story will catch my eye every so often... mostly not.

_____________________________

Once you label me, you negate me ~ Soren Kierkegaard

Reality has a well known Liberal Bias ~ Stephen Colbert

Great minds discuss ideas; Average minds discuss events; Small minds discuss people. Eleanor Roosevelt

(in reply to Gauge)

Post #: 3

RE: The Media: Damned if they do, damned if they don't - 2/15/2007 10:47:46 AM

sleazy

Posts: 781
Joined: 11/23/2006
From: UK
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Here I have an advantage, most of my global news comes direct from the feeds, before some editor has had chance to beat it up or tone it down to fit the expectations of advertisers and viewers. I also have access to more than just the big networks, (as do most here if they really want to I guess).

No matter what I read or view, I automatically expect some form of bias, I know newspaper 'a' will take a right wing line and 'b' will be far to the opposite, I know news channel 'c' will be pro america and channel 'd' will see america as the great satan. So at the end of the day I stick to the facts that both sources agree on and then form my own opinions, I just wish that the facts were not always hidden under piles of editorial rhetoric or perhaps on occasion absent altogether.

_____________________________

Opinion is packaged by weight not volume, contents may settle during transit. Consult you medical practitioner. Do not attempt to stop moving parts by hand. Ensure all safety shields in place. Open this way up. Do not expose to temperatures exceeding 50C

(in reply to juliaoceania)

Post #: 4

RE: The Media: Damned if they do, damned if they don't - 2/15/2007 11:23:24 AM

pahunkboy

Posts: 33061
Joined: 2/26/2006
From: Central Pennsylvania
Status: offline

It is weak on participatory governance.

who cares about jaylos hair.

It serves as a weapon of sorts- at minumun a propraganda machine.

As long as the wealthy 1% call the shots- thats the status quo. The minute anything threatens the 1%- they/it is knocked down a few pegs.

Ad to this "spin"

are you dizzy yet?

Thus is the 1% achieve apathy- pigs can fly- , black is white- and we have always been at war with orwellisasia.

See?

(in reply to sleazy)

Post #: 5

RE: The Media: Damned if they do, damned if they don't - 2/15/2007 11:47:03 AM

meatcleaver

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Joined: 3/13/2006
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I have access to Dutch, British, French German, Belgium, Spanish (subtitled) and Turkish (subtitled) news and CNN and EuroNews and read British, Dutch, German and French newpapers on the web. OK I don't read ALL of the ALL the time but if there is a big news story I watch and read the media from several different countries. You get very different perceptions of the world, such as the war on terror is very much an American and British thing and is barely mentioned in other countries. The daily bomb masacres in Bagdad are mentioned but in the context of the American war in Iraq and not in the context of a war on terror. The Madrid bombing in Spain is not even seen by the Spanish as part of an Islamic terrorist war so the war on terror is irrelevent in any other context but the Iraq war. Iran isn't seen as any great threat either or at least only seems to be by the American and British governments. I think if people were more exposed to a broader media than just that of their own country they would have a more rational view of the world.

_____________________________

There are fascists who consider themselves humanitarians, like cannibals on a health kick, eating only vegetarians.

(in reply to Gauge)

Post #: 6

RE: The Media: Damned if they do, damned if they don't - 2/15/2007 12:18:40 PM

pahunkboy

Posts: 33061
Joined: 2/26/2006
From: Central Pennsylvania
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Many households in America are frazzled- working 2-3 jobs- to keep a roof over ones head. This worker has no energy to seek out real news- as opposed to someone who works 20 hours a week.

Global is getting to mean less and less- since Rupard Murdock, OWNS, a vast amount of Global media. [he is building a home in Bijing] He has bought up "myspace.com" and is eyeing to have a grab on the net.

If you hear a lie over and over - and from 12 people- it still is not the truth.

We have well over 200 channels in the USA. Yet- 99% owned by maybe 6 corporations- that all march to the beat of globalization.

BTW- I stay up late at night worried about jaylos hair. Michael Jacksons trial, Michael Milkin, Ken Lay, Ken Star, Edgar Hoover, and the back street boys band. I cant live without a brittany spears ringtone on my phone. Lets go to the mall.

You sir, are a peasant! [as am I and, I can pretty much assume all the CM crowd]

Bow before the 1%.

Make too much noise and your door can be kicked in at 4am- with armed police in black riot gear.

As long as you know yo place. "masta" will let you be- sorta.

Take to the streets, upset- mastas apple cart- and BOY- yous goin to da shed for a whuppin.

Make too much noise- your assets can be frozen. You can be slammed behing bars- on a tecknicle error.

He who has the gold makes the rules.

So while news may vary. It will never upset mastas applecart. Cos if it does- masta will give the boy a whupping/

See?

(in reply to meatcleaver)

Post #: 7

RE: The Media: Damned if they do, damned if they don't - 2/15/2007 12:51:31 PM

farglebargle

Posts: 10715
Joined: 6/15/2005
From: Albany, NY
Status: offline

CNN spent more uninterrupted, non-stop time covering Anna Nichole's death, than they did the 9/11/2001 attacks.

_____________________________

It's not every generation that gets to watch a civilization fall. Looks like we're in for a hell of a show.

ברוך אתה, אדוני אלוקינו, ריבון העולמים, מי יוצר צמחים ריחניים

(in reply to pahunkboy)

Post #: 8

RE: The Media: Damned if they do, damned if they don't - 2/15/2007 1:18:04 PM

UtopianRanger

Posts: 3251
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: Gauge

There is a post in Polls and Random Stupidity that inspired a question within me. The question basically is the following:

We are subject to the sensationalistic news media every day of our lives. This three-headed monster spews forth (ad-nauseam) topics that are either inflammatory in nature or overstated and beaten to death over and over again. Then (in my case anyway) we get frustrated and seem to love to bitch at length about the media's penchant to exaggerate.

Granted that some topics (war, terrorism, mass murder, disaster) have elements that continue to hold our interest in general and provide several facets to examine but when is enough enough? At what point has a topic played itself out and the media is pushing the envelope of tedium?

On the flip side of this coin, when the media actually shows some restraint in what they are reporting they then come under fire for not living up to our bombastic expectations. When the media shows some caution why does it then become a matter of insufficient reporting and a form of censorship?

I do understand that if one newspaper/TV station/radio station does not cover a story in its entirety (including shoe sizes of the people interviewed) that another form of news media will report it thus "scooping" the one that didn't.

The question is fairly complex but can be boiled down to base elements:

When is going too far with a story actually preying on the publics need for information (negative or positive)?

Can the media actually be reasonable without incurring the wrath of those individuals that expect and demand hyped up over-analysis?

I am not sure that I am stating my question clearly so I will add to this thread when it appears to me that there is a misunderstanding of my topic.

Hey Gauge....

Good to see you back on this section of the boards.

Don't have a lota time to answer in depth the way I’d like to so just some random thoughts :

The biggest problem I have with the media is that their attempts to dumb-down the public seem to be malicious / overt in nature.

When was the last time you saw a news program with in-depth analysis / educational content that surrounds our massive trade imbalance, outsourcing, the deflation of our currency, and the fact that we are currently borrowing two-billon dollars a day just to make the interest payments on debt incurred from borrowing money from foreigners?

I've never seen any type of coverage that remotely touches on the things I've mentioned above, yet how important can this be?

What I have seen is endless, moronic coverage of Anna Nicole Smith and the two boys kidnapped outa Missouri. The extent of it is truly unbelievable.

There's no way in hell you could make me believe that we have so many mindless simpletons out there that they're actually calling for this type of coverage. No way.

I think it's purposely done to keep folks stupid and in the dark.

- R

< Message edited by UtopianRanger -- 2/15/2007 1:23:10 PM >

_____________________________

"If you are going to win any battle, you have to do one thing. You have to make the mind run the body. Never let the body tell the mind what to do... the body is never tired if the mind is not tired."

-General George S. Patton

(in reply to Gauge)

Post #: 9

RE: The Media: Damned if they do, damned if they don't - 2/15/2007 1:27:20 PM

toservez

Posts: 1733
Joined: 9/7/2006
From: All over now in Minnesota
Status: offline

For the far majority of Americans news is something they just do not give a crap about. I have lived in places where everyone reads the local paper to see who got a traffic ticket but could not tell you what happen outside a twenty square mile area. They get news from quick sound bites and occasionally catching news programs that even with some bias cannot accurately give all aspects of what many times are complex issues. These people just do not get informed by any significant depth or scope on any topics.

When it comes to bias I have learned it is pretty much everywhere. From the intentional (Fox, and many programs on CNN and MSNBC) and unintentional but still can be seriously misleading because it is still written and edited by humans. Most people who watch news programs with interests watch the shows that share their view. For some they may know they are not getting the whole story but many others it is simply a give them what they want to hear mentality.

I just finished watching Countdown with Keith Oberman show from last night and in it he took comments from King George press conference, and I despise King George, and ripped him on the comments he made about Iran. Personally despite being a big fan of Oberman, I thought King George’s comments were very honest, smart and rational. So to me Oberman was doing nothing but giving the people what they wanted to see and to me that is when programs of that nature from both sides cross the line of journalism and just become about entertainment.

So to me when you get these frivolous stories like Anna Nicole Smith it is not a comment about the networks or the people who watch as some comment on our society but it is the simple fact that a story like that draws in the majority of the middle who are watching for entertainment and not for news content. The programs cease to become news programs and get turned into Entertainment TV.

Networks are in business to make money. Most are fed by viewer ship which is the people on the far end of the spectrum. Only when the people in the middle start watching and caring about the content they are getting can things change.

_____________________________

I am sorry I do not fit Webster's defintion of a slave but thankfully my Master is not Webster.

"Anything that contradicts experience and logic should be abandoned." - H.H. The 14th Dalai Lama

(in reply to farglebargle)

Post #: 10

RE: The Media: Damned if they do, damned if they don't - 2/15/2007 2:08:16 PM

NorthernGent

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Joined: 7/10/2006
Status: offline

Gauge,

Like anything, it's not right to apply a blanket approach to the media. Now, I'm left-wing which means I have a bias towards certain British newspapers. Then again, it's because I think these newspapers are more reasonable. I'll give you an example:

A group of supposed terrorists were arrested in Birmingham recently. Nobody knew exactly what was going on. Within a day, the sun, the mail, the times (a supposed broadsheet with some sort of moral code) and the express reported this as a plot to kidnap a British Muslim soldier and behead him on television. All right wing newspapers. They printed pictures of another man who was shackled and later beheaded in Iraq. There were the usual comments of "terrorists in our midst" and much worse. This isn't quite breaching sub judice laws but it does have the potential to influence a trial. What these idiots don't realise is, not only are they condemning men without a trial, they are potentially causing the collapse of a trial of genuine terrorists on the grounds of an unfair trial.

In a nutshell, the media have a lot to answer for, but some newspapers are an absolute disgrace.

The media can be reasonable, but only in certain quarters.

_____________________________

I have the courage to be a coward - but not beyond my limits.

Sooner or later, the man who wins is the man who thinks he can.

(in reply to Gauge)

Post #: 11

RE: The Media: Damned if they do, damned if they don't - 2/15/2007 4:28:24 PM

swtnsparkling

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Joined: 1/1/2004
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quote:

farglebargle
CNN spent more uninterrupted, non-stop time covering Anna Nichole's death, than they did the 9/11/2001 attacks.

AN death- time spent ?
9/11 - time spent?
Numbers please

_____________________________

Never make anyone a priority who treats you as an option 2003

Walk in Peace

A "No" uttered from deepest conviction is better than a "Yes" uttered merely to please

(in reply to farglebargle)

Post #: 12

RE: The Media: Damned if they do, damned if they don't - 2/15/2007 4:45:34 PM

WyrdRich

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Joined: 1/3/2005
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The American media are pretty much herd animals. If you watch the big three evening news, ABC is CBS is NBC for the most part. Different faces telling the same stories.

The problem is that they are driven by profit. When an opportunity comes along to have people breathlessly locked to the screens, right through the commercials, driving ratings through the roof, and nobody takes that opportunity, I'm going to ask "why."

(in reply to Gauge)

Post #: 13

RE: The Media: Damned if they do, damned if they don't - 2/15/2007 4:50:20 PM

pahunkboy

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Joined: 2/26/2006
From: Central Pennsylvania
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: WyrdRich

The American media are pretty much herd animals. If you watch the big three evening news, ABC is CBS is NBC for the most part. Different faces telling the same stories.

The problem is that they are driven by profit. When an opportunity comes along to have people breathlessly locked to the screens, right through the commercials, driving ratings through the roof, and nobody takes that opportunity, I'm going to ask "why."

the big 3, timewasters. I dont subscribe to those channels....

(in reply to WyrdRich)

Post #: 14

RE: The Media: Damned if they do, damned if they don't - 2/15/2007 5:22:42 PM

dcnovice

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As someone in the media (though not the news biz), I can't resist reminding people of a key fact: We print/run what people want. If The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer got sky-high ratings, other news sources would quickly copy it. World Press Review went under; People didn't. That tells publishing folks that there's a market for Brad's breakups but not for international perspectives.

People get the news they get because that is what they want.

_____________________________

No matter how cynical you become,
it's never enough to keep up.

JANE WAGNER, THE SEARCH FOR SIGNS OF
INTELLIGENT LIFE IN THE UNIVERSE

(in reply to pahunkboy)

Post #: 15

RE: The Media: Damned if they do, damned if they don't - 2/15/2007 5:39:43 PM

SusanofO

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I am not pushing aside the importance of this question asked by the OP (at all) but -I do think the main thing people need to remember is that their televisions, their radios, and their computers always have an "OFF" button they can press, if they find things offensive, or just too repetitive, or not newsworthy.

If too many people turn those buttons OFF, then believe me - the media management will be doing market research to find out why they are losing all of those advertising dollars.

I think the competition among media outlets is currently especially fierce, and one reason we maybe see so much of one story beat to death (Anna Nicole Smith's death, for example), is that all of the tv stations need something to program.

They also need to develop stories at a fairly rapid pace (tv news has developed into a daily medium, unlike a weekly magazine, for example) - and sometimes may simply not have the time to develop a story to the point of a PBS documentary as far as what is perceived as "quality". Of course there is also the question of what is "in line" with the program's image (a CNN Special isn't going to be covering a topic the same way as "Inside Edition" or Entertainment Tonight", ever, probably, IMO).

And so, due to these factors (among other things, probably) I think they tend to copy eachother as far as what they program - if one of them covers as story as news, then the others may justifiably feel they have to cover it, too, or else be seen as unprogressive, or otherwise out of touch (unless that isn't in line with their image, as in the case of PBS and sometimes CNN, for example, when it's television, for example).

Yes tv programs, and even entire networks (IMO) can sometimes "rip eachother off" as far as even how they word stories - I see "Meet the Press" rip off TIME magazine almost every week, in terms of the topic matter of some of the interviewers' comments, for example (of course, they're only human - and they read magazines and newspapers and watch other tv news shows, too).

Television in particular (to me anyway, but I am a more "visual" type) is such a powerful medium, sometimes I am saddened and surprised that what I view as more potentially valuable things aren't done with it more often.

For example: Programming that highlights a need for people to donate time or money to world problems and charitable causes (such as the Darfur or the AIDs crisis in Africa), or for local charities and programs (domestic violence shelters, or children's charities, for example, to just name two).

I mean, there is the annual Jerry Lewis Telethon or Muscular Dystrophy, but beyond the occasional telethon or consiousness-raising tv program re: Some natural or medical or man-made disaster (that afterward notes where donations can be sent) - I can't imagine why there isn't an entire network devoted to doing such programming- especially with the onset of (and since) cable tv as so publically accessible.

Ditto for programs that perhaps poll the general public and interview real experts (not simply hired-for-the-moment talking heads) about topics like the Iraq war, or global warming, or the need to develop alternative fuels, or a host of myriad topics that might be of public concern. One problem with doing this could be the fast-pace with which some tv programs are developed- but that's still just a management problem that can be solved - it isn't insurmountable.

I think there is so much more, as far as communicating with the public, that could be done, especially with television.

I think in some ways, television has missed the boat as far as categorizing itself as primarily an entertainment medium.

I personally view it as a primary communication tool that's being under-used in some ways. Of course I think the internet, and newspapers and magazines can be very powerful communication tools as well.

But I do think cable tv is amazing in many ways. I just love that one can see the History channel, and Discovery channel and Travel, Food and Animal Planet, with just a basic cable subscription. It can be (IMO) very informative (and also tv is convenient for me due to the ability to "surf" channels).

I sometimes find myself wondering overall how much more good it might be doing than it already is, is all.

- Susan

< Message edited by SusanofO -- 2/15/2007 6:35:25 PM >

_____________________________

"Hope is the thing with feathers,
That perches in the soul,
And sings the tune without the words,
And never stops at all". - Emily Dickinson

(in reply to Gauge)

Post #: 16

RE: The Media: Damned if they do, damned if they don't - 2/15/2007 6:20:27 PM

SusanofO

Posts: 5672
Joined: 12/19/2005
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Now I find my self wondering if internet blogging is going to be filling the niche, as far as being a communication tool for people, that television has filled in the past - it's lately become such a powerful and popular commuication tool.

- Susan

_____________________________

"Hope is the thing with feathers,
That perches in the soul,
And sings the tune without the words,
And never stops at all". - Emily Dickinson

(in reply to SusanofO)

Post #: 17

RE: The Media: Damned if they do, damned if they don't - 2/15/2007 6:50:51 PM

outlier

Posts: 1111
Joined: 10/22/2005
Status: offline

Guage,

First of all it is GOOD to have you back posting.

There was another thread on the news media that
was directed at science news.

http://www.collarchat.com/m_579322/mpage_1/key_/tm.htm#579505

This is the contribution I made there which I think
applies here because it speaks directly to the motives
of the media.

"Long Post, True Illustration:

I was a part of a small group who got a tour of the media
room for the earthquake lab at Cal Tech. So this is where
science deals with the media, and the news media with science.

Cutting the description short, it was a rectangle with a small
conference table, a lectern with overhead lighting a window
into the lab full of computers and desks, and one section of
seismic drums, labeled as to location of the remote sensor.
This drum display was floor to ceiling and 5 or 6 drums wide.

We asked what happens when an earthquake occurs and the
intern giving the tour said the information comes to the lab and
the computers start to work on it. Somebody asked, " So you
come out here and take the information off the drums and then
key it in...." No," said the intern," the drums are obsolete. We
don't use the drums, the information goes right into the computers."

"Then why the wall of drums?"

"Well" said the intern, "The media really like the drums. They said
thats what people expect to see."

And there you have it. The media is not in the business of giving
you the news. They are in the business of selling your eyeballs to
their sponsors. And they will give you whatever it is they think
you expect to (or want to) see.

This was several years ago and the last time I looked at the news
after a quake there was someone there at Cal Tech standing in
front of that wall of useless drums. What the media don't want you to
do is go to the Cal Tech website and see the map the computers
are drawing from the information. Because then you would not
need them (the media) as your source for news."

Outlier

_____________________________

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"A happy sex life may take years to achieve, but it’s worth it in the long run.
Worth the time, the thought - or rather, the thoughtfulness - and, often,
the waiting." Pete Seeger

(in reply to SusanofO)

Post #: 18

RE: The Media: Damned if they do, damned if they don't - 2/15/2007 6:56:38 PM

WyrdRich

Posts: 1733
Joined: 1/3/2005
Status: offline

I have that site bookmarked outlier. Everybody has probably seen that wall of drums on TV at some point, here's what they actually use http://quake.usgs.gov/recenteqs/index.html

(in reply to outlier)

Post #: 19

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