What happens if newspapers go away? Here are some possibilities.
Important policy is determined by who shouts the loudest.
No one is there to ensure the courts operate transparently.
Your assignment is to read these stories and make at least one post to this blog by the start of class Friday. Extra credit if your post includes a link to a relevant news story.
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From learning about history in America is it clear from The Red Scare to 9/11 to lies about Health Care, Americans depend on media to gain knowledge about the world around them. Which makes sense, it’s illogical to think that every American who wants to learn about Afghanistan would go to such a place to learn the information desired. I think fear is leading the media and especially in television since it is easy to catch onto information though sight and seeing the fears people have. It is clear that those who are yelling the loudest are getting the most attention and like Neal Gabler said, “the media have to tell the truth not because anyone really wants them to but because it is the right thing to do -- the essential thing to do -- for the sake of our democracy.” I think it’s not only essential for our democracy, but for our sanity. Yes, it takes a lot of work to be accurate and informational on all ends from all the different view points, but it is worth a shot in my opinion. Telling the truth is essential to the audience trusting your word.
ReplyDeleteAnother link that I found interesting is: http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/08/04/white-house-uses-video-to-battle-disinformation/?scp=1&sq=%22the%20red%20scare%22%20%22fear%22&st=cse
This article talks about a media video the Obama administration is putting out to try and counter act false information.
--Kathleen Rohde
I particularly liked, and agreed with these statements from “Truth Vs. Facts from America’s Media”:
ReplyDelete“But a citizenry is only as well-informed as the quality of information it receives.”
An obvious, and certainly a truthful statement, which leads to another unfortunate truth:
“Television particularly has been remiss, even without mentioning cable news, which may be the greatest source of disinformation.”
And from: “Shrinking Newsrooms Wage Fewer Battles for Public Access to Courtrooms”:
“It is notable, for instance, that the American Civil Liberties Union and other civil rights groups have taken the leading role in trying to shake loose information about the Bush administration’s policies and actions, while news organizations have largely sat on the sidelines.”
Television in America is amongst the largest sources of media. That being said, it is rather unfortunate to look at the quality, the bias, and the untruth behind various mainstream news organizations ran on television. No wonder the sad state of affairs in the nation today and the lies the public are force fed and consequentially led to believe. No wonder such outrageous claims as “Death Panels” are circulated like the newest Lincoln Memorial pennies. No wonder we are led to believe we are doing well in Iraq but are constantly receiving news of another loved one killed, another neighbor gone, and another relative missing in action. It’s time to stop the insanity and to begin asking questions, searching for a long lost truth, as idealistic as this may be. Clearly, the journalists of today are not doing a respectable nor quality job, and thus should be called out on their doing so. In a country that was based upon justice, for the most part, the state of modern-mainstream journalism is a screaming injustice to say the least.
Everyone talks about the media and how terrible their work is. I agree the media is doing an absolutely terrible job of presenting the news. The thing that irritates me most is that Americans are letting them get away with it. T.V. like Eric said in his blog is "amongst the largest sources of media in America." T.V. is not used for presenting important news, or informing American citizens, like it should be, but instead T.V. is all about money, and entertainment. It consists of a bunch of sugar-coated shows that hold peoples attention and bring in big numbers.
ReplyDeleteJournalists in today’s media have no spine, although there are a few exceptions. I want to hear a story that is honest, up front and factual. This could be offensive to some but it’s the news, sometimes news is not as pretty as we want it to be. Our journalists need to quit using stories that everyone knows about and step it up a notch. No more dressed-up stories, start telling it like it is. “Truth Vs. Facts from America’s Media”:
"Telling the truth requires shoe leather. It requires digging up facts that aren't being handed to you, talking to experts, thinking hard about what you find."
If journalists don't start writing more interesting and honest stories Americas media is going to keep getting worse.
I found some of the statistics on this web site interesting it shows how traditional media is going down hill, and how businesses are not using traditional media for marketing and advertising. .
http://converg.com/the-doom-of-traditional-media/
News Story Responses 9/4/09
ReplyDelete(Angel Trefz)
RE News Story:
“Shrinking Newsroom Wage Fewer Battles for Public Access to Courtrooms”
New York Times
Due to the low economy, newspapers have cut costs just to stay open and the legal budgets have been greatly affected. With this, contests to get into court proceedings such as jury selection have been severely reduced. Unfortunately, even newspaper companies with the money needed, have not been exercising their right to open government. It is sad that because of this, society suffers as ignorance grows tremendously from lack of information. People have the right to be informed, period!
It’s not only the media, however. The courts have are deleting vital information from their records. FYI, most court records are public information. Also, unless decided otherwise by a judge, jury selections are open to spectators such as the press. It is outright appalling!
Society has fought for our rights for several centuries, yet we now are throwing it all away because there aren’t enough resources to fill the pockets in the court system. Spectators will have to move from the courtroom benches to the sidelines. To the rest of society: please raise your hand if your free speech in still intact.
RE News Story:
“Truth vs. facts from America’s media”
LA Times
Lately, it seems as though the media has been reporting facts, but somehow have not been objective. Undoubtedly there has been too much “propaganda and scare tactics” involved, especially concerning the healthcare reform.
The healthcare reform would make it possible for more Americans to receive healthcare insurance, and big insurance companies who are currently terrified of losing their “power and profits” to stop being so greedy. With all of the rumors spreading through the press, especially television, people are being forced to edify stories themselves.
So what happened to our “reliable, objective, trustworthy” sources? They got scared of getting bashed if they told the truth and proved the rumors wrong. The public is left with facts and untruths because journalists are reporting out of fear, lack of experience, and laziness. If it continues, the healthcare reform may fail.
How do we get this editorialized objectively? By journalists doing their research; taking the time, energy, and guts needed to dig up the facts. It’s not just up to the media, however. The public needs to demand the truth, not just because whoever can “shout the loudest or has the most money to mislead us”, but simply because it’s the right thing to do. Otherwise, not doing so might lead to a “disastrous government”, which to be honest, we already have.
A recession in time of war without good healthcare for all citizens... Do we really want to continue living this way or have it turn out worse than it already is? Of course not! Ignore the lies, tell the truth as well as facts, and overall do what you know it right!