Sagittarius
On the BBC, I am constantly made aware of governmental changes in countries I haven't thought about since grade school. I'll hear about an insurgent uprising in places I didn't know existed. I knew nothing about the continuing genocide in Sudan until I happened across a BBC broadcast a few years back. Nothing had been mentioned on CNN, FOX, MSNBC or any of the "hard news" networks until there were so many dead that Colin Powell was forced to address it as a problem. It's likely that it did make PBS. While no one watches the PBS news, I give the station credit for not submitting to the lowest common denominator: the average American.
Last night I was listening to the news on a local radio station affiliated with CBS. They reported their top-of-the-hour news synopsis, which lasts maybe 2-3 minutes, with a commercial interruption. I recall them closing the update with a story about a man who nearly cut his leg off with hedge clippers. But he hobbled back to the house and called an ambulance because, as they said, he was a "tough Marine." It's wonderful that he didn't lose his leg and to know that hedge clippers have not dulled over the years but, you've got to be kidding me. There is nothing else going on in the world, outside Iraq, important enough that reporting this story was relevant, national news? How is that possible?
If allegations are true, Robert Pickton would be Canada's most accomplished serial killer. Being that Canada isn't riddled with serial murder like the U.S., he would be the equivalent of our John Wayne Gacy, Green River Killer and Son of Sam all rolled into one. This is a big deal north of the border.
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The information (I won't
By Richard Day Gore, March 14, 2007 at 15:16The information (I won't bother to call it news) that is fed to us by media outlets is chosen and filtered to satisfy the needs and agendas of that outlet's advertisers and investors. And every country's news is going to reflect its own national bias as well.
In the past I used not to be so conspiracy-minded but it really does seem to me that under Bush we entered a new era of the Big Lie, where fear is used as a blatantly manipluative tool, and the bigger the whopper the more likely it is that vast numbers of people will believe it.
Regards,
Richard Day Gore
Scott, Obviously, there was
By Hudster71, April 6, 2007 at 13:50Scott,
Obviously, there was no perfect reason to ignore your plank. Stimulating, was my first reaction. I think we can all see the pattern when evaluating the quality of "national and local stories" along side the space given to commercials. Has anyone done a study of the decline in editorial content in newspapers over the past twenty years? Chris (CP) whipped out the "digital" marker that draws the heaviest circle around our dilemma as well as contemporary music, and the manufacturing of automobiles and fashions and (if you're ready) much of our food. You name it.
Ironically, the same technology that gives the editor's desk (perceived) control over content is now available to the unheralded citizenry that is currently transmitting stories 24/7 through the blogwaves. We, who wish to be erudite, need refreshment from forums such as this one. Sorry I got here so late.
Scott Thank you for one of
By labguy, February 5, 2007 at 18:23Scott
Thank you for one of the most interesting articles I have read on the Media in a long time. I have been an avid CNN, MSNBC (and others) viewer for some time. It has struck me that lately, the only thing you are not going to see on these mainstream news networks, is news. There is normally only one or two main stories. These are not really covered in depth, they just have talking heads on to argue about irrelevent details either from the right or the left. There are no real details given. I feel like I can watch for two hours, probably be entertained by the bickering, but when you think about what you have learned, it is precious little. I also couldn't agree more about Larry King. If Larry doesn't cover it isn't news. And to Larry King, phoney psychics, ufos, and american idol winners are the norm.
Keep up the good work.
Good job Scott--couldn't
By effle, January 27, 2007 at 21:27Good job Scott--couldn't agree with you more. Chris, regarding your comment about the editors being the decision makers with respect to what gets coverage in media, I just have to ask you whether you've ever backed up and asked yourself who/what/why those editors would be making those decisions in the first place.
I wish it was only American
By Heather Wallace, January 28, 2007 at 10:34I wish it were only American media that were dropping the ball. But Canadian media are frequently equally narrow sighted. Why don't we hear about things like global warming on a regular basis? Are we all frogs failing to realize the pot is slowly reaching a boil? I think American media are more culpable though, because they reach more people and so have a greater responsibility to provide the full picture and avoid fear mongering.
But we should all be ashamed of and responsible for the news that is reported. It's not the media's fault there are wars raging, icecaps melting or women being mass murdered. Society is opening up new wounds instead of healing. I think we know enough to change directions and turn the tides. By not reporting on ways we can help, the media does contribute to apathy and despair.
Scott's statement that he was ashamed to be an American had me feeling a little concerned for his safety...ever see what happened to the Dixie Chicks when they criticized George Bush? Pride and shame are two sides of the same coin. I'm sure Scott's declaration of shame was meant to make a point, and it seems like the American public is about to make its point more often, if this weekend's anti-war march in Washington is any indication.
Heather Wallace
Senior Editor
Three perfectly good reasons
By Selvy, January 27, 2007 at 10:39Three perfectly good reasons to ignore you (based on tone):
"I give the station credit for not submitting to the lowest common denominator: the average American. "
"Americans are generally so arrogant, I feel the need to apologize and hide my head in shame. I feel like a Muslim after 9/11 - "I am not like them, I swear."
"You don't have to be Noam Chomsky to see that something isn't right."
However, I'll bite and respond with some points of my own.
~
No offense but what the Media presents is decided by editors more than the viewers themselves. I've seen more than my share of disgruntled journalists who have good stories about Darfur, etc., but when they bring it up to the editors they've been shot down. Not newsworthy, they're told. Or it doesn't fit in with what they're putting on the screen that day, or in the paper. What about China? There have been very interesting stories regarding China's role with North Korea (such as Chinese generals coming in as observers prior to NK firing off their missiles last year) but that never got played anywhere except on global defense websites.
It's pretty obvious where you come from, has it ever occurred to you that people from your side of the spectrum have been the ones making these very decisions on what to post and what to set aside? It's not like the neo-cons are controlling the media. I would also like to posit this other little idea, namely that media in other countries push stories from their own perspective as well, and that often news about the outside is slanted and distorted. Believe me, myopia is global no matter what you think. You're just tuning into a different channel.
Specifically with Darfur, my feeling is that the systematic rape, murder, and enslavement of Africans in southern Sudan by northern Sudanese has been under-reported in American media specifically because the main victims are Christians and Animists, as opposed to being fellow Muslims. I hear more about the suffering of Muslims than about other poor victimized populations. I wonder why, perhaps because journalists themselves are less religious and tend to see non-Christians as being more worthy of reporting or protection. (And before we get into the "Who's killed the most/been the most aggressive over the centuries" game, check into history first. I guarantee you will be wrong.)
As an American I'm definitely more interested in international news, even that which may be skewed against my own group (e.g., 'the Beeb'. etc.). I give a damn about what's going on because everything affects everything else. Maybe it's in someone's best interest to keep the Americans less informed, or maybe some group thinks it's best that they do the thinking for them. (The Politicans, Intelligentsia, take your pick.)
It would be nice to hear more Canadian news on mainstream media, then again I also know some would object and think we're trying to make people in the North look bad. Take the serial killer you mentioned. Maybe we'd get criticized since we have more of them than Canada.
I've seen it all, damned either way.
Media's gone digital, the best I can say is what's on TV isn't the only source and most people I know get their daily fill from a variety of places.
By the way, if you really are American, don't apologize for the country. Just change your citizenship and we'll call it even.