Lame Stream Media or: How journalists failed America. The Lara Logan Story

[Zoolander]

I wasnt trying to turn it into that, fuck that conspiracy noise, but there were legitimate questions that were never asked by the media immediately afterwards (and even not immediately after) surrounding all of the claims made by the government and the whole patriot act debacle, among other things. Point being journalists didn't really do their job in detaching themselves emotionally and asking the questions that needed to be asked, which has been a rather alarming trend.

[Roranora]

So uh.. how do we go about remedying this, among numerous other glaring faults with today's world, and then enjoy our newly created, sustainable utopia until either the earth cools completely or the expanding sun swallows our planet? I'm not sure which will happen first.

[Tyche]

Look at it his way. If someone came to your job place you call home to your career that you spent years building, and told you to do it in a way that would make you significantly less qualified than your colleagues, would you do it? By calling out sources, whether that be in news, politics, sports, etc, you essentially oust yourself from the inner circle. Sources (politicians, sports figures, etc) know that there's 15 other beat writers foaming at the mouth to write about all the rainbows and lolipops that they want to talk about. Journalists are just saving their own ass, and when your career and livelihood depend on it, then it's hard to be contrarian.

[Rhinox]

So uh.. how do we go about remedying this, among numerous other glaring faults with today's world, and then enjoy our newly created, sustainable utopia until either the earth cools completely or the expanding sun swallows our planet? I'm not sure which will happen first.

Easy short term bandaid solution? Lobby congress to bring back the Fairness doctrine.

But its easier said then done especially with all the red baiting going on by Republican noise machine. They claim it would censor Conservative Radio but in fact it would force Media outlets who use public airwaves to have a platform for everyone.. Another byproduct of the Fairness doctrine is that it would force companies like Clear Channel and News Corp to sell off its stations and other media outlets and essentially force diversification of ownership of all radio stations.

One of the other byproducts of the FD was that Stations had to clearly state that they were giving an opinion and had to prove to the FCC that they weren't just making up their own facts. If they were found to do so they would get their Broadcast license pulled.

It was good policy up until the Reagan Administration revoked it.

Go figure a conservative administration revoked a policy that grossly benefited only conservatives.

[ZarakiKujata]

Now I don't feel so bad about wanting to jam my cock down Lara Logan's throat. It would stop her from saying ridiculous nonsense.

[Tyche]

I guess to oversimplify it is to differentiate you and I from a journalist. Maybe you're a talented writer, everybit as much as John doe of the New York Times. The difference is access. He has access to mediums that you and I just don't have. He has access to sources you or I can't touch. When that access is gone, you essentially have a very talented writer who cant get a story, which is what happens if a writer or press member is consistently hard on the people who give them access, especially when there's 30 other kids fresh out of northwestern ready to be manipulated.

[Rhinox]

Look at it his way. If someone came to your job place you call home to your career that you spent years building, and told you to do it in a way that would make you significantly less qualified than your colleagues, would you do it? By calling out sources, whether that be in news, politics, sports, etc, you essentially oust yourself from the inner circle. Sources (politicians, sports figures, etc) know that there's 15 other beat writers foaming at the mouth to write about all the rainbows and lolipops that they want to talk about. Journalists are just saving their own ass, and when your career and livelihood depend on it, then it's hard to be contrarian.

Considering news papers are heavily government subsidized they fucking owe it to the American people to be told the truth.

No one is suggesting that reporters reveal sources. But where do you draw the line when it comes to Embedded reporters covering up for the military?

The crux of the problem is the embedded reporters themselves. When you rely on the military to protect you on a daily basis people become attached to the squad and you start feeling like your one of the guys. That is when you start losing Objectivity. The Problem comes in when if you try to remove reporters from being embedded there is no one present to report whats going on.

So what do you do?

[Roranora]

... but in fact it would force Media outlets who use public airwaves to have a platform for everyone..

Assuming each and every platform has an audience large enough to financially justify its existence?

It would appear that collectively we like a small number of very distinct divisions; that way, people can 'take sides' and call out the other, logically or not. It seems difficult to imagine more than 2, maybe 3, supposed ideologies dominating our airwaves, which we all know would not encompass everyone. I dunno.. perhaps I just have a hard time seeing it happen because of what I've seen in my lifetime.

It sure sounds nice though.

[Rhinox]

The running joke is the only difference between the USSR and the United States is we have one more political party and a better PR department.

[Tyche]

Considering news papers are heavily government subsidized they fucking owe it to the American people to be told the truth.

No one is suggesting that reporters reveal sources. But where do you draw the line when it comes to Embedded reporters covering up for the military?

The crux of the problem is the embedded reporters themselves. When you rely on the military to protect you on a daily basis people become attached to the squad and you start feeling like your one of the guys. That is when you start losing Objectivity. The Problem comes in when if you try to remove reporters from being embedded there is no one present to report whats going on.

So what do you do?

Its not just about revealing sources, but just as much about being critical. It's sad but true. When a writer builds up a reputation of less than generous reporting, there's 20 other reporters and a thousand media outlets that would be willing to report what you want reported and bow you want it reported. Tough journalism exists, but I just think you have to build an immense amount of credibility beforehand so that, at the very least you'll be respected.

[Rhinox]

Its not just about revealing sources, but just as much about being critical. It's sad but true. When a writer builds up a reputation of less than generous reporting, there's 20 other reporters and a thousand media outlets that would be willing to report what you want reported and bow you want it reported. Tough journalism exists, but I just think you have to build an immense amount of credibility beforehand so that, at the very least you'll be respected.

This was never a problem before though that is my point.

Investigative Journalism use to be the most well funded department in every newspaper and TV.

Now newspapers have resorting to outsourcing the news business to AP, Reuters and others.

This is were we rely on our news. Essentially every newspaper front page is identical when it comes to the war and other Foreign issues.

[Rhinox]

You think the Journalist that broke Watergate and other major scandals over the years cared about their jobs? it wasn't til Newspaper stopped making profits that journalist turned into writers.


investigative Journalism use to be something that was applauded in this country. Now it seems like its an after thought and its a damn shame.

[GRT]

Journalists are either funded by capitalists or the government. Pick your poison.

[Tyche]

It wasn't a problem before because you had 1 news network, 5 legitimate newspapers with just a handful of writers, and no Internet. Now, newspapers are damn near dead, opinion commentators, who don't even report, dominate news networks, and he internet is thriving.

[Rhinox]

Journalists are either funded by capitalists or the government. Pick your poison.

Honestly? Government.

At least with the government you have Judicial discourse if the government tries to step in.

[GRT]

It wasn't a problem before because you had 1 news network, 5 legitimate newspapers with just a handful of writers, and no Internet. Now, newspapers are damn near dead, opinion commentators, who don't even report, dominate news networks, and he internet is

^this.

You want good journalism? Stop reading free news on the internet.

[GRT]

Honestly? Government.

At least with the government you have Judicial discourse if the government tries to step in.

China welcomes you home, comrade.

[Rhinox]

It wasn't a problem before because you had 1 news network, 5 legitimate newspapers with just a handful of writers, and no Internet. Now, newspapers are damn near dead, opinion commentators, who don't even report, dominate news networks, and he internet is

Television was irrelevant back then because the main source of information Americans got was from Newspapers and radios. And there was tons of those.

5 legitimate newspapers in the whole country?

I don't think so. Even Small town papers use to have strong investigative journalism for their home town.

[Rhinox]

China welcomes you home, comrade.

Don't be stupid.

The Constitution protects newspapers from an overreaching government.

[GRT]

You are so naive it's adorable. The Chinese Constitution also states the people have the right to the freedom of press. Doesn't work out that well in reality now does it?