http://tinyurl.com/mccainprivatejoke
One of the reasons that the news media is losing credibility is lack of professionalism. Professionalism, in this case, meaning a methodical, reasoned approach to reporting the news. When journalists act like ravished piranhas, frenzied over every drop of blood in the proverbial water, audiences begin to lose interest in every convulsion that a story generates.
The point made in the above link is that the public has grown numb to fleeting media obsessions. With that numbness to the trivial comes a numbness to the significant. Obviously ears perk with obviously substantial news such as terrorist attacks, but apparently people are glazing over when it comes to election coverage. Such, as the above blog contends, is the case with McCain's ludicrous protests to Obama's use of the word 'lipstick' in a stump speech, which credible news outlets quickly pointed out as unfounded and sensationalist in nature. The baseless attack had no effect on the polls. Also, the media has pointed out apparent holes in Palin's self-touted reputation as a reformer, citing inconsistencies in her alleged rejection of the now-infamous 'bridge to nowhere.' Evidence of her supposed hypocracy went unnoticed by the public.
Has the news media become the boy that cried 'wolf'? I believe that in some ways, it has. When news coverage more resembles user-submitted content on YouTube than actual news coverage, both in professionalism and hyperbole, it's time to question your source of news, if not the industry itself. How can journalists solve this problem? Reverse the trend. Be frugal in reporting the news. Strive for objectivity. I take offense at the growing assumption that journalists can't be objective. What, are they too ignorant to know the difference between subjectivity and objectivity? Because that would be the only excuse- a flawed and invalid one.
The McCain campaign can ignore the media because the American people are. What an unfortunate trend, and there's no one to blame but the media themselves.
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2 comments:
True, I believe, to an extent, but there are a number of accusations going the other way that the media ignores. The supposed banned book list was a complete fabrication for example, but I have yet to hear the MSM announce it. But yeah, I get numb to the media too. At least the MSM.
I would have to agree with your argument. I know I personally don’t really take what the media says involving the presidential campaign very seriously. The media always seems to have a bias swing to it, and if it doesn’t I automatically assume it is bias and that it is not being fair to each party involved.
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