The Death of Journalism in America

[AZGrizFan]

If there is one thing about this election that stands out for me personally, it was the death of journalism in America. The Media (on BOTH sides) has long since abandoned any pretense of impartiality, and what is left are two spheres of political thought grinding out propoganda and outright lies on a daily basis. I can remember a time when Dan Rather's Evening news was watched and TRUSTED by virtually everyone. When Walter Cronkite said "That's the way it is"...we all knew that that WAS the way it was. The New York Times was the "Newspaper of Record" for America. ABC's 20/20 was cutting edge expose and everyone turned to the Nightly News to get a glimpse of the world outside America.

No longer.

Now our "opinions" are given to us by Kieth Olbermann and Chris Matthews on the left and Sean Hannity and Rush Limbaugh on the right. In this, the Age of Information, with internet and Blackberries putting a universe of knowledge in your pocket, most American adults can not name the Senators from their own state, or recite a single line of the Preamble to the Constitution, or even identify the Secretary of State. But everyone knows about GW's drinking problem twenty years ago, or that Barack is a lowsy bowler but has a good jump shot. "Journalists" will pillory George Bush for "getting us into a war" that was deemed inevitable by the Clinton Administration and Democrats in Congress while Bush was still Governor of Texas. It was George Bush's fault that 9-11 happened, even though the planning of it started in Clinton's FIRST term. We know about Barack's drug and alchohol use in college ad nauseum, but his relationship with Rezko, Ayers and Alinsky are summarily ignored.

Journalism didn't die overnight. It has been a slow, inexorable process beginning in the 1980's or before, and is only now blatantly evident. I don't even watch TV news anymore, except in election years, and most "newspapers" aren't worthy of the name. The screaming matches that pass for "News Talk Shows" such as Hannity or Hardball sound like so many seventh graders arguing about who's dad is the toughest.

It's a joke, and I am not laughing.

[Col Hogan]

Hopefully, AZ, we're at the bottom of a cycle...because this is not new in this country...just your lifetime...

Newspapers in the 1800s were totally dominated by "yellow" journalists who were beholding to a political party...there were "democratic" papers and "republican" papers...

Hell, the Spanish American War was started because William Randolph Hearst (Patty's great-grandfather) is credited by some as being the reason we actually went to war...

After the mysterious explosion of the U.S.S. Maine, in Havana Harbor, Hearst's actions are thought by many to have seriously influenced the very existence of the state of war that existed afterwards.

http://library.thinkquest.org/C0111500/ ... hearst.htm

So, I don't think it's the death...otherwise, Journalism is a Zombie that came back from a previous death...rather, it's sunk as low as it can go and hopefully will start a revival with honest, fair, reporting that originally got me into the business...

I could be wrong.....

[AZGrizFan]

I guess it has hit my family closer to home than most. "V" is a 20-year journalist, and she just cringes every time she reads a paper or watches what passes for the "news" now. In fact, she's been contemplating rejoining the work force, but between the state of journalism now and the state of newspapers (as in--declining readership, laying off employees, etc), she really has no place to go. It's been a VERY depressing year for her. She's also a Senior Vice President on the Board of Directors of the Society of Professional Journalists, whose very PURPOSE is to promote ethics in journalism and support 1st amendment rights. She sees both of these dying a very ugly death before her eyes, and it hurts.

No different, I suppose, than you or I watching Obama and his minions gut the military over the next several years and having it hurt US.

[Appaholic]

I guess it has hit my family closer to home than most. "V" is a 20-year journalist, and she just cringes every time she reads a paper or watches what passes for the "news" now. In fact, she's been contemplating rejoining the work force, but between the state of journalism now and the state of newspapers (as in--declining readership, laying off employees, etc), she really has no place to go. It's been a VERY depressing year for her. She's also a Senior Vice President on the Board of Directors of the Society of Professional Journalists, whose very PURPOSE is to promote ethics in journalism and support 1st amendment rights. She sees both of these dying a very ugly death before her eyes, and it hurts.

No different, I suppose, than you or I watching Obama and his minions gut the military over the next several years and having it hurt US.

According to Montana fans, Coulson was the first sign of the "Death of Journalism".....

[HI54UNI]

Media's Presidential Bias and Decline
Columnist Michael Malone Looks at Slanted Election Coverage and the Reasons Why
Column By MICHAEL S. MALONE

Oct. 24, 2008 —

The traditional media are playing a very, very dangerous game -- with their readers, with the Constitution and with their own fates.

The sheer bias in the print and television coverage of this election campaign is not just bewildering, but appalling. And over the last few months I've found myself slowly moving from shaking my head at the obvious one-sided reporting, to actually shouting at the screen of my television and my laptop computer.

But worst of all, for the last couple weeks, I've begun -- for the first time in my adult life -- to be embarrassed to admit what I do for a living. A few days ago, when asked by a new acquaintance what I did for a living, I replied that I was "a writer," because I couldn't bring myself to admit to a stranger that I'm a journalist.


Continued http://abcnews.go.com/print?id=6099188

[D1B]

If there is one thing about this election that stands out for me personally, it was the death of journalism in America. The Media (on BOTH sides) has long since abandoned any pretense of impartiality, and what is left are two spheres of political thought grinding out propoganda and outright lies on a daily basis. I can remember a time when Dan Rather's Evening news was watched and TRUSTED by virtually everyone. When Walter Cronkite said "That's the way it is"...we all knew that that WAS the way it was. The New York Times was the "Newspaper of Record" for America. ABC's 20/20 was cutting edge expose and everyone turned to the Nightly News to get a glimpse of the world outside America.

No longer.

Now our "opinions" are given to us by Kieth Olbermann and Chris Matthews on the left and Sean Hannity and Rush Limbaugh on the right. In this, the Age of Information, with internet and Blackberries putting a universe of knowledge in your pocket, most American adults can not name the Senators from their own state, or recite a single line of the Preamble to the Constitution, or even identify the Secretary of State. But everyone knows about GW's drinking problem twenty years ago, or that Barack is a lowsy bowler but has a good jump shot. "Journalists" will pillory George Bush for "getting us into a war" that was deemed inevitable by the Clinton Administration and Democrats in Congress while Bush was still Governor of Texas. It was George Bush's fault that 9-11 happened, even though the planning of it started in Clinton's FIRST term. We know about Barack's drug and alchohol use in college ad nauseum, but his relationship with Rezko, Ayers and Alinsky are summarily ignored.

Journalism didn't die overnight. It has been a slow, inexorable process beginning in the 1980's or before, and is only now blatantly evident. I don't even watch TV news anymore, except in election years, and most "newspapers" aren't worthy of the name. The screaming matches that pass for "News Talk Shows" such as Hannity or Hardball sound like so many seventh graders arguing about who's dad is the toughest.

It's a joke, and I am not laughing.

I'm laughing motherfuker. At you. You're gonna need to come to grips with fact that your boy got his ass handed to him by a man of superior intelligence and poise.

Pussy, blaming it on the media. You're no different than that cumt Tipper Gore when she tried to blame violence on music.

Clam up you whining baby maggot and get to work. You don't like what you see, turn it off, like most intelligent people do. There is a plethora of outstanding outlets for information including newspapers, TV and internet. In fact PBS is one of em, but fux like you and Tbagsmen69 don't hesitate to lable it as liberal trash.

Partison and sensational media have be so since day one - read your history books, Einstein. In fact, there were not many choices back then so it was more dangerous than today, you dumbass.

What a fukcing baby!

[D1B]

Media's Presidential Bias and Decline
Columnist Michael Malone Looks at Slanted Election Coverage and the Reasons Why
Column By MICHAEL S. MALONE

Oct. 24, 2008 —

The traditional media are playing a very, very dangerous game -- with their readers, with the Constitution and with their own fates.

The sheer bias in the print and television coverage of this election campaign is not just bewildering, but appalling. And over the last few months I've found myself slowly moving from shaking my head at the obvious one-sided reporting, to actually shouting at the screen of my television and my laptop computer.

But worst of all, for the last couple weeks, I've begun -- for the first time in my adult life -- to be embarrassed to admit what I do for a living. A few days ago, when asked by a new acquaintance what I did for a living, I replied that I was "a writer," because I couldn't bring myself to admit to a stranger that I'm a journalist.


Continued http://abcnews.go.com/print?id=6099188

Wah, wah, wah...... Fukcing baby like AZ.

[Purple For Life]

If there is one thing about this election that stands out for me personally, it was the death of journalism in America. The Media (on BOTH sides) has long since abandoned any pretense of impartiality, and what is left are two spheres of political thought grinding out propoganda and outright lies on a daily basis. I can remember a time when Dan Rather's Evening news was watched and TRUSTED by virtually everyone. When Walter Cronkite said "That's the way it is"...we all knew that that WAS the way it was. The New York Times was the "Newspaper of Record" for America. ABC's 20/20 was cutting edge expose and everyone turned to the Nightly News to get a glimpse of the world outside America.

No longer.

Now our "opinions" are given to us by Kieth Olbermann and Chris Matthews on the left and Sean Hannity and Rush Limbaugh on the right. In this, the Age of Information, with internet and Blackberries putting a universe of knowledge in your pocket, most American adults can not name the Senators from their own state, or recite a single line of the Preamble to the Constitution, or even identify the Secretary of State. But everyone knows about GW's drinking problem twenty years ago, or that Barack is a lowsy bowler but has a good jump shot. "Journalists" will pillory George Bush for "getting us into a war" that was deemed inevitable by the Clinton Administration and Democrats in Congress while Bush was still Governor of Texas. It was George Bush's fault that 9-11 happened, even though the planning of it started in Clinton's FIRST term. We know about Barack's drug and alchohol use in college ad nauseum, but his relationship with Rezko, Ayers and Alinsky are summarily ignored.

Journalism didn't die overnight. It has been a slow, inexorable process beginning in the 1980's or before, and is only now blatantly evident. I don't even watch TV news anymore, except in election years, and most "newspapers" aren't worthy of the name. The screaming matches that pass for "News Talk Shows" such as Hannity or Hardball sound like so many seventh graders arguing about who's dad is the toughest.

It's a joke, and I am not laughing.

I'm laughing motherfuker. At you. You're gonna need to come to grips with fact that your boy got his ass handed to him by a man of superior intelligence and poise.

Pussy, blaming it on the media. You're no different than that cumt Tipper Gore when she tried to blame violence on music.

Clam up you whining baby maggot and get to work. You don't like what you see, turn it off, like most intelligent people do. There is a plethora of outstanding outlets for information including newspapers, TV and internet. In fact PBS is one of em, but fux like you and Tbagsmen69 don't hesitate to lable it as liberal trash.

Partison and sensational media have be so since day one - read your history books, Einstein. In fact, there were not many choices back then so it was more dangerous than today, you dumbass.

What a fukcing baby!

Yep, you pretty much nailed it. Hard for a member of the Rich Old White Men's party to admit that, though.

[Col Hogan]

I'm laughing motherfuker. At you. You're gonna need to come to grips with fact that your boy got his ass handed to him by a man of superior intelligence and poise.

Pussy, blaming it on the media. You're no different than that cumt Tipper Gore when she tried to blame violence on music.

Clam up you whining baby maggot and get to work. You don't like what you see, turn it off, like most intelligent people do. There is a plethora of outstanding outlets for information including newspapers, TV and internet. In fact PBS is one of em, but fux like you and Tbagsmen69 don't hesitate to lable it as liberal trash.

Partison and sensational media have be so since day one - read your history books, Einstein. In fact, there were not many choices back then so it was more dangerous than today, you dumbass.

What a fukcing baby!

Yep, you pretty much nailed it. Hard for a member of the Rich Old White Men's party to admit that, though.

Hey PFL...be accurate...I'm hispanic...and not rich (well, compared to your poor azz, maybe I am)...and I work for a living...something you dread and will eat you alive...

I've worked for all kinds...even the idiots didn't whine and bitch like you do...

Do you understand the word chum....

Every post you make whining is like throwing more chum onto shark filled waters...

[JoltinJoe]

=Matthews: My Job Is To Make Obama Presidency a Success

Does this mean Barack Obama's job is to make Chris Matthews look good?

[travelinman67]

Yep, you pretty much nailed it. Hard for a member of the Rich Old White Men's party to admit that, though.

Your getting a little warmer...batting .500. Thing is, I've worked on both sides of the fence...lib and conservative...and probably have a quantitatively, exponentially higher degree of life experience than either you or D1B...yet you refuse to admit that.

I'm not asking any "yout's" to unconditionally accept what I say without debate and challenge, but during that debate, a failure to demonstrate appropriate respect will result in said "yout" receiving a verbal backhand, without exception.

[BigApp]

Yep, you pretty much nailed it. Hard for a member of the Rich Old White Men's party to admit that, though.

amen to that. won't hear Robert Byrd or Frank Lautenberg admit to much of anything these days.

[Purple For Life]

Yep, you pretty much nailed it. Hard for a member of the Rich Old White Men's party to admit that, though.

Your getting a little warmer...batting .500. Thing is, I've worked on both sides of the fence...lib and conservative...and probably have a quantitatively, exponentially higher degree of life experience than either you or D1B...yet you refuse to admit that.

I'm not asking any "yout's" to unconditionally accept what I say without debate and challenge, but during that debate, a failure to demonstrate appropriate respect will result in said "yout" receiving a verbal backhand, without exception.

You so sure about that?

Quantity does not equal quality...

[Cap'n Cat]

Failure of the Conks to get their ugly message across is not the fault of the Progressives.

[Appaholic]

Your getting a little warmer...batting .500. Thing is, I've worked on both sides of the fence...lib and conservative...and probably have a quantitatively, exponentially higher degree of life experience than either you or D1B...yet you refuse to admit that.

T-Man67.....Alpha AND Omega Man....seriously, if we take turns posting your accolades, will you cease telling us how much your experience has benfitted the unwashed like us and patting us on our heads?

[AZGrizFan]

If there is one thing about this election that stands out for me personally, it was the death of journalism in America. The Media (on BOTH sides) has long since abandoned any pretense of impartiality, and what is left are two spheres of political thought grinding out propoganda and outright lies on a daily basis. I can remember a time when Dan Rather's Evening news was watched and TRUSTED by virtually everyone. When Walter Cronkite said "That's the way it is"...we all knew that that WAS the way it was. The New York Times was the "Newspaper of Record" for America. ABC's 20/20 was cutting edge expose and everyone turned to the Nightly News to get a glimpse of the world outside America.

No longer.

Now our "opinions" are given to us by Kieth Olbermann and Chris Matthews on the left and Sean Hannity and Rush Limbaugh on the right. In this, the Age of Information, with internet and Blackberries putting a universe of knowledge in your pocket, most American adults can not name the Senators from their own state, or recite a single line of the Preamble to the Constitution, or even identify the Secretary of State. But everyone knows about GW's drinking problem twenty years ago, or that Barack is a lowsy bowler but has a good jump shot. "Journalists" will pillory George Bush for "getting us into a war" that was deemed inevitable by the Clinton Administration and Democrats in Congress while Bush was still Governor of Texas. It was George Bush's fault that 9-11 happened, even though the planning of it started in Clinton's FIRST term. We know about Barack's drug and alchohol use in college ad nauseum, but his relationship with Rezko, Ayers and Alinsky are summarily ignored.

Journalism didn't die overnight. It has been a slow, inexorable process beginning in the 1980's or before, and is only now blatantly evident. I don't even watch TV news anymore, except in election years, and most "newspapers" aren't worthy of the name. The screaming matches that pass for "News Talk Shows" such as Hannity or Hardball sound like so many seventh graders arguing about who's dad is the toughest.

It's a joke, and I am not laughing.

I'm laughing motherfuker. At you. You're gonna need to come to grips with fact that your boy got his ass handed to him by a man of superior intelligence and poise.

Pussy, blaming it on the media. You're no different than that cumt Tipper Gore when she tried to blame violence on music.

Clam up you whining baby maggot and get to work. You don't like what you see, turn it off, like most intelligent people do. There is a plethora of outstanding outlets for information including newspapers, TV and internet. In fact PBS is one of em, but fux like you and Tbagsmen69 don't hesitate to lable it as liberal trash.

Partison and sensational media have be so since day one - read your history books, Einstein. In fact, there were not many choices back then so it was more dangerous than today, you dumbass.

What a fukcing baby!

Wow. Just.....WOW. You REALLY missed the mark here, D. I'm not "blaming it on the media". This knife cuts both ways. I agree, my "boy" got his ass handed to him. This post isn't about who won or who lost, it's about the absolute absence of unbiased media in this country. It's not even about a left or right slanted media...it's about the fact that you can't FIND an unbiased source anymore, and that's just sad. Their role as watchdog has been replaced as a role of lapdog...for BOTH parties depending on which outlet you're talking about.

And, FYI, I don't WATCH or READ any of them any more...for the exact reasons stated above. I don't need to watch Kieth Olberman blow Obama on national television any more than I need to see Bill O'Reilley take it up the ass from John McCain and love every minute of it.

They're ALL jokes and we, as a country, are worse off for it.

Peace, friend.

[D1B]

I'm laughing motherfuker. At you. You're gonna need to come to grips with fact that your boy got his ass handed to him by a man of superior intelligence and poise.

Pussy, blaming it on the media. You're no different than that cumt Tipper Gore when she tried to blame violence on music.

Clam up you whining baby maggot and get to work. You don't like what you see, turn it off, like most intelligent people do. There is a plethora of outstanding outlets for information including newspapers, TV and internet. In fact PBS is one of em, but fux like you and Tbagsmen69 don't hesitate to lable it as liberal trash.

Partison and sensational media have be so since day one - read your history books, Einstein. In fact, there were not many choices back then so it was more dangerous than today, you dumbass.

What a fukcing baby!

Wow. Just.....WOW. You REALLY missed the mark here, D. I'm not "blaming it on the media". This knife cuts both ways. I agree, my "boy" got his ass handed to him. This post isn't about who won or who lost, it's about the absolute absence of unbiased media in this country. It's not even about a left or right slanted media...it's about the fact that you can't FIND an unbiased source anymore, and that's just sad. Their role as watchdog has been replaced as a role of lapdog...for BOTH parties depending on which outlet you're talking about.

And, FYI, I don't WATCH or READ any of them any more...for the exact reasons stated above. I don't need to watch Kieth Olberman blow Obama on national television any more than I need to see Bill O'Reilley take it up the ass from John McCain and love every minute of it.

They're ALL jokes and we, as a country, are worse off for it.

Peace, friend.

I understant what you're saying. Just sensed the implication that if the media was unbiased, people would have voted for McCain. Also, I don't agree that there is an absolute absence of unbiased media.

I can also understand how you feel. However, the republican message is ugly. Their campaign strategy was ugly. The way they tried to use media stunts to sway voters was ugly. The way they handled themselves was ugly. Palin was ugly. McCain was ugly and stupid. The republican base is ugly. I think the media, for the most part adequetly presented McCain and the republicans this election.

[Wedgebuster]

Don't forget to mention the douche baggery of the "Joe The Plumber" ploy.

Damn, that was stupid. Funny, but stupid.

[D1B]

Don't forget to mention the douche baggery of the "Joe The Plumber" ploy.

Damn, that was stupid. Funny, but stupid.

They are responsible for how they're perceived by the media. They ran the worst campaign in history and the media reported on the worst campaign in history. The era of Reganesque bitterness, hatred and division is finally gone.

Republicans have a black and white view of the world and this was most apparant in the Joe the Plumber stunt. He is not America any more.

[houndawg]

If there is one thing about this election that stands out for me personally, it was the death of journalism in America. The Media (on BOTH sides) has long since abandoned any pretense of impartiality, and what is left are two spheres of political thought grinding out propoganda and outright lies on a daily basis. I can remember a time when Dan Rather's Evening news was watched and TRUSTED by virtually everyone. When Walter Cronkite said "That's the way it is"...we all knew that that WAS the way it was. The New York Times was the "Newspaper of Record" for America. ABC's 20/20 was cutting edge expose and everyone turned to the Nightly News to get a glimpse of the world outside America.

No longer.

Now our "opinions" are given to us by Kieth Olbermann and Chris Matthews on the left and Sean Hannity and Rush Limbaugh on the right. In this, the Age of Information, with internet and Blackberries putting a universe of knowledge in your pocket, most American adults can not name the Senators from their own state, or recite a single line of the Preamble to the Constitution, or even identify the Secretary of State. But everyone knows about GW's drinking problem twenty years ago, or that Barack is a lowsy bowler but has a good jump shot. "Journalists" will pillory George Bush for "getting us into a war" that was deemed inevitable by the Clinton Administration and Democrats in Congress while Bush was still Governor of Texas. It was George Bush's fault that 9-11 happened, even though the planning of it started in Clinton's FIRST term. We know about Barack's drug and alchohol use in college ad nauseum, but his relationship with Rezko, Ayers and Alinsky are summarily ignored.

Journalism didn't die overnight. It has been a slow, inexorable process beginning in the 1980's or before, and is only now blatantly evident. I don't even watch TV news anymore, except in election years, and most "newspapers" aren't worthy of the name. The screaming matches that pass for "News Talk Shows" such as Hannity or Hardball sound like so many seventh graders arguing about who's dad is the toughest.

It's a joke, and I am not laughing.

Oh please. Do you really expect objective reporting from media owned by Rupert Murdoch or General Electric?

I'd send you a subscription to Mother Jones but (Jack Nicholson voice) YOU CAN'T HANDLE THE TRUTH

[BigApp]

He is not America any more.

Really? So, the United States of America is no longer the place where people aspire to be self-sufficient, and actually WANT to own their own business. Groovy.

Oh sage one, do tell us what "America" is now!

[BigApp]

Do you really expect objective reporting from media owned by Rupert Murdoch or General Electric?

believe what you will, but I saw him say it 3 separate and different times with my own eyes: Even Ed Rendell believes Fox News provided the most balanced coverage of the election.

Of course, you'll now say Fast Eddie is in the pocket of the GOP, right?

[AZGrizFan]

I understant what you're saying. Just sensed the implication that if the media was unbiased, people would have voted for McCain. Also, I don't agree that there is an absolute absence of unbiased media.

I can also understand how you feel. However, the republican message is ugly. Their campaign strategy was ugly. The way they tried to use media stunts to sway voters was ugly. The way they handled themselves was ugly. Palin was ugly. McCain was ugly and stupid. The republican base is ugly. I think the media, for the most part adequetly presented McCain and the republicans this election.

I'm not sure how you got that out of my post. The media is biased...on BOTH sides. And Jesus Christ himself couldn't have won this election running as a Republican. This was more of a backlash statement election than anything. I'm not sure it would have mattered WHO was running on the Donk ticket. There's really no need to call these folks names, D. John McCain is a good man and had the best interests of the country at heart. The fact that you don't agree with his methods doesn't make him the devil.

If the media were unbiased, we'd have heard a WHOLE lot more about Ayers, Alinsky, Rezko, etc. We didn't, and now we've got Obama for the next 4 years. Who knows though? Even if we HAD heard the full stories involving those people, America STILL may have elected Obama, even if just out of spite.

Hell of a reason to vote for someone.

[AZGrizFan]

Don't forget to mention the douche baggery of the "Joe The Plumber" ploy.

Damn, that was stupid. Funny, but stupid.

They are responsible for how they're perceived by the media. They ran the worst campaign in history and the media reported on the worst campaign in history. The era of Reganesque bitterness, hatred and division is finally gone.

Republicans have a black and white view of the world and this was most apparant in the Joe the Plumber stunt. He is not America any more.

That's where you're wrong, D. It's not how they're PERCEIVED at all. It's how they're REPRESENTED. It's what stories the media chooses to cover. And which it chooses to ignore. On BOTH sides. Fox news presents Obama as the anti-Christ. MSNBC presents him as the second coming of Christ. Neither is right. And if yo think the bitterness, hatred and division is just going to evaporate, I want some of what you're smoking.

[D1B]

They are responsible for how they're perceived by the media. They ran the worst campaign in history and the media reported on the worst campaign in history. The era of Reganesque bitterness, hatred and division is finally gone.

Republicans have a black and white view of the world and this was most apparant in the Joe the Plumber stunt. He is not America any more.

That's where you're wrong, D. It's not how they're PERCEIVED at all. It's how they're REPRESENTED. It's what stories the media chooses to cover. And which it chooses to ignore. On BOTH sides. Fox news presents Obama as the anti-Christ. MSNBC presents him as the second coming of Christ. Neither is right. And if yo think the bitterness, hatred and division is just going to evaporate, I want some of what you're smoking.

AZ, sorry, but you and your party of divisiveness had this coming. YOU invented bitterness, hatred and division. In fact, since Reagan, you've won 5 presidential elections based solely on hatred and intolerance and petty cynicism. The media finally 1. refused to buy it and 2. exposed you and your party as the hate monger, violent assholes you are.

The exact opposite of what you're saying is true. This is the first election I can remember where the media got it right and you knuckleheads were held accountable.