News to no one. America’s failing Press.

8 Responses to “News to no one. America’s failing Press.”

1. DAD
   8. October 2005 at 10:40
   

   Dear Rant Maker,
   Read your Rant on the news reporting. The answer is obviously money. Moving a tradgey like Darfur to the top of the news list doesn’t bring "news watchers" or sell newspapers. Most people cannot relate to Darfur but can certainly relate to Iraq, Katrina, New Orleans, ETC.
   Your Rant #3 is different. I love to watch good debates, especially heated ones! It’s always good to get a glimpse of both sides of an issue. My favorite commentator is Aaron Brown of CNN. He now has a co-host—–Anderson Cooper! These guys seem to ask the right questions and are not afraid to step on toes if necessary. To the interviewees, it’s like the old saying goes "if you can’t stand the heat, get out of the kitchen"
   Keep Ranting!!! Love, DAD

2. Ben Friedle
   9. October 2005 at 13:46
   

   I really like this rant because it made me realize that the responsibility is on me to go and find multiple news perspectives from multiple news sources. For a long time I was searching for a one stop like CNN or BBC and was never satisfied.

   I was looking around for interesting "news watcher" demographics. Below is the neilsen august summary. Top is most popular.

   http://www.mediabistro.com/tvnewser/original/aug2005ranker.pdf

   For balance I looked up most popular TV shows.

   http://www.nielsenmedia.com/index.html

   If you watch those shows you should be ashamed!

   I used to watch law and order which was number one TV drama. I really felt like I belonged then.

3. Larry
   12. October 2005 at 15:37
   

   As Mr. Herzog pointed out, it’s all about money. Delivering the news is a business. Their profit margin essentially comes in the form of ratings and sales. This contributes to any existing bias that stems from the station (or publication) views/beliefs and, unfortunately, we have to deal with stories like the Darfur tragedy falling through the mainstream cracks. Luckily the internet is chock full of information and (new) news if you take the time to look for it.

4. Kris Phillips
   19. October 2005 at 13:36
   

   I think a lot of people are making great points, however, since I seem to be the only "conservative" reading these rants I feel it is my responsibility to point out that I hate the biases that exist in the news. And Mr. Herzog is correct, it absolutely IS driven by $$$. However, the liberal slant in the media is obvious both in the news and on television shows. You all enjoy that new show with the female president, um yeah that’s not aimed at trying to get anyone in particular into the White House is it? A female president…is that even possible? Who do we know that might be thinking about running any time soon? It’s sure as hell not Elizabeth Dole, she’s too busy working off the results from Bobby’s little blue pill. For news without any bias I recommend http://www.foxnews.com. Yeah, right. Yes I admit there is a big conservative slant also, but these slants generate ratings. I like Rush and Pat Buchanon and all those guys, you can listen and watch the other crap. Just don’t let me start in on NPR! Good topic Jed, keep em coming.

5. Jess
   21. October 2005 at 16:42
   

   No doubt that the media is driven by dollars. But I must take issue with Kris’comments about the "liberal slant" in the media. I live in a conservative state and hear this criticism so much that it is now simply expected whenever I have a current issue discussion. But let me attempt to set you straight. You cite the current Female president show, which I have not seen. Yet you conveniently forget the myriad of movies put out in the wake of F-9/11 to bolster President Bush’s image. Bunch of Johnny come latelys. Or maybe the great host of war/Delta force movies in the late eighties, what where those supposed to do make us all peace loving hippies. Fox news the media entity that literally stole the 2000 election by reporting false results. Results that have now been conclusively proven as incorrect. All the other media broadcasts had to retract the truth, how did that happen, the Democratic agenda.

   I personnally have listened to Rush for years and I’m hear to tell you he is a half step from bald faced lying to the world, to further his agenda. I listened to Pat Buchanan the other week tell the world that it is good that the federal gov. has negated the minimum wage in in Lousiana. He feels it is important to get these folks working. I agree that it is important to get them working, but for a fare wage. $9 an hour-the former min wage is BELOW THE POVERTY LINE. At that wage you can’t buy a decent house, send your kid to a decent school, or afford decent transportation. Maybe the other guy you speak of is William Bennett, read the previous rant for some good info on him.

   My point here is not to simply berade the "conservative media" but to let you know, Kris, that media has had a conservative agenda for quite some time. Not just slant, heavy spin along with controlling the topics. Oh one more-thing I listen and read many different news sources, which is the only way to decipher some semblance of truth from the opposing spin, and NPR, PRI, BBC, and PBS have by far and away the least amount of spin. I am sorry if you don’t like their topics but they ain’t lyin’ and sometimes the unabashed truth stings.

6. Ben
   30. October 2005 at 12:17
   

   So I have a project were I want to make a bumper sticker that says "I fart for art". Cause I think people who put their political position on their bumpers are funny, farting is funny, and art is easy to rhyme.

   In searching for a quality organization to print my custom bumper sticker I found.

   http://www.dirtyliberal.com

   I figure these things get dreamed up to sell bumper stickers but for arguments sake I found.

   http://www.dumbwsucks.com

   If we say both of these sites don’t care at all about politics and are just trying to appeal to people who believe these things to make money. What I see is guns, complaining about taxes, gay bashing, pro-life, pro military, anti-demoncrats – VS – anti-bush, some pro-military, environmentalism, and a bunch of other liberal crap. Whats the hate platform about? And how is lazy a liberal trait? Oh socialism. Hard working people spoon feeding the lazy.

   Blah blah blah.

   My point being I think bumper stickers are funny

7. Renegade Blogger
   6. November 2005 at 16:11
   

   Well, I have to agree with the two before me in saying that yeah, money drives the media now adays. Its all about what’ll sell more and keep the ratings up. The main newspaper here in cleveland has run some lovely front page stories recently. One informed us about a politicians love life (this is news how?) while the states use of the death penalty get burried in the metro section. This from the paper that will report on local issues whithout talking to anyone from the issue (and they wonder why they later have to print corrections?).

   And as for a bias? I dont think thers as much of a bias as people think. While I’ll admit that some of the cabel news channels are, (one was established to counter "news media (that was) dominated by liberals." If you think this wont be biased…) I dont think that there really is as much of a bias as the american public thinks. Maybe its a cool sounding word that we like to throw around.

   Renegade Blogger
   http://renegadeblogger.blogsome.com

8. Ryan
   23. February 2007 at 06:27
   

   Not for nothing, but I just pushed the remote’s Power button really hard (the equivalent of slamming a door) because the Today show opened with a long story on Anna Nicole Smith and Brittany Spears.

   ….and you say the news is dead!

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