...and it truly sucks this evening.
Clearly, the biggest news of the day is the big Batman movie premiere. The world waits breathlessly for the release of yet another overhyped Hollywood blockbuster. The planet's truly important issues must be temporarily sidelined while hordes of fans who cannot otherwise get a date rush to the theatres so they can buy overpriced tickets, stuff themselves with overpriced (and really unhealthy) popcorn and watch a movie whose every scene was preordained by focus groups who were fed similarly unhealthy fare in exchange for their valuable opinions.
And if this isn't enough, they leave a glaring spelling error in the link to their "other" top story (see pinkish box on the right.) And don't even get me started about the next story, Mrs. Bush differs with White House message. Sorry, but since when does Mrs. Bush's political opinion matter? What constituency elected her? Oh yes, she was never elected. But to CNN, what she thinks seems to be news. Journalism at its finest, folks.
Yeah, James Earl Jones is probably rethinking his "THIS...is CNN" gig right about now. And this is what half the planet turns to for news? Give me a break.
My question to you is: Am I the only one who sees the total lack of journalistic merit in what this self-proclaimed paragon of news coverage is putting out?
Please discuss...
(I'll leave Fox News for another day...this focus on CNN has polluted my brain and this site enough for one night.)
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10 comments:
I am sick of the nonsense that is broadcast/published as news. I do not care about batman or star wars or any other of the movies that seem to be breaking news stories.
Often we do not turn on the tv for news for several days. Being bombarded with fluff and weird stories is bad enough but they always seem to focus on really BAD things. I find it depressing and can only tolerate just so much 'news'.
I am from Georgia so I have been conditioned to dislike Ted Turner and CNN. lol
Angie
http://www.bigredcouch.com/journal/
I don't watch broadcast news much any more, and I never watch the all-news channels.
I'm not sure whether they've gotten worse, or whether they were always this way and I didn't notice because I didn't have the web to judge them by.
I think that the future is in news aggregators that have smarts and will collect news based on your preferences. I, for example, don't have any sports or entertainment news sections in my Google news.
hi! came via michele's...
i don't know why other things get more focus in the media rather than what really matters... could it be because their audience prefer to know about Letourneau's marriage to her student?!! it really boggles the mind!
It seems that "news" today is mostly about pop culture or political agenda. So, although I still watch the news (like a sucker), I'm quite skeptical of it all.
Yup, I couldn't agree more. I make it a point not to follow the national news anymore. It's quite consumer-driven. Perspective somewhere has been lost. I stopped watching the morning news shows after they started promoting so many new products and fads that I wasn't sure, after watching, whether I was supposed to pay attention or go out and buy something.
Good post!
I know its terrible of me but I never watch the news, or read the paper. It is just to depressing and I would rather not know. If something really important or tragic is going on I will find out about it anyway. I would rather wander around like an idiot not knowing anything and not giving a hoot...
Hi Carmi, I think the thing that bugs me the most about news media is that they decide what is news and what isn't. Often I feel that they create the hype, fear, or interest around issues or events that would otherwise fade rather quickly and also that they often ignore relevant issues or stories because they might not "sell". I haven't seen too many personalities that impress me with their journalistic integrity (except you of course!).
I post on this not long ago. Never have we needed journalist to be good at what they do - than now! It is not about news anymore..it is about ratings.
I rarely listen to the news anymore, mainly just because of what you wrote. It always seems that it is so one sided. They are like pitbulls, they latch on to something and just won't let it go. It's not just the mainstream media that does it any more. It's the smaller newspapers as well. Sad really.
There was a four-part series on CBC back in '98 that absolutely massacred TV journalism with supreme dark satire. I think it was called "More Tears". It was made by Ken Finkelman of "Newsroom" fame. Stuff like that I wish I could buy on DVD. I even emailed the CBC about it some time ago but they never got back to me. Bastards.
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