My post
Beautiful People,
If you are a baby boomer or a Gen-Xer you may remember the good ol' days when professional journalism and media ethics were imposed, and you’ve got noteworthy information and neutral, raw report of events.
Those were the days when we were respected by reporters, news anchors, and journalists because they delivered the news and trusted us to form an opinion. And boy, we had formed some cool opinions:
We arranged some incredible anti-war protests, we fought against social injustice and for civil rights and influenced change, we condemned terrible leaders and demanded their resignation (and we sometimes succeeded).
We developed critical thinking that corresponded with our personal values and beliefs. A philosophy that has been clear and rational, consistent, and most importantly, founded on facts.
But those days are gone, and today, opinion-free information became a rare commodity. One cannot listen to a news report on the radio, watch TV or read a newspaper without a side of judgment or attitude.
Somehow every news network turned into a 24/7 talk show, in which the NEWS BECOME THE COMMERCIAL BREAK, AND ANCHORS’ OPINIONS ARE TURNED INTO NEWS. No network is exempt from forcing newscasters' personal opinion on viewers.
Most anchors express a conscious opinion when they moderate a panel. Instead of leading a discussion, they become one of the panelists and aggressively debate with the other participants. Some journalists even attack interviewees for their stands and argue against their points.
The media is biased because people are biased, and that is a typical side effect of a free press. And a free press is good because in a democracy we want to be able to receive news without interference or censorship. But what we see throughout this election season is not an example of free press, but a controlled press.
Not controlled by the government, but by reporters, journalists, and news anchors who suffer from severe megalomania, and who are absolutely sure that we cannot form an opinion all by ourselves, therefore, they should plant it in our heads.
That is dangerous, dear friends, because when options are being transplanted into our brains, we forget our original thoughts. We don’t check the facts. We ignore our beliefs and our values, and we become blind to common sense and reason.
The news networks are unlikely to change. They adore their genius insights, their superb inimitable opinions, and their unique perceptions. BUT WE CAN CHANGE.
We can develop and become critical readers, critical viewers, critical listeners, and strip off the news anchor’s opinions from the subject matter, and instead form our own.
So when I need to escape from the everything-but-news reporters, I watch the brilliant John Oliver on Last Week Tonight with John Oliver. Because I always get exactly what I’ve signed up for- I get an opinion. An over the top, hilarious, brutally honest opinion.
XO,
Sharon
If you are a baby boomer or a Gen-Xer you may remember the good ol' days when professional journalism and media ethics were imposed, and you’ve got noteworthy information and neutral, raw report of events.
Those were the days when we were respected by reporters, news anchors, and journalists because they delivered the news and trusted us to form an opinion. And boy, we had formed some cool opinions:
We arranged some incredible anti-war protests, we fought against social injustice and for civil rights and influenced change, we condemned terrible leaders and demanded their resignation (and we sometimes succeeded).
We developed critical thinking that corresponded with our personal values and beliefs. A philosophy that has been clear and rational, consistent, and most importantly, founded on facts.
But those days are gone, and today, opinion-free information became a rare commodity. One cannot listen to a news report on the radio, watch TV or read a newspaper without a side of judgment or attitude.
Somehow every news network turned into a 24/7 talk show, in which the NEWS BECOME THE COMMERCIAL BREAK, AND ANCHORS’ OPINIONS ARE TURNED INTO NEWS. No network is exempt from forcing newscasters' personal opinion on viewers.
Most anchors express a conscious opinion when they moderate a panel. Instead of leading a discussion, they become one of the panelists and aggressively debate with the other participants. Some journalists even attack interviewees for their stands and argue against their points.
The media is biased because people are biased, and that is a typical side effect of a free press. And a free press is good because in a democracy we want to be able to receive news without interference or censorship. But what we see throughout this election season is not an example of free press, but a controlled press.
Not controlled by the government, but by reporters, journalists, and news anchors who suffer from severe megalomania, and who are absolutely sure that we cannot form an opinion all by ourselves, therefore, they should plant it in our heads.
That is dangerous, dear friends, because when options are being transplanted into our brains, we forget our original thoughts. We don’t check the facts. We ignore our beliefs and our values, and we become blind to common sense and reason.
The news networks are unlikely to change. They adore their genius insights, their superb inimitable opinions, and their unique perceptions. BUT WE CAN CHANGE.
We can develop and become critical readers, critical viewers, critical listeners, and strip off the news anchor’s opinions from the subject matter, and instead form our own.
So when I need to escape from the everything-but-news reporters, I watch the brilliant John Oliver on Last Week Tonight with John Oliver. Because I always get exactly what I’ve signed up for- I get an opinion. An over the top, hilarious, brutally honest opinion.
XO,
Sharon
No comments have been added yet.
