bullskin
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Producer Ariana Pekary quit MSNBC, suggesting that ratings, not content, drive editorial decisions. "...it’s taboo to discuss how the ratings scheme distorts content, or it’s simply taken for granted, because everyone in the commercial broadcast news industry is doing the exact same thing. But behind closed doors, industry leaders will admit the damage that’s being done."
She acknowledges the opinions of other broadcasters: "Our viewers don’t really consider us the news. They come to us for comfort." "We are a cancer and there is no cure... But if you could find a cure, it would change the world.”
She concludes, "maybe we can’t really change the inherently broken structure of broadcast news, but I know for certain that it won’t change unless we actually face it, in public..."
Henry Kissinger noted the change in American politics in response to television media in observing "great statesmen of the past saw themselves as heroes who took on the burden society's painful journey from the familiar to the as of yet unknown. The modern politician is less interested in being a hero than a superstar. Heroes walk alone, stars derive their status from approbation. Heroes are defined by inner values, stars by concensus. When a candidate's views are forged in focus groups and ratified by television anchorpersons, insecurity and superficiality become congenital. Radicalism replaces liberalism, and populism masquerades as conservatism."
Without caution, it seems, we make our own, worst news; and, by extension, our own, worst politicians.
She acknowledges the opinions of other broadcasters: "Our viewers don’t really consider us the news. They come to us for comfort." "We are a cancer and there is no cure... But if you could find a cure, it would change the world.”
She concludes, "maybe we can’t really change the inherently broken structure of broadcast news, but I know for certain that it won’t change unless we actually face it, in public..."
Henry Kissinger noted the change in American politics in response to television media in observing "great statesmen of the past saw themselves as heroes who took on the burden society's painful journey from the familiar to the as of yet unknown. The modern politician is less interested in being a hero than a superstar. Heroes walk alone, stars derive their status from approbation. Heroes are defined by inner values, stars by concensus. When a candidate's views are forged in focus groups and ratified by television anchorpersons, insecurity and superficiality become congenital. Radicalism replaces liberalism, and populism masquerades as conservatism."
Without caution, it seems, we make our own, worst news; and, by extension, our own, worst politicians.
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