Why does America distrust television news?

Spencer Collins · #1 (**permalink**) 07-29-2012, 03:01 AM

Quote:

When people are looking at the talking heads on TV, they want people to be genuine and honest. People have gotten more sophisticated about their talking points. They smell them out, they know them when they hear them, and it turns them off. They just want someone to be honest, whether you’re a candidate running for office or an analyst talking about someone running for office, they just want you to be honest in your assessment.

Give me the facts, give me your analysis of the facts, but don’t give it to me in a way that forces me to believe it’s the only way, the only truth. I think people are looking to make their own determinations a lot more than being spoon fed the news. Going back to the days of Walter Cronkite, going home to hear what Uncle Walter had to say. Today, by the time you get to 6 p.m., you’ve already had four or five news cycles. That’s a very different environment for people.

I think people are actually more informed today, but the question is, to what degree is their information accurate? And that’s the real fine line. We see these fact checkers popping up. You’ve got these groups that are forming that are checking the facts and either confirming or debunking what’s being reported as news is actually correct.

I think people want to be told less of this is the right way or the wrong way, and just want to be informed enough so they can make up their own mind. You have a lot of people rushing out to get it tweeted out or blogged about, and facts suffer. That’s the dangerous part of it, and I think people are aware of that, too.

I think people are really reassessing “real journalism.” Everyone has an appreciation of what that standard should be, of integrity and accuracy and truthfulness, and the ability to deliver the news. Conservatives have long lamented in the biases on the media in telling our story. Then along comes Fox and they present, as they put it “a fair and balanced view” and then the left starts complaining about the unfair and unbalanced view, because that side of the story is being told as well. And so people are kind of looking at all of this and reassessing what are the defined lines of journalism today. It’s no longer determined by the Washington Post, the New York Times and the Miami Herald. It’s defined by Matt Drudge, it’s defined by POLITICO and the Huffington Post and lot of other small, medium and large outlets around the country, who have each taken on some aspect of journalism throughout the country.

Michael S. Steele Former RNC chairman and Maryland lieutenant governor :

Interviewed by POLITICO's Andrea Drusch

Why do Americans distrust television news? - The Arena | POLITICO.COM

Well said Mr. Steele..

StanFan · #2 (**permalink**) 08-04-2012, 11:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spencer Collins

Why does America distrust television news?

Well said Mr. Steele..

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Have to agree with Mr. Steele, but, unfortunately, the internet and blog groups now speed up the news cycles so much, that he is right. By 6:00pm, the News of the day, unless it is something horrendous like the Colorado movie theater shooting, is already outdated, and another news cycle has started, usually by your local, or national news broadcast. Ever notice how many times, while watching favorite television shows or sports on tv after 8:00pm, daily, commercials break in with "BREAKING NEWS AT 11:00" - with whatever teaser the network wants you to follow. The story rarely is worth the commercial time - and is old news by the time the newscast comes on.

The American press and electronic media long ago lost any perspective about what was news, and the public's right to know. They determine it in advance.Today, almost everything is slanted - they present it in a manner they feel serves the needs of their special interests (like the NRA, Planned Parenthood, Dems vs. GOP, Middle Class vs. wealthy, etc.). News is presented to attract viewers, the only function of television since its invention, is to sell you something, whether consumer products, or ideas.

Dog Bites Man doesn't sell. Man Bites Dog does!

Black Teenage girl raped and defacated on in Virginia Beach...
Black Female raped by Duke University lacrosse team...

Al Sharpton rushes to the scene of the "crime" and holds a national news conference and spreads it across the country in seconds. Unfortunately, he and the media never return later to apologize and explain that the accusations were entirely and completely false.....

The talking head media fools weigh in daily on things like the O.J. Simpson and Casey Anthony trials, finding the defendants guilty - than after weeks and weeks of televised testimony, are stunned and angry that 12 men and women in a jury box, who listened to the same evidence as they saw on tv, didn't agree with them, and found the defendants NOT GUILTY. How dare they!!!

Anybody who reviewed the O.J. Simpson trial, which was handed to the least experienced of Los Angeles County's attorneys for trial, against the crack Johnny Cochran team, would have found him not guilty. If I had been on the Casey Anthony jury, I would have found her guilty - of lying - nothing more - that's all they could prove.

Our talking heads know and care nothing about the Constitution and due process - it's is who gets the story out the fastest, with the most headlines, not the truth, that is believed.

As I have posted before about newspapers. There is a front page for people who want to read the news. A comic page for people who can't read, and an editorial page for people who can't think. Our electronic media and internet blogs come under the editorial page of - for people who can't think - and also appeal to people who can't read. Not only are we a global economy, but an instantaneous news and gossip Dear Abby column, and can weigh in on any topic throughout the world - and put, just like the news organizations can, our slant on the news. Other than "Meet The Press" - "ABC's This Week" and CBS's 60 Minutes" all other news and media organizations, national, global and local, IMO, are not worth tuning in to.....

saltwn · #3 (**permalink**) 08-04-2012, 12:39 PM

Yesterday in an interview -this was radio but it could have been any of the tv outlets- the conservative side was given but there was -nor will there be - an opposing view. I miss that.

AZRWinger · #4 (**permalink**) 08-04-2012, 01:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by saltwn

Yesterday in an interview -this was radio but it could have been any of the tv outlets- the conservative side was given but there was -nor will there be - an opposing view. I miss that.

Change the channel. When I listen to the local Leftist radio, Bill Press, Thom Hartman, I don't expect to hear Conservative thought. There is this thing called the internet that allows you to select a wide variety of radio programming.

larryr · #5 (**permalink**) 08-05-2012, 03:42 PM

tom hartman always has opposition on. So does the various right wing channels, only difference, they won't let opposition finish a sentence. Never. thats their style.

Quote:

Originally Posted by AZRWinger

Change the channel. When I listen to the local Leftist radio, Bill Press, Thom Hartman, I don't expect to hear Conservative thought. There is this thing called the internet that allows you to select a wide variety of radio programming.

saltwn · #6 (**permalink**) 08-05-2012, 07:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AZRWinger

Change the channel. When I listen to the local Leftist radio, Bill Press, Thom Hartman, I don't expect to hear Conservative thought. There is this thing called the internet that allows you to select a wide variety of radio programming.

no there is nothing out there. who wants to listen to one side or the other for long talk to themselves? Not I

This was a local Idaho station and the other alternative is not much better. They had a representative of the Idaho Republican party. There will be no day when they interview a representative for the Democrat party.

The guest even complimented the host for being part of the good fight that conservative talk radio has been.
Wouldn't we all like to have both or as many sides as possible?

AZRWinger · #7 (**permalink**) 08-06-2012, 07:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by larryr

tom hartman always has opposition on. So does the various right wing channels, only difference, they won't let opposition finish a sentence. Never. thats their style.

Thom Hartman employs the same practice of shouting down Conservatives. The point is these shows promote a particular POV with the listener deciding which is worth a listen. Progressives don't like the choice listeners make so they cry out for the Federal government to impose their version of "fairness" rather than freedom.

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