It’s A Cult!

I think this Washington Post story puts its finger on the problem of declining network viewership, plummeting newspaper circulation and ad revenue.

Lured by an offer of interviews with the Democratic presidential candidate, Brian Williams, Charlie Gibson and Katie Couric will make the overseas trek, meaning that the NBC, ABC and CBS evening newscasts will originate from stops along the route and undoubtedly give it big play.

John McCain has taken three foreign trips in the past four months, all unaccompanied by a single network anchor.

The US has devolved from a representative democratic republic to a two party system with a press that has a cult-like fascination with only one party and philosophy. From the many to the one. Yes, we get one perspective. That’s all. That’s it. One right way to think. One portrayal of how normal people ought to view current events, culture and public policy.

It’s not as if I don’t understand their strategy. It’s all about being relevant and close to the power people. It’s not about profit and objectivity is definitely out of fashion. When you’re aiming your product to the lowest common denominator and the other guy is indistinguishable from the hip candidate, except for age and ethnicity, follow the buzz and go with the winner!

One word from a serious news consumer — boring!

 

3 Comments

  1. Sades said:

    Thanks for adding the button my friend.
    *hugs*

    July 21, 2008
    Reply
  2. pietyhill said:

    Righty-O

    July 21, 2008
    Reply
  3. Bob said:

    I think the explanation for the decline in viewership is multi-faceted, however, I seem to see a ground swell of just flat out distrust and even disdain of the old guard in media outlets (TV & Newspaper). This is primarily in younger folks. Personally I can’t stand watching any of the big channels (CNN, Fox, MSNBC etc) for more then 15-20 minutes, there simply isn’t any real journalism going on it is all spin. What amazes me more is that these channels still have a strong base of viewers with how slapdash and rabidly biased their reproting is.

    July 21, 2008
    Reply

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