The stench and foul air of what media has become

[moniss]

was foreseen by the brilliant writer Paddy Chayefsky when he wrote "Network". We are reminded about media and people when we watch "Network" over and over. The reminder also comes from the incredibly convincing portrayal by William Holden of a basically decent person, seduced by it all for awhile, and then realizing the awful, empty thing it really was. So as Holden, in one of the greatest movie scenes, confronts his seduction and breaks away and says he's "going back" to his wife if she will have him then perhaps we who experienced a time before "cable news", and those who heard of it, can go back to something we left somewhere along the way.

Is it Murrow and Cronkite we want or something else or do we even know? We may be uncertain about exact details of what to go to and how to get there but we are clear in understanding that what we have now is literally killing us and destroying society and democracy. Perhaps we can get to something that gives us real facts and truth and leaves the "analysis" for us to make for ourselves. Just imagine how it might be to not have the majority of the viewing time taken with people telling us "what it all means" and implying how we should think. "Just the facts ma'am" might be simple but at least it's about truth and not "alternative facts" which is simply a propagandist term for pure BS and something for talking heads to spin. We do not need to be led by the nose.

In the end we must see that in a polluted atmosphere demanding fresh air to breathe is not a futile harkening for nostalgia sake. It is absolutely vital for us to stay alive.

[rainy]

1. The mess in reporting started with 24 hour "reporting."

CNN was first? Not sure, but people tuned in and it was hugely successful. A big audience was established which became very profitable.

The rest is history

[True Blue American]

4. Ted Turner

Had decent shows. Now all stations are 24 hour muckrakers. Listen 5 minutes, you have heard it unless hell breaks loose
Some where.

[Walleye]

2. It is reported that at the beginning of CNN Ted Turner was asked "what do we do if there is no news all day?"

His answer was something like, “ we’ll buy a hotel or something and burn it down”

[True Blue American]

3. MSM

Has surpassed CNN and MSNBC in ratings. Come join me in THE KITCHEN!
Has been my favorite show for a long time and the Murdock family is having a family feud.

The old man does not seem to be winning.

We can thank Ronald Reagan for making him a citizen when his native Australia threw him out, along with England. They did not want him.

https://amp.cnn.com/cnn/2024/12/09/media/robert-murdoch-family-trust

[J_William_Ryan]

5. "Is it Murrow and Cronkite we want or something else or do we even know?"

Both of whom were perceived to be ‘liberal’ – that’s part of the problem, the ‘liberal’ media lie.

That the press reported facts and the truth that exposed the faults and failures of conservative dogma and the false narrative that the media were ‘anti-American’ and ‘unfair’ to Republican politicians – as illustrated by the Pentagon Papers and Watergate – conservatives began their campaign of disinformation and lies, ultimately resulting in the rise of rightwing media.

As a consequence, ‘mainstream’ media became obsessed with being accused of being ‘liberal’ and sought to countervail the assault from the right by giving equal time to conservative disinformation and lies and pandering to reprehensible, dishonest Republican politicians – Trump being the most infamous example.

[Dark n Stormy Knight]

7. 100% and it has led to an insurrectionist, corrupt

vindictive sociopath being given the reins of power.

[moniss]

8. Indeed and those of us who

lived during a time when "news" was not "analysis" 24/7 do know a time without it but many did not experience those times and so I incorporated the "do we even know" aspect. Will younger people be receptive to a "just the facts" approach or are they so wound into constant consumption of "content" that they will just dismiss a truth and facts approach as being "old ways". Seeing how many lap up Joe Rogan and hang on his every word it doesn't give me much hope.

Also to your point is that, for example, the Birchers were never about an open discussion and examination of facts and ideas. For them it was and is about shaping and hammering the propaganda and I used to get ugly looks from two of them when I would ask them how it was they were attacking one government, aka the Soviet Union, for using propaganda when they themselves were doing it. The standard retort was along the lines of "It's OK when we do it because our ideals are freedom". Which usually ended with me pointing out that regardless of political philosophy people who are propagandized are being deceived and being led to think a certain way and that is hardly being "free".

[peregrinus]

11. Yup Roger Ailes

Tried to get his conservative only network way back with Nixon.

[Joinfortmill]

6. Yup. MSM abandoned us a long time ago. May they rot in hell with their falling ratings.

[Snoopy 7]

9. learn about the Fairness Doctrine

Here's a start:
https://sisyphuslitmag.org/2018/07/the-fairness-doctrine-how-we-lost-it-and-why-we-need-it-back/

[moniss]

10. I know all about it. I lived during it and the days

at the dawn of television. Bringing it back as a government policy is not remotely feasible in this environment. My point is more that we need to decide for ourselves what we want, create it and support it. There is no taking Fox News away from what it is unless the family changes it. So rather than wait for that we can move forward for ourselves because waiting for "someone" to give us a "truth and facts and forget the analysis" channel isn't necessary. We can move forward with all of the talent and resources in our Party and in our supporters it is possible if we want it and have the will to move forward.

I absolutely want people to turn off "cable news" as we know it and turn to a straightforward source that gives truth and facts and leaves the analysis to me. We will end up with people not being "conditioned" and led to a much lesser degree than now. It will result in more people reflecting and gaining other information on their own rather than being spoon fed conclusions. The more people use their minds to think, read and reflect rather than just react to being "programmed" the better off we are as a society.