I'm from Newtown, and I have something to say to the world:

[Melinda]

30. 'Sensationalism' in media used to be a hollywood rag thing, iirc, and then along came Murdoch.

I remember when Fox was born back in the 80's... I well recall how repulsed I was by the crassness of "Married with Children" and then the cause célèbre that was their "news" department. I may be remembering incorrectly, but it does seem to me it was that point in time our media's descent into madness began.

I do not recall this with JFK's death, or Bobby's or Dr. Kings... I well recall war in my living room each and every night on the US news reports... and then back to our regular broadcasting.

I remember when 60 Minutes came on - I do not remember it as being anything other than responsible journalism. It was not until the birth of 24/7 cable news combined with the antics of Murdoch & Co. that it seemed the collective lost its mind.

I learned about Yellow Journalism and Hearst and all the rest long ago, but I never saw it in practice until a scant some 30+ years ago. Is this cyclical? I don't know.

Just musing after reading your well thought out and written; "drama-ju-jour" indeed. I know there is an educational center for ethical journalism somewhere in the US... the name escapes me at the moment. I wonder what they think of this circus, this day? Or, any day?

Thanks for sharing, SoCalDem. I'm with you, countless millions must be too. We know at least one resident of Newton CT is.