General Discussion

KurtNYC

(14,549 posts)

15. They are in the entertainment business, just like Sorkin

Mon Jun 25, 2012, 03:08 PM

Jun 2012

They are "awake" and doing their job but their job isn't investigative journalist. It is to stay within the issue frames that they are given and build an audience to sell to advertisers. Much closer to professional cheerleaders than journalist. We aren't the customer for MSNBC or any of the cable news outlets.

If anyone reading this REALLY wants to know how a cable newsroom runs have a look at these:

http://observer.com/2010/12/leaked-fox-news-memo-keep-global-warming-a-debate/

a bigger batch from 2003:
http://wonkette.com/17613/fox-news-memos-the-whole-batch

And yes those are Fox but it is a mistake to think that other cable news outlets operate all that differently. It wasn't Fox that fired Dan Rather or Keith Olberman.

Cable news is not news. Just like "reality TV" is not real life. It is entertainment. Real journalism is out there but you won't find it on CNN/MSNBC/FNC/Today/ABC/CBS because that isn't the business they are in.

For more enlightened perspective on US news I like:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/usa
http://www.cbc.ca/news/world/

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Highlight:

After watching The Newsroom - I realize just how MAD I have been at the Press! [View all] jillan Jun 2012 OP

It's not laziness; snot Jun 2012 #1

BINGO FreakinDJ Jun 2012 #2

I also watched it twice last night Gothmog Jun 2012 #3

I'm hooked too RockaFowler Jun 2012 #4

What do you think would happen at your TV stations if something like this happened? Ghost of Huey Long Jun 2012 #16

The Newsroom is fiction KurtNYC Jun 2012 #5

Viacom doesn't own HBO RockaFowler Jun 2012 #6

"Hollywood Reporter" and "Variety" gave it excellent reviews...n/t monmouth Jun 2012 #7

Thanks for the correction KurtNYC Jun 2012 #8

No - it is laziness. I have msnbc on this morning and while they are talking about the scotus jillan Jun 2012 #9

That's why I enjoyed Newsroom RockaFowler Jun 2012 #10

My favorite line was when Jeff Daniels said that if he didn't know who was providing the inside jillan Jun 2012 #13

They are in the entertainment business, just like Sorkin KurtNYC Jun 2012 #15

The Newsroom is fiction. MineralMan Jun 2012 #11

No shit. True journalism is total and complete fiction in this day and age. jillan Jun 2012 #14

It did illustrate (rather well) the dramatic disconnect between... LanternWaste Jun 2012 #12

Oh I have been mad, we should all be Mad as Hell! Ghost of Huey Long Jun 2012 #17

Last night I got my youngest child hooked Gothmog Jun 2012 #18