The Media is the Matter

[annabanana]

No amount of "letters to the editor", or massing in front of CNN's studios, or sounding off in the on-line echo chambers will have any appreciable effect on the way that politics are covered in this country.
The rules of media ownership have been so deflated that very very few, very very rich people have the final word over what is spread, and how it's spread.
With "their boy" in charge, why shouldn't they slant what we see?

[Shoeempress]

1. No kidding. If you don't like it, don't watch. I cannot watch any

Faux Show without screaming at the TV. So, I child locked those stations. The only way to get their attention, is to have a concerted letter writing campaign to their advertisers stating you will not buy their products as long as they advertise on that show, station, etc. The Fundies do this crap all the time, and are effective. But you have to have hundreds of thousands take the time to write an actual paper letter.

[devinsgram]

8. Right on

You have to hit them where it hurts. In the pocketbook. Otherwise forget it, your wasting your time. Look what happened to Whoopi.

And your right about the hand written letters. They won't respond to e-mails. They know if you are taking the time to write a hand written letter, you mean business.

Anyone have any addresses for me to get started?

[volosong]

16. You're Forgetting an Important Fact

While letter writing to newspapers won't quickly change the way news is reported it will do one important thing

It will help get Kerry's message to the voters by circumventing the fascist spin machines.

News agencies are like hyenas that follow a lion. They will start to get the message. If Kerry is elected, you will slowly start to see shifts. I have seen this before.

So throwing up your hands is a good way to assure Kerry's defeat.

I urge everyone to write letters, many of them, to your local and state newspapers.

My current letter on Media as a Partisan Republican tool has already been posted. My next letter will dissect the President as a "strong leader." Kerry must overcome this failing in the polls if he wishes to win.

[stepnw1f]

2. Because It's Their Country Too

And major civil disobedience can be very very uncomfortable. Just wait and see what happens when electronic voting screws the election. Crisis will be the story of the their careers.

[joefree1]

3. That leaves comedy

Reporting for duty.



Seriously though, as Michael Moore points out the left has greater success with well aimed barbs then complex reasoning or street theatrics (although I'm big on marching).

Images of the Bush Protest in Santa Monica, August 12, 2004
http://www.ediablo.com/BushProtest8-12-04.html

[annabanana]

4. John Stewart as savior................lol

He has probably done more damage to the Bush campaign that anyone else in the country.

[Placebo]

5. The "Liberal" Media...

Most agree, the media (meaning reporters, anchors, etc...) is indeed SOCIALLY liberal...but that's pretty much where that liberalism ends.

[annabanana]

6. The INDIVIDUALS may be, but.......

At work they have to toe the party line. That's the problem.

[Toots]

7. I'm not sure most do agree

I think in the sixties that may very well have been the case but America has taken a huge lurch to the right and the Media went right along. There may be some who are on the liberal side and feel restrained from saying what they feel but I think most actually revel in slanting the news. I think you are using a very outdated opinion.

[Shoeempress]

10. Then why are the ratings slipping for news shows and Circulation is

way down for newspapers. Because they are so biased, people no longer watch or read. Last weekend d on an NPR show they were talking to Bob McAllister & David Cusnet (sp?) speech writers for Raygun and I think Clinton, respectively. They were complaining that stupid Americans were getting their news from the likes of The Daily Show, and what was wrong with those stupid Americans? The "news" organizations really don't understand they are irrelevant.

[devinsgram]

14. At least the Daily Show has some truth to it.

[volosong]

9. Partially True

It probably won't effect the way that politics is covered, but tactics such letters to the editor will get our point of view to the voter by circumventing fascist media.

Since the latter is our key target and objective, your argument is no excuse not to advance a media blitz and every reason to do so!

Throwing our hands up will give us 4 more years of Bush.

[Shoeempress]

15. I am an inveterate letter writer to editors, radio shows, etc. No longer

send $ to NPR due to Tucker Carlson show, and wrote to tell them why. Doesn't seem to have any effect, but I'm still firing off letters.

[quaoar]

17. The more letters you write

the less seriously they take you, I would imagine. Most papers have a group of folks who write all the time. They are well known to the staff.

Have you ever considered taking it to the next step -- going down to the paper and asking them if you can write an op-ed piece?

[Shoeempress]

18. I don't always write the same folks.

I write to papers, radio shows, (mostly NPR) and have had several read on air or printed. I also work under my maiden name and use that, my married name and my poor long suffering husband's name. So it's not always just ME Me Me. I find humor usually gets me published.

[KittyWampus]

11. How Do You Know 25,000 Protestors In Front Of CNN Won't Matter?

are you psychic?

[KittyWampus]

12. Oh BTW, One Woman Refusing To Sit At The Back Of The Bus

wouldn't change anything either... will it?

will it?

[ItsThePeopleStupid]

13. Yeah, we might as well all just give up. It's hopeless.

I am so powerless.

NOT.