is it true American TV and newspapers censored?

Question

We are told this in Britan, hope some americans answer

Answer 1

Yes and no,

Televisioin and newspapers are not censored for content, meaning the that media can tell whatever story they want to tell. However, we do have certain decency standards implemented by the goverment, so the media cannot use swear words or show pictures of nude people. Other than that they are free to print whatever they feel like.

Answer 2

Who tells you this in Britain? Your teachers? Your friends?

ALL media by definition is censored. Editors who choose what makes the news decides what does and doesn't get censored. Their JOB is to censor. They do it in Britain and the rest of Europe. What you mean is government censorship, like in China or the Middle East. Within the US, and all countries, when business and politics mix, there can at times be censorship (though this is rarely ever proven). A buddy of a high ranking politician that happens to run a TV station might just not air that news story. In any case though, it's irrelevant because there are so many news outlets in the US that are free from big corporate ties that any withheld story becomes front page news in due time. Large scale government censorship doesn't exist in the US

What happens more often (and does EVERYWHERE) is business censorship. CBS had this issue a while ago, when they were gonna air some bad story about one of their sponsors. The big sponsor called and said if you air it we cut our advertising. CBS didn't air the story. This of course got leaked and CBS was crucified by the other media outlets. So, as before, within the US, no story is ever truly censored b/c the government doesn't control the means of broadcast. No story can be kept quiet by anyone for any real length of time. As such, to answer your question, there is NO official government censorship of the media, and if there was, it wouldn't be successful for 5 minutes.

Answer 3

The censorship in America comes from the editors of the newspapers or the people who run the TV stations. The government does not do the censoring. The television people do have some governmental guidelines, as do the newspapers, but that isn't the same as censorship. If it needs to be said, it will get said here. When people say "Freedom of the Press" they are referring to the lack of government control over publishing.

Answer 4

What newspaper isn't censored?
I work for a paper and if someone badly doesn't want something printed they'll go to any length to get it out of the papers hands!
It really is quite scary how much power the media have, they often know a lot more than they let on! It's just being saved until the oppurtune moment!

Answer 5

This is hard to actually give an Honest Answer. I think they can show what they want, so, from that point of view they are not censored. BUT, as with any Country; "How much of what we are told is True"? Television, Radio and Newspapers etc. could be used to manipulate people into believing what Government, Lobbyist etc, want the people to believe. So, I not think it is actually censored, but, I question; "How much is true and how much is to Control the people"?

Answer 6

I think it's powdered up a bit. I often go to the bbc or other websites to get more info. I also think the reporters in the states are softies. I've seen british reporters rip into public officials, but here they seem to think they'll get in trouble if they ask pressing questions or challenge any opinion. Just look at the lead up to the Iraq war, and every press confrence bush has been in. He passes over the reporters that he knows will answer the pressing questions. Also american media seems to be more excited about brad pitt and angelina jole. I hate american news.

Answer 7

Yes it is true. The only way you learn about it is if you research it yourself. The American government only wants Americans to know how much they tell them. Most Americans who both agree and disagree with the war BARELY know about it. They dont teach in school that the US actually gave money to Saddam to go into power and also that both governments where friends until Saddam tried to take over Kuwiat ( which was messed with the US oil supply). Barley anyone knows that the reason why their are suicide bombings in Iraq is because of the tension between the Shiites and Sonni muslims (those tensions started literraly after the death of Muhammid). They think that Saddam bombed the world trade center and sent suicide bombers to destroy us. And Americans children fall back in kowledge every year and the US is NOT doing anough anout it.

Answer 8

Not censored as such, but censored de facto, since most of them are owned by multi-billion corporations who have also stakes in other industries (like oil and armaments) and support the illegal war that makes their profits rise.

The gangster Nixon was brought down by the "Washington Post" as there were still decent journalists then. Where have the WP and the "New York Times" been since January 2001? In stasis!

Answer 9

I guess it depends on what you mean by censored. I don't believe that the New York Times, the newspaper of record, is at all censored. I do believe that the current administration certainly impedes information gathering & therefore make the reporters jobs more difficult.

Answer 10

Newspapers and commercial TV all have some sort of censorship, but that is usually because they have owners, and the owners will decide what slant to put on an item of news, whether to give it prominence or relegate it to the inside pages, or to be on late in the bulletin. Just compare the stories as printed and read by different companies, newspapers and you will soon see that.