Our Media is TERRIBLE Why can't we find ALTERNATIVE INDEPENDENT MEDIA?

Question

America we think we are the best in the World. We're caged community, we always depend on the so-called World News Networking, CNN, etc. These are not reliable and do not bring us the real picture of the world so we can relate to them. These media works for only certain people that used for their propaganda. So lets find ALTERNATIVE MEDIA, such the BBC. So we can find ways we can RELATE TO THE REST OF THE WORLD. Remember, America isolated itself from the rest, not because of collective way but certain people did benefit that isolation.
Sam

Answer 1

That's all changed with the Internet.

Producing a TV News show is expensive; only a large network, or someone who has support from a large network, is able to run a TV News show. You need reporters, cameramen, sound engineers, tape engineers, producers, and a large array of people, then you need the equipment that they use. This gets expensive, especially when you count the broadcasting station.

News shows are cheaper, but you still need a broadcasting station, broadcasters, reporters and remote equipment and a lot of money to run it all.

Both TV and Radio stations need a FCC license to broadcast. They have to conform to the FCC standards and practices. Howard Stern had a lot of trouble with the FCC so he moved to a satellite news station that isn’t covered by the FCC. They have a lot more freedom and few controls on the news they report on. These stations are cheaper to run since they only need to broadcast to the satellite owner. However, they are still radio stations and need a lot of equipment and people behind the scenes to produce the show.

However, you can bypass the FCC and the need for a satellite service provider on the Internet. To publish an Internet Blog all you need is the service provider and a website hosting company. Since the Internet is worldwide the FCC can't limit what you can say. It is also possible to make your own Internet News Station.

There is a driver who broadcasts the news while on his commute. He does this with a web camera and a wireless Internet link. With a web camera, anyone can produce their own news show and broadcast it for the entire world to see. All for a startup cost of less than $200, and a monthly cost less than $100.

You can catch the news with any slant, or in any flavor that you want. You can even set up your own news blog or news show. These shows are being taken seriously. Politicians have used the sites to put forth their views. They have been used by small groups who want to make their opinion heard, and some they have even been mentioned on the National News. The effect of these stations are only going to grow. NBC Nightly News has its own blog, so if they are accepted by mainstream media then they are going to have a huge impact on the future of the news.

Blogs: http://www.livescience.com/blogs/topic/space-astronomy/
http://www.blogherald.com/
http://www.blogsforbush.com/
Top 100 Blogs: http://www.top100bloggers.com/
How to find a blog: http://www.blogger.com/start
News on Blogs: http://www.topix.net/news/blogs
http://www.blognewschannel.com/
Here are just a few news "channels" available on the Internet:
http://www.internet.com/sections/news.html
http://news.aol.com/?sem=1&ncid=AOLNWS00170000000004
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/thr/new_media/index.jsp
http://www.researchbuzz.org/wp/
Independent News sites:
http://acronyms.thefreedictionary.com/Network+of+Free+Thinking+Hackers+(Independent+internet+news+service)
http://www.thedesertinde.com/
http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldnewsguide/asia/page/0,,622928,00.html
These sites will help you set up your own Internet Broadcast:
http://www.webreference.com/services/news/
http://www.writenews.com/

If you don't like the news you watch on TV then you can turn to the Internet or even run your own news report with a Blog or your own Internet Station.

Answer 2

I agree our media is pretty one sided and slanted. I also agree with the member who said all media will have its own slant and you have to go to multiple sources and viewpoints and judge what is credible and valid. I like BBC news but then I am one of those huggy wuggy types who believes we should at least try to attain that world even if it is not possible, I think it is and if we don't try whats the point. Anyway, you can get BBC on DishNetwork and also if you want a really left perspective you can check out fstv (Free Speech Tv) and LINKtv which are both providing alternative completely independent media. Both are available on DishNetwork. My husband is from Europe and we travel there frequently, it is quite shocking to see the difference in perspectives on things like the war in the Middle east and the whole Lebanon thing from the news perspective of a different country. If you really want that outsider look than you could try some news sites on the internet but you will need to know a foreign language.

Answer 3

BBC is "independent" media? A government-run media organization?

Your complaint rings more hollow than it has throughout the history of civilization. Such independent sources have exploded in the last ten years, with the rise of the web. Heck, YOU or I can even go out and do our own reporting, and put it on the web, and get an audience, without having tens of millions of dollars in overhead. That is why diversity and news-choice has gone up.

Answer 4

The BBC is a joke - noticeably left-wing and unyielding in its desire for a huggy-wuggy world. I just LOVE it when Judy Swallow asks a guest a question and, when the guest begins with an answer that isn't the answer that she KNOWS is the "right" answer, she just cuts the guest off with a "Yes, but...". That operation is a real class act, all right!

If, on the other hand, you'd like instead fair and balanced reporting try one or more of these:

Jim Lehrer's News Hour on PBS
The Economist magazine
Foreign Affairs magazine

Now, if you can't stand these media outlets either, then you should tell us which of the following you are:

Far Left-Wing or
Far Right-Wing.

You see, to the far-left and the far-right, intelligent and reasoned discussion of the issues of the day are anathema as all they're interested in is screaming out their point of view. You know, like the children they are.

Answer 5

There's a lot of stuff on the internet, but you know, nobody trusts it unless it supports their existing beliefs. It doesn't have any credibility in the public dialogue, no matter what level of journalistic integrity it may maintain (or not).

As for why you can't see independent stuff on TV, it's because the FCC puts restrictively high fees and equipment standards making only very wealthy corporations able to broadcast.

Answer 6

You're an idiot. There's no such thing as independent media. You need to broaden your horizons by reading many points of view...form your own opinion instead of relying on someone else to do your thinking

Answer 7

The internet is the best source of alternative media there is. But just because you can manoeuver a horse to water doesn't mean you can make him drink.

Answer 8

Well, I admire the fact that you think they all stink and that this wasn't a rant against Fox. I can get BBC on public broadcasting, though it obviously would have a British slant.

Answer 9

Not sure what you mean--what do you propose as a better system?
How about a state-run media, where the dictator approves all media transmissions?
I think our independent, free media is the best alternative we have, despite its flaws.

Answer 10

You already have one of the best independant tv. news programs :-

http://www.democracynow.org/