Did you know that there was a military coup in Fiji two months ago? No? But I'll bet you knew that Britney Spears shaved her head! Why are they filling our eyes and ears with such insignificant drivel, when other things are happening? It seems that every news reporting agency has taken to reporting all their stories straight off the AP or Reuters wire, without even embellishing them with original research. Do you believe its a diversionary tactic, or just ineptitude on the part of journalists? What impact could this have on the survival of Democracy in the U.S. and abroad?
2007-02-27 10:41:25 · 7 answers · asked by Beardog 7 in News & Events ➔ Media & Journalism
It's nothing besides business. The news companies have to determine what sells to the general American populace.
Many people like the people who posted here are legitimately concerned, and possibly read the newspapers or watch the news to find credible news stories, but we are not the target audience. We are not the majority of Americans.
The majority would rather know that Tom Cruise is a nutjob than know that the Taliban is reforming and becoming strong again. The general public would rather read a tabloid or a celebrity magazine than read up on their current events.
It's sad, but it's the truth
2007-02-27 10:57:05 · answer #1 · answered by fantasyfootballxpert 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
This sounds like a homework question.....
I dont think it has any impact on the smart. The dumb have always been misinformed. Our generation does not get all of our news from the TV, we go to the internet and look at many different places. The media is plain and simply doing just like any other show is doing, playing what the target audience wants to hear. That reason alone I would not call it a diversionary tactic, more of a sales pitch.
I will tell you this, if you take a look at Bowling for Columbine (its ok, but its not all its hyped up to be) he does kind of examine the media from our country and the rest of the world.
2007-02-27 18:50:26 · answer #2 · answered by Jon 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I knew that there was a coup in Fiji, but I do understand what you are talking about. Newspapers more aligned to tabloids are becoming more and more popular, spawning the genre "info-tainment" that poses as news but is mostly just gossipy rubbish. My 82-year-old grandmother knows who Paris Hilton is because she reads three newspapers per day! There are still excellent journalists in the United States and abroad, you just have to look a bit farther. Don't be afraid to stop purchasing any magazines or newspapers that have turned into cheap tabloid entertainment over proper journalism. If people stop this, democracy and the pursuit of the truth and knowledge will thrive because money rules the democracy (ie. if you don't buy it, they won't print it).
2007-02-27 18:49:01 · answer #3 · answered by Tee-Dubbya 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
No, their are no Journalists anymore, just talking heads spouting the Government line.
Check this link and then look at the amound of feed that carry the story, go to those feeds and you will see that the actual text of those feeds are almost identical if no identical. What is the origin of these news sources. We need un-embedded News Crews covering War situations, how can they be seen to be independant when they are travelling with the troops they are reporting on.
Democracy without dissent is a very poor if non-existant Democracy
The freedom that was won by my for -fathers was the right that should not be crushed now, but should be allowed to express itself in praise or dissent
2007-02-27 18:51:59 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Democracy has survived with a lazy populace...
What the press boils down to is entertainment... Brittney and Anna are entertaining (although that is HIGHLY debatable), while Fiji government is not.
It doesn't help that the States has such an internal focus that anything non-US based is largely disregarded as insignificant.
2007-02-27 18:46:52 · answer #5 · answered by fhl_devils 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It is a gross error to assume people are ignorant and you underestimate us. Of course, I know there was a coup in Fiji.
Do you know the stop market was down 541 points at one part of this day? Do you know what the Euro is to the dollar today?
Do you know the market in China corrected 10% and paved the way to the world markets correcting today?
Do you know France could have a woman President after the upcoming election?
2007-02-27 18:58:31 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Did you know i dont care about Fiji or Britney? As far as i care they can nuke Fiji while Britney vacations there.
2007-02-27 18:46:53 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋