Political commentator Cenk Uygur from The Young Turks recently wrote a piece for The New York Times' opinion pages declaring not only the demise of network news but offering us his reasons for it. Rather than think that the sinking ship of network news might be due to younger generations viewing less and less television as time progresses, he is convinced it is due instead to the way in which news is delivered. Whereas the established news media disseminate informationand I use the term 'information' here looselywith blandness and neutral, pseudo-objectivity, newer mediums deliver it with fiery passion and zeal. Cenk argues that anchors and pundits must "show that [they] actually care about the news."
I agree with him to the extent that often you get journalists who merely inquire as to the positions of political figures without much of a challengelike asking Coke and Pepsi their opinions on beverage supremacy and ending it with "I'm [so-and-so] reporting." The media are largely lazy, sensationalistic and conflict-driven because it gets more people glued to the television, and shows like The Daily Show With Jon Stewart have for over a decade and a half exposed it for what it is. But I disagree with Cenk that our news need to be loud and emotional.
I recognize that it's difficult to put out a quality product as a private network and get people engaged, since most seem to crave entertainment for virtually everything consumed. Shows like The Young Turks often have to put out a lot of mindless fluff and titillating sexual stories to get viewers hooked. When it's their turn to cover politics it's usually Cenk preaching to the choir, huffing and puffing his chest as he delivers a story with little to no nuance or fact-checking. This is no different than the garbage seen at CNN, MSNBC or FOX. Harvard professor Steven Pinker said recently: "I think our intellectual and journalistic culture has to become more evidence-based, data-oriented [and] quantitative. The current practice of journalism report a story, ask a person on the street their comments on the story, and then a columnist or pundit tells people how to emote with regard to the story. That's not a way to give people an accurate understanding of the world." Indeed. News coverage and analysis as currently presented by both the mainstream, established networks as well as in modern media are doing a disservice to the public. I'd even go so far as to place a large part of the blame for recent disastrous foreign and domestic policies on them (e.g., the Iraq war).
Discuss
I agree with him to the extent that often you get journalists who merely inquire as to the positions of political figures without much of a challengelike asking Coke and Pepsi their opinions on beverage supremacy and ending it with "I'm [so-and-so] reporting." The media are largely lazy, sensationalistic and conflict-driven because it gets more people glued to the television, and shows like The Daily Show With Jon Stewart have for over a decade and a half exposed it for what it is. But I disagree with Cenk that our news need to be loud and emotional.
I recognize that it's difficult to put out a quality product as a private network and get people engaged, since most seem to crave entertainment for virtually everything consumed. Shows like The Young Turks often have to put out a lot of mindless fluff and titillating sexual stories to get viewers hooked. When it's their turn to cover politics it's usually Cenk preaching to the choir, huffing and puffing his chest as he delivers a story with little to no nuance or fact-checking. This is no different than the garbage seen at CNN, MSNBC or FOX. Harvard professor Steven Pinker said recently: "I think our intellectual and journalistic culture has to become more evidence-based, data-oriented [and] quantitative. The current practice of journalism report a story, ask a person on the street their comments on the story, and then a columnist or pundit tells people how to emote with regard to the story. That's not a way to give people an accurate understanding of the world." Indeed. News coverage and analysis as currently presented by both the mainstream, established networks as well as in modern media are doing a disservice to the public. I'd even go so far as to place a large part of the blame for recent disastrous foreign and domestic policies on them (e.g., the Iraq war).
Discuss
Couldn't have said it better. I doubt anyone could. This is it exactly.
