My simple view - things will not, cannot improve with the current state of the media

[NRaleighLiberal]

It is the main root cause. No matter what people watch, whatever is presented, especially if oft repeated, will end up being "the truth". The basis of Hillary's loss - the efforts to normalize Trump - in a world wide sense, the spread of authoritarianism. And when I do have the radio on and listen to pundit interviews, it is the factor that is always ignored or glossed over. And it is because they themselves are complicit.

Those who control the message end up directing the way forward. And due to conglomeration and consolidation, those who have - the super wealthy, the desire for unabashed power - they are creating the "new truth" that those of us here are so appalled at - because we know it is not the truth.

[onecaliberal]

1. Agree 💯%

[TheMastersNemesis]

2. The Media Cost Hillary The Election As Much As Anyone.

Actually if it were not for the complicit media Hillary would have won. She was so trashed by complete falsehoods that it was a really up hill battle. With all the RW hate radio added to by MSNBC, CNN, FOX and a lame non cable MSM Hillary really could not get her message out. Most regular political shows were just set ups for the GOP to bash Democrats with no ability to defend.

[Fast Walker 52]

3. absolutely.... it is the single biggest problem we face: well-funded rightwing media and corporate

media in general

[spanone]

4. i've often wondered if a democracy can work when the media is for profit.

money sways the spin

[dhill926]

5. yep...

we're fucked...

[peggysue2]

6. My Own Coimplaints

I have plenty of gripes about the media's willingness to follow the bait, regardless of how groundless or stupid a 'news-lede' is. We're still living in an 'access-loving,' celebrity driven news world. Scarborough's show has turned into an unwatchable joke, despite his short-lived hissy fit with The Donald.

What I've started to do is support the sites, the print media and the reporters that unflinchingly reported on Trump and his lying ways. The Washington Post, for instance. Surprises me to say that. I always thought of the WP as a distinctly conservative/Republican leaning paper. But you cannot deny the doggedness of Fahrenthold and Eichenwald's investigative reporting. We need more of that in addition to the moral stands from people like Marty Baron, executive editor at WP, who pushed back hard when Trump blacklisted the paper from his rallies. Because that's what journalism is suppose to do--pushback against power and wrong-headed ideas, serve as a watchdog to protect and honor our Constitutional rights.

So, I took the WP up on its offer and subscribed to the paper, as well as several sites that I feel are fighting the good fight (DU included). We need to stay informed and current. It's the only way a Democratic Republic can survive, an informed and educated electorate. And we need to support those working in our behalf, those researchers and reporters ferreting out facts, doing the analyses, keeping us up-to-date. Otherwise, their voices will be drowned out by a discordant Trumpet.

[HeartachesNhangovers]

7. Instead of trying to fix the media ...

it would be simpler if people just realized that just because you see something on TV (whatever the channel or program may be), or hear it on the radio, or see it on the Internet, or hear it from one or a hundred people, it's not necessarily true. Anything you see, hear or read about politics especially, is - at best - heavily spun.

As Charles P. Pierce allegedly said:

"Remember that perception is not reality, that opinion, no matter how widely held, is not fact."

[cwydro]

8. All they care about is the money.

The Shitgibbon is a gift for them.

Fucking horrible, this whole thing.

[old guy]

9. You are correct.