Read this and Laugh Out Loud. (Maybe now they'll quit giving * a pass.)

[alaine]

snip

"The total evening news audience on the broadcast networks has been lower this summer than it was during the summer of 2001."

snip

"...and because T.V. audience analysis remains an inexact science, with no hard data on what motivates people in their t.v. watching decisions, no one can say for certain why news-ratings are lower than ever."

more:

http://www.nytimes.com/2003/08/11/business/media/11EYES.html?th


Gee, could it be the INTERNET? Or that reporters seem to think reporting means just reporting to work, instead of reporting the news? Or that every one knows the talking heads are cleaned up versions of street corner hustlers doing the bidding of their corporate pimps? Or all of the above, in short, maybe the public have figured out that the "news" is actually nothing of the sort?

[4dsc]

1. You are correct sir...

why watch the lying bastard's on the the TV!!!

[GCP]

2. This is bad news - no pun intended

The networks will draw the conclusion that the "news" shows need to be more entertaining to get back the viewers. Never mind that we only get 22 minutes "news" on the network shows after commercials, and never mind that at least 5 minutes of the 22 is infotainment - "Eye on America", "Your Money, Your Choice", "A Second Look" etc.

Don't expect more or better news programs from the networks.

And the bad news? These shows are still the main source of news to the vast majority of the population.

[alaine]

3. I swore off a while ago for the reasons mentioned.

I get mine from BBC, LBN here and C-span.

They'll fail if they try to be entertaining because Fox has the tacky factor all sewn up. In fact Fox is just another version of a local broadcast, at least in my town.

I don't see myself ever trusting them again, after the way they have handled W. I think part of their problem is that they have not reported on the fact that there have been more casualties after May 1 than before, and at least among members of the working class, this makes them look like politicized chumps.

And to the contrary, CBS had a really bad month in June, and yet in July they have show a bit of movement, away from the 'shrub is sacred ground' sentiment that the other networks are following by hanging on to that 9/11 lag. I'm a bit more optimistic about this.

[rasputin1952]

9. While the world inches closer to total devastation...

the American media outlets are enthralled with Laci Petersen, Kobe Bryant, et al, ad nauseum. I feel they are trying to cover up real stories as opposed to covering news. I have been sending e-mails to news outlets about the Bryant case; the man has been charged, and it is up to the COURTS to decide his guilt or innocence, not public opinion. I actually got a return e-mail from CBS thanking me for acknowledging that there is real news out there!

In any case, I agree, C-Span the BBC and DU are excellent places to get news. I might add NPR, SW Broadcasts, (really great if you want to see what world opinion is), and good old newsprint, (at least there is depth to the stories).

As for bush, I hope and pray the free ride is over. Seems to me that about 3 months ago the press began to stir, it will be interesting to see if it actually gets up, or if they just had a collective sigh. I find it hard to believe that they are leaving bush alone, he is, quite simply, the worst president, ever; even his supporters know this.

[alaine]

12. yes, let's see shrub/ free ride, or real news/ keep job...

hopefully it won't be too hard a decision for them to make.

[peacetalksforall]

16. The cabal through their media and experts are determined to

transform this country to burnings at the stake, sheriff-less posses, and public hangings. They depise the principle of innocent until proven guilty in a court by a jury of peers which includes the ability for law enforcement to do their job honestly. Many of cabal scandal rousers and their expert guests are in on it, the most outspoken leader is O'Reilly and Hannity, thus Murdoch, but not to leave out the NBCs and GE, plus CNN, thus their owners.

I can't quite figure out why this is so important.

There is more to it then ratings and profits.

They want the breakdown of this country. They want chaos. Controlled breakdown and chaos, of course - it has to be in their favor.

[papau]

13. MSNBC/NBC now counts only "combat" dead - land mine dead is not dead

Todays count is 57 post May 1

I nearly lost another TV

[DoYouEverWonder]

4. You're very right about the amount of news

most Americans are fed every day and the result is an uninformed public, who are easily lead.

I realized the same thing on the day the jet crashed in Queens, 2 months after 9-11. I happened to be visiting a friend in NC, who doesn't have cable and only get 3 channels on a good day. The amount of news time devoted to the crash was about 1-2 minutes, if that much. They spent more time on their 'human interest' story for the night, than they did on anything else. Of course, this is exactly how folks like Bu$hco want it. They could never maintain their grasp on power if they had an informed public.

[teryang]

5. Totally out to lunch

the broadcast industry doesn't have a clue. The news is too negative? Well fascism and war are negative. Repeated bold faced government lies reported uncritically does little for media appeal. Tabloid coverage of sensational crime to distract from our ugly government doesn't cut it either. Listening to sanctimonious dimwits try to harmonize recession, aggression, propaganda, fear and war with the American consumer experience is insulting. Listening to the more able journalists do the same is demoralizing. The american media are clearly schizophrenic. No reality just split personalities.

[Hubert Flottz]

8. Telling the country every day that the economy is growing .......

when everyone sees the layoffs, potholes, cutbacks, and taxcuts for the rich! People don't trust the fair and balanced horseshit they see now on every channel!

[alaine]

10. Yes, Congress has alot to do with it as well, and

the budget deficit.

I think the networks think the public still wants flags and apple pie when we've got dead soldiers and car bombs every day. The networks keep singing the happy song, and it just doesn't wash in real life.

[Liberal_Andy]

6. I swear to Koresh I know more that most talking heads!

I mean I know more about the very stories they're reporting!

What the hell is wrong with that picture?

[Cheswick2.0]

7. the evening news on ABC and CBS

are the only new worth watching. I hope they choose to stay put and provide a service. They will find audience when they become more consistant in quality.

[THUNDER HANDS]

11. pretty soon

It'll be just brain dead soccer moms watching tv and we'll get non-stop Kobi, Laci and whatever stories.

That's who they're aiming for with these stories - stay-at-home moms who don't like to think about what goes on in the world and just want to see an 'interesting' story.

Makes me sick, personally, as a former journalist. But I saw this all the time with the people who wanted to become broadcast journalists. THey wouldn't know a news story if it bit them on the tushy.

:mad:

[Gman]

14. Guaranteed to bring up ratings:

start reporting the corruption of this maladministration. People will tune in each day after work to find out the attrocity of the day.

Unfortunately, this is rocket science to some.

[peacetalksforall]

15. Could it be that when journalists are not sitting on

their softie chairs and exerting themselves by pulling out a drawer or leaning over to pick up their latest talking points... then they are at the bar with other journalists sharing ways to improve their phoney delivery of the talking points and to figure out an improved way to sound sincere. Or perhaps they discuss whether or not they should establish a reality line for themselves and determine how far it should be lowered so that they can more easily believe what they deliver.

Perhaps some of them are considering an outreach support system to stabalize those feeling that they may be selling their souls and what to do about it - so they are not giving their all to their 'news' delivery.

Keep it up - while we check in with foreign news generators and all the people who find the tidbits and real news and post it to each other - in lieu of corporate-political-justice dept news.

[joanski01]

17. It was quite a contrast

when I just finished watching the Black Youth Media Forum with Aaron McGruder, Tavis Smiley, and Dr. Cornell West. When it was over, I switched to CNN was treated to Laci's strangled baby, a man bicycling backwards across the United States, and then the whales. I turned it off, when they started saying what a great chance Arnold has to be Gov.

[ewagner]

18. Wouldn't it be cool

If the mainstream media decided to boost ratings by playing up a Presidential scandal?