I argue with some points.
by
patron002
10/21/2009, 7:59 PM #
1. independence is necessary.
Independence like most things we consider important are subjective. Independent could mean anything from, put whatever you want in the paper (he or she is trusting a like minded person to make like minded decisions.) is it really independence if like minded people are working together to put only partisan information in the paper/newscast/website? NO.
The only true independence would be if only the most important most realistic stories were used, regardless of political belief. As far s I am concerned Slate is not news, Slate is an opinion site, anybody who trusts slate for actual news is a moron. If you listen to Rush and think he is news, your a moron, but the truth is, there is no difference between slate, and say Rush as much as you'd like to pretend there is. Rush is a racist moron, but in the long run, just like slate he's giving his view of things, and uses sources he trusts.
2. Balance is not important
Too some degree this could be true. If we still lived in a society where news was "free" this could be true. As long as there is healthy competition for all competing views in equal access that could be fine. During the revolution this might have worked, everybody had paper, and some had the ability to write on it. In this way I don't have a problem with "bias" or lack of balance on the internet. I can see things from all perspectives. However, Television is controlled by about two people. Therefore, they have a responsibility to be fair and balanced. If you want to own all the media you have a moral obligation. Fox has failed at this, but the rest of the media hasn't really been all that successful either, lets just say they didn't pass with flying colors. There were several incidents where the media has misled.
3. The definition of news: You are not news, Rush, and the moron commentators on fox are not news. The idiots on MSNBC who chatter about what they believe in are not news. News, is the part where they are supposed to report the facts, report important news, give important information. Therefore, news is more about what you show. You should't be concerned about talking heads, they are just morons, they might as well be Jon Stewart, making shit up. The actual news, should be fair and balanced. If people are dying in Afghanistan there is a moral obligation to report the facts. If Obama committed a crime, again moral obligation to report, if they found out that Obama's facts don't add up on healthcare, moral obligation to report that most people think he's lying. Is fox news.. news? No... then again neither is MSNBC.
