There is a subtle shift taking place. I can feel it and hear it. This morning the news was reporting on a man in New Jersey that was caught attempting to cheat the insurance company. You may have seen the clip. He throws some ice on the floor, then lies down and waits to be found. Filing a lawsuit for ambulance and hospital charges. Of course it was all captured on camera. That is what got him busted. The subtle shift I noticed was in the reporting of the story. The bottom line, the departing thought from the news anchor was, he should have known there were cameras everywhere.
It just seems to me that news anchor wasn't condemning the action, rather laughing that the person got caught. The implication to me was, he could have gotten away with it if he wasn't stupid. Is that the message we should be sending to those attempting fraud? It's alright as long as you don't get caught? Yes, it is a subtle distinction, but a distinction nonetheless. The story was centered around the fact that he got caught at it, not that he did it. It was an amusing little story right? And wasn't that the intent, to amuse. Yes, the news as entertainment. I've been saying that for a while now and it becomes more evident everyday.
Call me old, call me whatever, but I miss the days when news was informative. What I mean by informative was they just reported the facts. That is also why it only took about thirty minutes to report it. Something pretty big had to have taken place for anything more. Also the reason Walter Cronkite signed off with, " and that's the way it is. " He just reported the facts, it was up to you to decide what he told you. Facts do say different things to different people. That happens because of the variables in the equation. Without getting all socio-philosophical about it, it does depend upon your particular situation. But now, the news stations, notice I said station and not individual, report their particular conclusion, or hoped for result based on their political leanings. I'd suggest funding is the major factor, as it is in most things. The entertainment is to distract the viewers from actual content. There are a lot of distractions these days, with all the new technology brought to bear. Walter just sat behind his desk and read the news off of his copy. It wasn't followed by a disclaimer saying whatever Walter said was his opinion, and not the opinion of CBS. That happens a lot these days doesn't it? The editor makes his statement but must distance himself from the corporation. He has to make it clear he is not their spokesman! So, just who is? The corporation is. A subtle difference. Could be why journalistic integrity is so often called into question these days. It isn't journalists reporting the news anymore, it's a corporation. Journalist or corporate parrot? I guess you gotta do what you gotta do to make a living. It's alright though as long as you don't get caught. Just as long as you are entertaining.
It just seems to me that news anchor wasn't condemning the action, rather laughing that the person got caught. The implication to me was, he could have gotten away with it if he wasn't stupid. Is that the message we should be sending to those attempting fraud? It's alright as long as you don't get caught? Yes, it is a subtle distinction, but a distinction nonetheless. The story was centered around the fact that he got caught at it, not that he did it. It was an amusing little story right? And wasn't that the intent, to amuse. Yes, the news as entertainment. I've been saying that for a while now and it becomes more evident everyday.
Call me old, call me whatever, but I miss the days when news was informative. What I mean by informative was they just reported the facts. That is also why it only took about thirty minutes to report it. Something pretty big had to have taken place for anything more. Also the reason Walter Cronkite signed off with, " and that's the way it is. " He just reported the facts, it was up to you to decide what he told you. Facts do say different things to different people. That happens because of the variables in the equation. Without getting all socio-philosophical about it, it does depend upon your particular situation. But now, the news stations, notice I said station and not individual, report their particular conclusion, or hoped for result based on their political leanings. I'd suggest funding is the major factor, as it is in most things. The entertainment is to distract the viewers from actual content. There are a lot of distractions these days, with all the new technology brought to bear. Walter just sat behind his desk and read the news off of his copy. It wasn't followed by a disclaimer saying whatever Walter said was his opinion, and not the opinion of CBS. That happens a lot these days doesn't it? The editor makes his statement but must distance himself from the corporation. He has to make it clear he is not their spokesman! So, just who is? The corporation is. A subtle difference. Could be why journalistic integrity is so often called into question these days. It isn't journalists reporting the news anymore, it's a corporation. Journalist or corporate parrot? I guess you gotta do what you gotta do to make a living. It's alright though as long as you don't get caught. Just as long as you are entertaining.
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