Now I am for the freedom of the press, but do you think that sometimes they go a little too far? For instance, I heard where the National Guard were moving corps from the flood area in Mississippi. CNN was trying to make movies of this. The Guard joined ranks, standing at attention, and others pulled their trucks up to block this from happening. In just about any other circumstance, I would agree with the press, and not even mention this. But I was thinking about kids, mothers, fathers, husbands, and wives, who are still missing. And how terriable it would be for someone watching TV, and see one of their loved ones passing right before their eyes, and not to mention what condition they may be in.. In my opinion, the press went just a little too far that time... Your opinio??

I think the news folk go too far every single day...

They are for-profit organizations - and "sensational" is the key word that nets them lots of viewers. And when there's lots of viewers then the advertising income is higher.

More sensationalism, more viewers. More viewers, more money.

As long as viewers support them by watching them, they will continue to look for the next sensational thing to show.

Sorry to rant, but you touched a nerve.

The example you cite is but one instance of how they go too far for many hours every day. Instead of telling us about a lot of things, they have to dwell all day long on just one. I remember thinking the same way about many other stories: 9/11, Desert Storm, Hunting for Saddam, Somalia, etc.

I've got AM news radio on all day and rarely see CNN, FoxNews, MSNBC, etc. but when I do I always end up, within 20 minutes, just disgusted over how very little "news" there really is.

I would advise simply reading a newspaper (on paper or online) instead of watching/listening to the news. TV news stations, (especially Fox news) just aren't worth your time.

The sensationalism is still there, of course, but there is much less of it.

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Originally Posted by bucker

Now I am for the freedom of the press, but do you think that sometimes they go a little too far?... And how terriable it would be for someone watching TV, and see one of their loved ones passing right before their eyes, and not to mention what condition they may be in.. In my opinion, the press went just a little too far that time... Your opinio???

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Yes, and in the process some who claim to be Christian forget their Christian obligations of loving their neighbor as themselves. For example, some are so engrossed in getting that credit for that particular photo or film which will bring in the money that they fail to put down their camera and help the person who might be in distress. One person, hell-bent on gettng it all on film, kept filming while an animal attacked a woman. Another kept filming as a man blew his brains out by putting a revolver in his mouth. Later he boasted on how he was able to keep focused under all the stress.

I agree with psi42 about Fox News - it is likely the worst offender for offering opinion as news.

News channels do not report the news, they all have lost their nerve to report to the public the truth.

Do you remember Watergate? Those reporters found the truth and reported it. You will not see or heard anything like this again. The Corporate Boards of all news media are afraid of the Feds.

On any given day, all media (be it radio, TV, newspapers, magazines, websites) all want to know how many people saw what they presented.

Commercial media is about money. The more audience, the more advertizing dollars, and the more money they make. Never forget, it's business for them.

Public media is less worried about their advertizing dollars, however they are still in competition with the commercial media and still have to pay their bills. Public media is also often influenced by the government that subsidizes it.

Other "special interest" media only present content filtered through their biased persepctive. They are interested in promoting their own message.

And through all these - individual journalists, editors, and directors all further spin the presentation to fit the "style" of their particular broadcaster, publisher, or whatever...

By the time we actually see, hear, or read the news, so many details have been glossed over, cut out, or otherwise been obfuscated, there's not much substantial fact left.

None of our freedoms are absolute. With freedom comes the responsibility to exercise those freedoms rational and judiciously. The problem is not freedom of the press, but lack of accountability. The problem is also an issue of putting profit before all else.

HI,
I do agree with profits! Money is the bottom line for any business... it's their reason for existence. That's why that now, in a 30 min. TV National News Program, 15 minutes is for commercials!. mostly pharmaceutical companies!
The New Media are very, very slanted with reporting; so are many of the larger newspapers. Getting a story on film is more important than helping with any critical issue, or helping anyone in danger.

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Originally Posted by ScottGem

None of our freedoms are absolute. With freedom comes the responsibility to exercise those freedoms rational and judiciously. The problem is not freedom of the press, but lack of accountability. The problem is also an issue of putting profit before all else.

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Very well said!
All freedoms can be abused and are abused by the irresponsible.
For example, the freedom to express one's opinion can degenerate into a hate campaign camouflaged behind a façade of patriotic concern. This type of abuse is fairly common and some even profit monetarily from the notoriety gained.

But please keep in mind that the responsibility to control such abuse lies squarely on the shoulders of those who are in the position to stop it. If a blind eye is turned then the abusers interpret it as governmental tacit approval of the abuse. Which, of course, it very well might be.


Proverbs 20:26
A wise king scattereth the wicked, and bringeth the wheel over them.

KJV