There was never meant to be only one
My feelings toward big corporations are no secret. They are evil, fascist organizations that can be blamed for many of the plights of humanity on earth. Big media is no exception, except for Google, which publishes this blog.
My C- in Macroeconomics tells me that free market forces the consolidation of media organizations. Well that, and this outdated chart. This consolidation of media to fewer and fewer controlling interests is a bigger problem than you may think.
Some may argue that that chart is from six years ago, and that a C- isn't very good. They'll say that the rise of blogs, social networking and internet memes allows savvy American consumers to avoid big media in how they get their information. I say people are idiots, and point to lolcats.
The average American douchebag has no idea what is important. They have no "news judgement." The problem with giving a voice to the masses, is the masses are really fucking stupid. Pop culture throughout the ages is terribly embarassing. From the pet rock to the Macarena to Deal or No Deal, its not exactly intellectual pursuits that rise to the top of mainstream conciousness.
As media companies consolidate, it means their are fewer experienced, intelligent people providing the public with information. Without that filter, we end up with 800 million people talking about fat Britney Spears. Edward R. Murrow would be proud.
Journalism is now reactionary. California burns to the ground, it shows up on TV. There are very few reporters out there digging the dirt, looking for scandal. Watergate would never happen today.
For one, its all about ratings now. I can say, from experience, that at least 90% of editorial decisions made in newsrooms today are decided by how well it will sell. Gotta get that color above the fold.
Classic example -- there was a shooting in the back of some Jap restaurant in Downingtown last year. Some employee was out front smoking a cig and police rolled up, pointed their assault rifles at him, and he put his hands up. At this point, the intrepid photographer snapped a photo, which ran 6 columns across the front page with the screamer of a headline, "I just shot someone."
"It's not the first life I've ruined," the photographer said. That front page is now framed and sits on the floor in the video room. Litigation is pending.
Another problem is access. Big Media has the dollars to throw around to get access to the halls of power. By and large, bloggers sit behind their computers and interpret what they read, watch or get sent via email. Someone typing away in their parents basement isn't going to be able to interview general's and shit like that. Or go to Iraq and report from the front lines, Michael Yon aside.
This completely ignores the fact that the owners of the media corporations may have some vested interest in what information is widely disseminated.
"Your voice it is so soothing
That cunning mantra of killing
I need you my witness
To dress this up so bloodless
To numb me and purge me now
Of thoughts of blaming you"
2 comments:
I notice that these rants about the apparent lack of good invesitgative journalism are becoming a staple of this blog. As a member of this corrupt media system, why not do something about it? Go do some digging, write a good story, and get it published in the paper. This might be easier said then done, but at least you would be trying to do something about the problem. If you keep presenting good articles to the executive editor, or whatever you call your boss, he would likely put it in the paper. If he doesn't, fuck him and send the articles to a different paper along with a resume.
You're right, it is easier said than done. It doesn't just magically happen, you have to cultivate sources so they will tell you when shit is going down. And when a reporter is stretched thin doing 800 other things, like editing fucking video for the web site, stuff slips by.
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