Why The News Sucks Crap

[peristaltor]

Yes, people are dead in Colorado. Spectacularly. Rather than dwell on the spectacularness-ness, I'll focus on how most of us know about it. theferrett has it exactly right:

You’re a cable news reporter. You have an ugly choice

Comments

[nairiporter]

I think an lj-cut would make the post even more awesome. ;-)

[htpcl]

I almost don't watch TV these days. Even less, around this tragedy. I know what they'll say, I know what nonsense to expect from them, and it's not worth wasting my time and nerve with it.

I use the Internet.

[a_new_machine]

How apropos.

[sandwichwarrior]

Hah!

[gunslnger]

The Onion isn't funny, but at least they can be accurate sometimes.

[luvdovz]

Because AMERICA!

[eracerhead]

People still watch news on TV? I thought that went the way of the newspaper.

[the_rukh]

Computers are too hard for some people.

[sandwichwarrior]

I know this survey is from 2010 but I think it shows that people are already wisening up to this.

http://www.gallup.com/poll/143267/distrust-media-edges-record-high.aspx

[peristaltor]

Interesting poll.

I find it striking how the biggest spikes up and down correspond to presidential election seasons. Trust and confidence dips just before the 2004 election just when it get's "too liberal," echoing the talking heads on right radio and Faux. As Obama charms the crowds leading up to late 2008, people think the media far less "too conservative" and yet more "too liberal."

Conservatives and GOP are also far more likely to parrot the fact-free assertion of a "too liberal" media. Repeat something enough, and people eventually swallow it. Overton wins again!

Also interesting how one can also see a "too conservative" bias leading up to the launch of Air America. I do remember a bit of online press for about a year about how they couldn't get it started, leading to speculation about conservative consolidation of radio station ownership.