Monday

What happened to journalism?

Our community center has a policy that its television are set to only two channels: ESPN and CNN. I was shocked to see CNN replaced by Fox News as I mounted the eliptical machine and turned on my iPod. As I started to huff & puff, my usually people-watching was interrupted by a breaking headline from Fox News:
Obama rejects American flag lapel pin

Fox then proceeded to have a 20 minute piece. They brought on a slew of commentators to react to this 'news.' 20 MINUTES! One commentator said "I am embarrassed that this man is running for president." A criminal defense attorney was a commentator as well. How do Obama and lapel pins connect with the perspective and expertise of a criminal defense attorney?! Anne Coulter, the idiotic and freakish conservative commentator, also made her points which included a comment related to the fact the conservatives are undoubtedly more patriotic. As these folks were stating their opinions Fox showed clips of Obama at events and speaking without the lapel pin.

Am I on a different planet or what? First, since when is a fucking pin an indicator of one's patriotism or loyalty towards their country? I don't give a damn about a silly pin - tell me what you are doing for our country? How are you actively upholding the values of our country? How are you working to protect our freedoms and democracy? I suppose if you can wear a lapel pin and get away with unbridled corruption, the loss of thousands of innocent lives and the complete erosion of key social and community support systems, then these conservatives really do have a point. Oh wait. FUCK NO! IT IS A FUCKING PIN. Secondly, how is this breaking news? How does a candidate's pin merit this kind of intensive biased scrutiny? Wow.

I swear I felt like I was watching The Onion on television. It was completely unreal. Clearly, somewhere, Orwell is shaking his head. This overload of bullshit completely erodes the ability and opportunity for people to receive information, ask questions and make informed decisions. Is journalism dead?

This segment, of course, was followed by another stunning act of journalist inquiry entitled:
Student newspaper editor only admonished
Yes, Fox, thanks for that fair and balanced reporting.

2 comments:

KarmaTee said...

When 9-11 happened, a student reporter at the University-run NBC affiliate television station in Columbia decided that he wanted to wear am American flag lapel pin.

The station director-- also a faculty member at the University-- told him that reporters report the news, they don't comment on it. The student was not allowed to wear the pin on-air.

The state legislature got ahold of this information and promptly threatened to cut all state funding for the J-school at Mizzou. Then they threatened to fire the faculty member. It was a big ol' mess, because depending on your point of view, there are First Amendment rights on both sides.

I sided with the faculty member, though. Commentary is great when labeled as such. But teensy little symbol of pro-America though it may be, the pin is still a statement of political affiliation. And for my money, it has no place in journalism.

Obama in '08.

KarmaTee said...

Um.... WHERE ARE YOU????