Not the End of an Era
ABC anchor Peter Jennings died last night. Deepest sympathy to his wife and children.
It's amazing that in the course of a year, all three network anchors -- Peter Jennings, Tom Brokaw and Dan Rather -- are gone (Brokaw through retirement, Rather through a shuffle in the wake of journalistic scandal). But these changes can't be considered the "end of an era" in any meaningful way.
That's because the way in which the networks report the news will stay largely the same -- with the model (and aspiration) for all anchors (and all networks) continuing to be Walter "Voice of God" Cronkhite supposedly reporting all the objective truths that anyone needed to know ("And that's the way it is.").
Sure, some changes are being made -- CBS, for example, is going to pursue an online presence much more aggressively -- but they won't stem the erosion of the network news viewing audience.
And that's because Americans aren't fleeing to the internet and cable because of technology. They are fleeing because, in a country that is majority Republican, Americans believe that network news is still reported from the left -- and now they have options to ignore network news, especially when they find its bias to be pervasive and offensive.
Notwithstanding this reality, don't expect any quick changes by the networks. There's no reason to believe that they will do what needs to be done, i.e. allow a variety of perspectives (especially conservative ones) and treat them with respect.
And that's because network news executives and anchors -- based largely out of Manhattan -- really don't understand how mainstream conservative views have become, because they aren't confronted with them on a regular basis. Red state conservatives know liberals are out there and what they think . . . they are confronted with liberal views every time they turn on network news or open a major metropolitan daily. In contrast, blue state liberals can go for days without confronting conservative ideas unless they make the effort to, say, turn on the Fox News Channel or pick up The American Spectator.
How ironic that the "sophisticated" Manhattan liberals are much more parochial in their information sources and viewpoints than a midwestern Red Stater! But it's true. And until some of that parochialism dissipates, the network news will clunk along as it is -- as the dinosaur it's become.
It's amazing that in the course of a year, all three network anchors -- Peter Jennings, Tom Brokaw and Dan Rather -- are gone (Brokaw through retirement, Rather through a shuffle in the wake of journalistic scandal). But these changes can't be considered the "end of an era" in any meaningful way.
That's because the way in which the networks report the news will stay largely the same -- with the model (and aspiration) for all anchors (and all networks) continuing to be Walter "Voice of God" Cronkhite supposedly reporting all the objective truths that anyone needed to know ("And that's the way it is.").
Sure, some changes are being made -- CBS, for example, is going to pursue an online presence much more aggressively -- but they won't stem the erosion of the network news viewing audience.
And that's because Americans aren't fleeing to the internet and cable because of technology. They are fleeing because, in a country that is majority Republican, Americans believe that network news is still reported from the left -- and now they have options to ignore network news, especially when they find its bias to be pervasive and offensive.
Notwithstanding this reality, don't expect any quick changes by the networks. There's no reason to believe that they will do what needs to be done, i.e. allow a variety of perspectives (especially conservative ones) and treat them with respect.
And that's because network news executives and anchors -- based largely out of Manhattan -- really don't understand how mainstream conservative views have become, because they aren't confronted with them on a regular basis. Red state conservatives know liberals are out there and what they think . . . they are confronted with liberal views every time they turn on network news or open a major metropolitan daily. In contrast, blue state liberals can go for days without confronting conservative ideas unless they make the effort to, say, turn on the Fox News Channel or pick up The American Spectator.
How ironic that the "sophisticated" Manhattan liberals are much more parochial in their information sources and viewpoints than a midwestern Red Stater! But it's true. And until some of that parochialism dissipates, the network news will clunk along as it is -- as the dinosaur it's become.
posted by LadybugUSA at 9:05 AM
3 Comments:
Carol - I do agree the network news is a dinosaur. But I still can't seem to grasp why everyone seems to think that these big corporations are liberal? Just because people say it is, doesn't make it so.
I find them more attune to keeping their monied interests and advertisers happy. You won't hear NBC broadcasting problems with the nuke industry..why? GE, of course. ABC won't be highlighting the serious injury problems at amusements parks...why? Disney.
If the networks (and the "media")were truly liberal, you would be seeing these stories front and center.
I highly recommend this book:
http://www.whatliberalmedia.com/
I will truly miss Peter Jennings because he was a class act. Forever feeling guilty for not completing high school, he made it his mission to learn as much about everything as possible. His was a lifelong quest for information and the truth, which is the key ingredient to a good journalist.
We don't have real good journalists these days. We have bloviating pompous talking heads who spout off the party talking points (from both sides of the aisle, mind you) Yelling. Screaming. Callling each people idiots. Calling on people being killed for being a liberal (or conservative). We live in a world of appearances, and not the reality that we need so dearly to keep democracy alive.
Mr. Jennings was a one of a kind gentleman who believed in knowledge; who believed in the power of truth; who believed in the importance of inquisitiveness; who trusted Americans (ALL Americans) to ask better of their politicians; of their newsmakers; of their world.
I'm very sorry to hear of the passing of Peter Jennings. I thought he was far and above the best performer of the big three network anchormen.
I think your comments on the state of network news and the public in general are spot on, Carol.
Peter became a citizen. That's a good thing.
Jill wrote: "But I still can't seem to grasp why everyone seems to think that these big corporations are liberal?"
No one says the corporations are anything. It is the news departments, their editors and producers who are leftists. It isn't a conspiracy... just birds of a feather flocking together.
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