It takes a lot of self disciple and the ability to step away from the fracas to see the big picture in order to benefit from a perusal of this kind, Personally, I have a problem with the time it takes, so I don't do ir regularly, just once in a while.

Instead, I depend on a private discussion group I've developed away from the screaming on the blogosphere. We represent a wide variety of views, and several countries. We do NOT agree on much. We also are comfortable enough with each other to not hold back for fear of offending another. We just zealously observe the rule of addressing each other with respect. No name calling.

In this way, talking person to pwrson, I have learned quite a lot. I can't say my opinions have changed drastically, but I understand better how those in disagreement with me come by theirs. You can't really understand the world, or politics, if you don't understand the people who operate in those spheres.
Lesson mumber one: the world doesn't begin and end with the self.

Which is precisely why the claims of a liberal media are so absurd, since it's run on such a bottom line basis- shit sells, not ideas.

By becoming the major source of income for the news, they assure kid glove treatment on matters like health care reform. Petroleum, the corn lobby (ADM, Cargill), chemical companies, automakers and others are using the same strategy.

We can forget about true investigative journalism on any topic important to the corporate-owned and corporate-sponsored media. They know which side of the bread is buttered and we must too, if we are to get the facts on any of these issues.

That, of course, has always been true; hence the dumbing down of news stories to grade school level language. It's the dgree of degradation for profit's sake that is of concern now. That degree has skyrocketed.

We wring our hands about a poorly educated public. Like it or not, the media serve as an educational tool. When children bring news clippings to class these days, they are not learning much of value.

I understand the frustration among journalists this post refers to.
I see that news reporters and commentators are not hired or rewarded for their intelligence or journalistic professionalism any more. They are hired for their
ability to make off-the-cuff snarky remarks and to opine about subjects of which they have little understanding. It's just throwing red meat to the dogs.

I couldn't sleep the other night, and for the first time in quite a while, I spent several hours tuned in to CNN. As a result, I may not be sleeping much for some
time to come. What I saw was row upon row of freshly scrubbed and smug young people blathering away about topics of which they were largely ignorant..
How can one comment about primaries without knowing how they work, how they have developed and changed?

Note to all journalists. It is incorrect to say: “He spoke to my wife and I.”
It is correct to say:” He spke to my wife and ME.”
Hint: If he spoke to me, then he spoke to my wife and me.

Of course the logical conclusion isn't that only the articles I have detailed knowledge of are flawed in such a fashion, but that ALL articles contain huge numbers of distortions and mistakes, but I'm only aware of a small percentage of them. And yet, I constantly read the news, go figure.

http://people-press.org/reports/display.php3?Re...

Director: This graphic is inaccurate.

Producer: We need to keep the graphic up.

Director: I am taking it down. The numbers are wrong.

Producer: What are you doing, take it, take it.

Director: I am not knowingly putting up the wrong information.

Producer: We need to keep the graphic up, now take it.

Director: I am sorry, but unless you fix the data, I cannot.

Producer: You are in big trouble mister.

Director: Maybe with you, but not with the viewer.

The person involved never did get “in big trouble.” Honestly, I am amazed everyday how many people are unqualified for their news jobs. I work in TV news and I cannot watch any news show on any channel anywhere. I just know it is generally all BS and hype at best and inaccurate at worst.”

Haha, I'm only a university student, but I know the feeling oh-so-well. No bad blood, generally, with the org I'm with, but I know how tense it can get.