The polarization of the U.S. media – particularly cable TV – has not escaped the attention of people in other parts of the world. Just last week, conservative firebrand Michael Savage was banned from Great Britain for his less than diplomatic use of the English language.
Now comes this article by Gabriela Perdomo for Colombia’s Semana newspaper, who warns Colombians against going down the same road as the U.S. media, criticizing cable giants Fox and MSNBC for violating the basic ethics and public service goals of journalism.
For Semana, Perdomo writes in part:
“At this point the U.S. media has arrived at a ridiculous state of polarization, increasingly absorbed in a war between pro-Republicans and pro-Democrats that has nothing to do with serving the purpose of informing the public.”
After citing Michael Savage and Neal Boortz as examples of how poisonous the right-left debate has become, Perdomo writes:
“What’s so worrisome is that the stupidity of this commentary is almost as great as the size of the audiences of these radio and TV programs. Much to the regret of journalism and the intelligence of the American people, controversy and polarization, as well as explicit support for one political party, is the formula for success at United States cable news networks.”
Edward R. Murrow might have said the same.
By Gabriela Perdomo*
Translated By Liz Essary
May 15, 2009
Semana – Colombia – Original Article (Spanish)
The Huffington Post – an influential online newspaper – reports that some pro-conservative media in the United States are suggesting the swine flu epidemic is a Mexican conspiracy to finish off North America. At this point the U.S. media has arrived at a ridiculous state of polarization, increasingly absorbed in a war between pro-Republicans and pro-Democrats that has nothing to do with serving the purpose of informing the public.
And these aren’t just any networks propagating these ignorant, disrespectful, and even dangerous rumors against the Mexican people. Among them is Fox News, one of the most powerful cable networks in the country. Several commentators from so-called right wing radio, who are explicitly anti-immigrant, have also jumped onto the bandwagon. Michael Savage, host of The Savage Nation, said this last week: “Make no mistake about it: Illegal aliens are carriers of the new strain of human-swine avian flu from Mexico. Could this be a terrorist attack through Mexico?” [translated quote].
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