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The incredible shrinking news
by mtippett | March 27, 2008 at 12:41 pm | 596 views | 10 comments
Hey, what's that incredible sucking sound? Oh, it's your news...
Think we hardly get any international news in our mainstream media? Right you are. But we don’t get any domestic coverage either, unless it’s about the elections, according to the insightful but not cheerful new State of the Media Report from the great folks at the Project for Excellence in Journalism:
“The agenda of the American news media continues to narrow, not broaden. A firm grip on this is difficult but the trends seem inescapable. A comprehensive audit of coverage shows that in 2007, two overriding stories — the war in Iraq and the 2008 campaign — filled more than a quarter of the newshole and seemed to consume much of the media’s energy and resources. And what wasn’t covered was in many ways as notable as what was. Other than Iraq — and to a lesser degree Pakistan and Iran — there was minimal coverage of events overseas, some of which directly involved U.S. interests, blood and treasure. At the same time, consider the list of the domestic issues that each filled less than a single percent of the newshole: education, race, religion, transportation, the legal system, housing, drug trafficking, gun control, welfare, Social Security, aging, labor, abortion and more.”
News Tools
March 27, 2008 at 12:41 pm by mtippett, 596 views, 10 comments
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Comments (10)
at 12:51 on March 27th, 2008
Now this is depressing. I refuse to believe that either the American public are not interested in these domestic issues, or that there is nothing to be said about them.
at 13:04 on March 27th, 2008
It is an unfortunate but easily observable trend to anyone looking in from outside the USA. The problem is that most citizens show little interest in anything other than the pap they receive delivered by cretins in "shut up!" inflected sound-bites.
at 13:40 on March 27th, 2008
mtippett, I like this story. It's good stuff. I also agree with you and Rachel Nixon. There is not even news about alternative candidates.
at 14:23 on March 27th, 2008
It's painfully noticeable, and has been for years... news coverage is treated as an extension of the entertainment industry: both are fueled by advertising and delivered (primarily) via television, but that doesn't mean that the content should be the same. People can say what they want about user-generated news content (some of which is valid), but I'd rather read a few typos and swear words than see repetitive coverage of one easily-chewed story at the expense of a planetful of useful stuff.
at 16:19 on March 27th, 2008
Here, here!
at 15:59 on March 27th, 2008
It's all the fault of the news/media corporations, and those that control them. the 'GateKeepers'.
at 16:21 on March 27th, 2008
Not just "them" René, but the general public who do no demand more from the gatekeepers.
at 16:40 on March 27th, 2008
Isn't that what the 'ratings' is all about? How else do the public 'demand more' if not with their remotes. Don't forget that John Q. Public is not always computer-savvy or on the net for more than email.
at 17:02 on March 27th, 2008
Exactly my point. If the public keeps watching the tripe the networks call news then why should the network conglomerates be real news broadcasters? Hey if you can sell 'em shit, and they keep buying it and consuming it why not?
at 17:58 on March 27th, 2008
and then one wonders why people are getting so one-dimensional. still, for those who WANT to know more, internet has more information flow than one can handle.