Posted by manualblock [ 24.45.24.101 ] on August 20, 2006 at 10:22:22:
In Reply to: Two points posted by wunhuanglo on August 20, 2006 at 09:12:41:
At the risk of appearing completely out of touch it is my contention that the conventional News organisations are the only sources you can trust.
True there may be an editorial slant to each major news organisation and that will influence which stories recieve coverage; how that coverage is expressed and who will ultimately be responsible for the words that appear in the paper.
Here are the alternatives. The internet. No large organisation doing fact checking/ no serious attempt at editorial oversight/ no facilities to actually encounter first hand experience/ no source or witnesses. So they are in my mind useless as news delivery systems.
Of course we read more than one paper and watch more than one station for news. That equalises the editorial slant aspect. These major news organisations are filled with people who are acountable. They are accountable to advertisers/ oversight commitees/ representatives of the people or organisations involved in the story; with lawyers at every turn waiting for the mis-representation of fact to pounce.
They have connections with organisations that can actually provide information instead of just re-cycle it.
They are taken seriously by governments and businesses and other large entities that have responsibilities and accountabilities to the various and opposing groups or players in the story.
I can offer more of my opinion but it doesn't really matter. What I have seen in my personal experience is the folks who critisize the mainstream media the most seem to be those who have very evident personal agendas and views and are seeking to have those agendas supported in print. If they are not given the type and specific slant they seek; then they have no use for mass-media. They want their truth and refuse to accept any other. So as a consequence all media that doesn't agree with their world view is suspect and they resort to outlets that support their philosophy.
I don't direct this to you Charlie; you know that; but it gets tiring hearing how the media is so useless from people who you know for sure don't even pay attention to it. Or follow some super-biased ranting foolishness like Rush Limbaugh or something.
Your post is reasonable and serious so I can take that seriously. I hope the value of my opinion is accorded the same weight by others. I would love to see a serious individual contradict and argue with seriousness the opposing view; that alternative media has more weight and truth. Becuase I don't buy it.
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