PressEthic

I am not sure if I am alarmed. I don't believe that I am, actually. Many people turn toward the evening news not only to be informed but also to be provided a modicum of comfort. In essence, FOX, MSNBC and now CNN Headling Prime are saying to their target audience, "Here is the news that we know you already agree with." Whether or not the content is actually news is another matter.

The article touched on some criticism for this type of programmatic shift. "More of this race to the bottom" is what a spokesperson from Media Matters for America stated in the article. Another interesting sidebar was the suicide of a former interview guest for Nancy Grace, the day after she badgered the woman about the disappearance of her daughter. It all makes for good ratings.

Ratings, however, are not an exact science - far from it - and I hesitate a good, long while when ratings numbers are thrown about in an effort to bolster the supposed support for these types of shows. Obviously, the method people receive news is becoming increasingly fractured. The internet, RSS feeds, audio and video in portable formats, direct web surfing and email capabilities on mobile phones and PDAs along with newspapers and television provide a tesselated blanket where people can weave the type of news they want to receive. Television, and to a certain extent radio and newspapers, probably still outpace the internet for now. But, whether or not perceived objectivity, or the absence of it, is what people are looking for I do believe that these types of programs offer little in content or information for the person who seeks to truly be enlightened and informed.