We Want Media

I think that people on TV in the news industry should definitely present their bias as well as their own personalities. So many anchors just seem so cookie-cutter now because everyone is afraid of offending everyone else. But don't we already choose what news programs we watch according to that? I know that's the reason I can't handle "The Today Show"... Katie Couric is WAY too much to handle that early.

That's why Jon Stewart is so popular... although he presents "fake news," he really does seem to be passionate and interested in what he presents and seems pretty real when he's on his show. Maybe another reason that news organizations should take a cue from Stewart?

I'm not sure if I'm responding more to the entry or Christine's comment, so I'm just put this as a new comment, and I will clarify things if and when the need arises.

I just hope we're making sure of the distinction between the anchor of a newscast (which is, essentially, the broadcast equivalent of the front page of a paper) and host of show on a news channel (which is, essentially, the broadcast equivalent of a personal op/ed page).

If the point is that the latter should revel in their bias, turn it up to 11, well I'd probably disagree with the extent but not the sentiment.

But if it's that we should neglect the former, or indeed bring bias into what they do, I would vehemently disagree. Yeah, everyone "enjoys" the Op/Ed page more than A1 stories, but which is the more important, in terms of the (theoretical) aims of a newspaper? It's imparting information, factual accounts, every time.

By the same token, and especially as more and more people leave papers behind and get their news solely from television and the internet, the integrity of the newscast must be maintained.

To turn Zack's comment around, I can get outrageous opinion with total bias from the guy with the megaphone in Union Square. But it's easier to just turn on O'Reilly/Olbermann/*insert personality here*. By the same token, sure, you can get the unbiased, straight news story from the paper, but as gets hammered in our faces with every other poll/study, it's easier for people to turn on the television.

If you're asking for bias from the anchor of the 6.30 newscast, I simply cannot agree. The most important duty must be to informing the viewer of the news of the day. Bring them over to your network with a crazy host lead-in/follow, but do not get the two mixed up.

Sure, a little bias goes a long way. But to what extent? Soon they become a parody of themselves - O'Rielly has already been down this road - and they'll end up as a Colbert Report punchline - or worse, Colbert himself.

But we're all ratings slaves anyway, so why bother?

Oh, and don't expect Anderson Cooper to get Reill-ed up anytime soon - his outburst is as believeable as the tears he eeked out for the same event.