"What is the role of a free and independent press in a democratic society? Is it to be a passive conduit responsible only for the delivery of information between government and its people? Is it to aggressively print allegation and rumor independent of accuracy or fairness? Is it to show boobies?"
Jon Stewart, from America (The Book) A Citizen’s Guide to Democracy Inaction
It occurred to me while reading an article in Monday’s New York Times about the media working hard to keep advertisers that the Republicans’ continual harping about how bad the media is will only serve to hurt the country in the end. Newspaper circulation has been on a general decline since 1984, and has suffered especially in the last several years as other forms of media compete for the attention of readers, including cable television and the Internet.
The newspaper circulation fell 1.9 percent at major U.S. newspapers in the six-month period ending in March, an industry group reported, marking one of the worst declines in recent years.
I would content that the lack of real interest in current events has contributed to a general ignorance that allowed President George Bush to be re-elected. Since readership has been in decline since 1984, we have had only Republican presidents. Bill Clinton was an anomaly. He may never have been elected if H. Ross Perot had not siphoned votes from President Father Bush.
Today, people just read their news on the Internet or receive headlines from the network news. Network news is a misnomer, it’s more like network pabulum. Cable is just a bunch of talking heads pushing one agenda or the other. Granted, I know this is generalizing and reflects my bias, but our country in order to function properly needs an informed citizenry. Chances are that if you are reading this you are most likely a newspaper reader and informed about issues (or a relative checking to see if I have mentioned you – hello mother), since we mostly write about current events, except when B2 finds some new Chewbacca angle. Also, needless to say to our readers, but if you get your news from Toner Mishap you are certainly not among the informed, it would be like getting your news from Jon Stewart’s Daily Show, just not as funny (it’s a cable show, you don’t get it mother).
I say subscribe to a newspaper today; and when you go on vacation donate that week or two to a local school. It’s important that newspaper reading is encouraged.
4 comments:
Devo, I agree with much of what you are saying. I don't have any issues with Newsweek, but US News and World Report I can't stomach.
No matter the newspaper or magazine, one should always read it with a dose of skepticism. My point is that it's better to read a newspaper than to get the news exclusively from just the TV or radio. Also, by reading the newspaper one creates a habit for reading and possibily a sense of curiosity to read further on a subject.
I haven't read the books, but I have enjoyed the movies. However, I vaguely recall Prof. Harold Bloom, complaining that Harry Potter was not a good vehicle for kids because it was poorly written. But, he is a different character. Stephen King had or as an ongoing argument with Bloom about that and other reading items of popular interest.
Why throw good money after bad?
The newspaper is just a time-delayed delivery mechanism for the same crap that's on the network news. There are a few exceptions, but it's really just more of the same.
Well, one could argue that it kills more trees than the news, but even then I'm not so sure.
Sorry for being so tardy to respond, but the day job has been and still is very busy, but I want to add that the newspapers go into far more detail than an one- or two-minute network story. Granted, a newspaper story tends to repeat itself more often than a magazine article, but to me, I would much prefer reading a newspaper in my hands than online. Maybe it is just habit, but I like everything about holding and receiving newspapers and magazines.
Devo, we are on the same page with regards to Bloom and enjoying easy reading material too.
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