For the Pol Junkies: Blurring the Line Between Talking Heads and the News...

[intothewoods]

For Pol Junkies: Blurring the Line Blah Blah The Food Network Thread - skip to end

I was watching Lou Dobbs last night and noticed there was a woman reading news stories with Lou Dobbs spin. She looked and sounded like any other news anchor, except there were all of these grouchy old man comments peppered throughout her stories.

Is this unique to Lou Dobbs? It can't be.

I felt annoyed that these stories, complete with commentary, were presented as fact. It seems very clear to me when you have a talking head spouting off their opinions that they are just that - opinions. But when the commentary is part of a news story, it's not so clear. It really irked me, but I suppose CNN viewers are savvy enough to know the difference. Err, right?

 

[Caitlynne]

Having majored in journalism in college, all I can say is journalism is dead. It was gobbled up by advertising money and the rush for revenue and ratings. It used to be called "yellow Journalism", I'm not sure what to call it anymore.

Stories are peppered with opinion because it triggers an emotional response in the viewer and that brings a viewer back to the *cough* news source. Whatever the demographics, an opinion will be pushed that polls well for that demographic. The demographic is what advertisers look at. It's pure economics at the expense of a free and accurate press.

The best any of us can do is become our own investigative reporter. Do research and listen or read several sources of news. The truth will be somewhere in the middle after you sort out all the opinion.

 

[ThorkelGriersen]

Having majored in journalism in college, all I can say is journalism is dead. It was gobbled up by advertising money and the rush for revenue and ratings. It used to be called "yellow Journalism", I'm not sure what to call it anymore.

I call it marketing.

 

[Caitlynne]

LOL, well, that too!

Except from a Journalist's POV, marketing shouldn't be in the equation. A straight news story, is a straight news story. The story itself shouldn't be riddled with marketing memes. A show's producer can slant the broadcast with the stories s/he chooses to run with, but the stories can remain 'straight news'. But that's not enough for media any longer. We now boarder on media that is used as propaganda. Marketing ratcheted up a couple notches in my opinion..

 

[JMohegan]

Has anyone else gone door-to-door or done phone banking this year?

The number of people who say they give credence to viral emails, or get their "news" from talk radio, is astounding.

 

[Caitlynne]

Has anyone else gone door-to-door or done phone banking this year?

The number of people who say they give credence to viral emails, or get their "news" from talk radio, is astounding.

Actually, one of my jobs is to analyze reports for a research company after polling is done in phone banks. I'm the one that interprets the data. I'll be honest, I'm shocked by what people believe. I shake my head in absolute disbelief.

But then that's the whole purpose of propaganda now isn't it? To make people believe in [something] instead of looking at reality.

 

[WriterDom]

I only watch the Clinton News Network when I'm in an America hating mood.

 

[JMohegan]

I only watch the Clinton News Network when I'm in an America hating mood.

I like to watch their map guy on election nights, but that's about it.

 

[JMohegan]

Actually, one of my jobs is to analyze reports for a research company after polling is done in phone banks. I'm the one that interprets the data. I'll be honest, I'm shocked by what people believe. I shake my head in absolute disbelief.

But then that's the whole purpose of propaganda now isn't it? To make people believe in [something] instead of looking at reality.

Shocking indeed, and depressing when you consider that an informed electorate is a critical element of an effectively functioning democracy.

 

[EmpressFi]

I like to watch their map guy on election nights, but that's about it.

LOL Master and I kept cracking up watching him play with that stupid touch screen

 

[midwestyankee]

I was watching Lou Dobbs last night and noticed there was a woman reading news stories with Lou Dobbs spin. She looked and sounded like any other news anchor, except there were all of these grouchy old man comments peppered throughout her stories.

Is this unique to Lou Dobbs? It can't be.

I felt annoyed that these stories, complete with commentary, were presented as fact. It seems very clear to me when you have a talking head spouting off their opinions that they are just that - opinions. But when the commentary is part of a news story, it's not so clear. It really irked me, but I suppose CNN viewers are savvy enough to know the difference. Err, right?

This episode of watching Lou Dobbs - was this some kind of cruel punishment undertaken by Mister Man? Good god, woman, what did you do to deserve that?

 

[intothewoods]

This episode of watching Lou Dobbs - was this some kind of cruel punishment undertaken by Mister Man? Good god, woman, what did you do to deserve that?

Har har. It just happened to be on.

I watch MSNBC a lot too. Olberman is totally biased, but he makes no bones about it.

I know the difference when I'm watching a show like that, but the information does settle in your mind with everything else, and I sometimes forget what's fact and what I heard on the Daily Show. Sometimes.

 

[intothewoods]

I like to watch their map guy on election nights, but that's about it.

What - no Anderson Cooper? But he's so dreamy!

 

[intothewoods]

Actually, one of my jobs is to analyze reports for a research company after polling is done in phone banks. I'm the one that interprets the data. I'll be honest, I'm shocked by what people believe. I shake my head in absolute disbelief.

But then that's the whole purpose of propaganda now isn't it? To make people believe in [something] instead of looking at reality.

Yeah, it is pretty scary.

 

[midwestyankee]

What - no Anderson Cooper? But he's so dreamy!

It's a well-documented fact that men who are white-haired before their time are sexy as hell.

 

[intothewoods]

It's a well-documented fact that men who are white-haired before their time are sexy as hell.

Well, go for it. He does swing your way, yanks.

 

[graceanne]

It really irked me, but I suppose CNN viewers are savvy enough to know the difference. Err, right?

HAHAHA You so funny. *wipes eyes*

I don't watch the news or read the newspapers because I have yet to find anyone who presents and unbiased opinion. And that's from both sides of the liberal/conservative equation. From my POV they're all full of shit.

 

[a_caged_cock]

Gotta love the polls on Lou Dobbs too. Even Stalin never got that many votes in agreement....

In May I called up my cable company and said disconnect me. Have I missed a damn thing?

I get local news from the local news website, national and international news from a variety of websites, and watch youtube.

I will have it hooked back up in November for the American elections, because it will be an historic event to watch Obama win (shameless plug.) Meanwhile, I'll read.

 

[JMohegan]

What - no Anderson Cooper? But he's so dreamy!

Ha ha, no.

Actually, the television is a severely neglected instrument in my house. I usually get my news (and my "news") online at the NYT, BBC, Washington Post, Chicago Tribune, LA Times, NPR, Politico, and of course the superunbiased Huffington Post!

I also pop on to the Obama and McCain websites every day. The main topic of both is Barack!

 

[intothewoods]

HAHAHA You so funny. *wipes eyes*

I don't watch the news or read the newspapers because I have yet to find anyone who presents and unbiased opinion. And that's from both sides of the liberal/conservative equation. From my POV they're all full of shit.

I suppose there is some bias to everything, but I try to read a variety. I'm a news junkie.

Gotta love the polls on Lou Dobbs too. Even Stalin never got that many votes in agreement....

In May I called up my cable company and said disconnect me. Have I missed a damn thing?

I get local news from the local news website, national and international news from a variety of websites, and watch youtube.

I will have it hooked back up in November for the American elections, because it will be an historic event to watch Obama win (shameless plug.) Meanwhile, I'll read.

You know I actually intended to turn off cable all together, but then I would lose my introductory internet price, and so I decided to get just basic cable for 15 bucks a month. I figured I'd get ten stations, but I get almost 100, including CNN and all of the other news channels!

Ha ha, no.

Actually, the television is a severely neglected instrument in my house. I usually get my news (and my "news") online at the NYT, BBC, Washington Post, Chicago Tribune, LA Times, NPR, Politico, and of course the superunbiased Huffington Post!

I also pop on to the Obama and McCain websites every day. The main topic of both is Barack!

I read a lot of those, although not LA Times. Hmmm, I should add that...Anyway, I admit I occasionally like tv on in the background when I do housework. CNN or the Food Network.

 

[JMohegan]

I read a lot of those, although not LA Times. Hmmm, I should add that...Anyway, I admit I occasionally like tv on in the background when I do housework. CNN or the Food Network.

There's a network just for food?

 

[intothewoods]

There's a network just for food?

Oh my gosh, tell me you are kidding.

 

[JMohegan]

Oh my gosh, tell me you are kidding.

*chuckling*

Nope.

What do they broadcast?

 

[intothewoods]

*chuckling*

Nope.

What do they broadcast?

*faints dead away*

Primarily cooking shows, with some travel stuff thrown in, and also some crazy cake competition shows and then shows where they tell you wayyy more than you ever wanted to know about, say, candy, cookies or beer. The history of pizza.

I like the cooking shows, but I don't like all of them. I don't watch Emeril (gag) or Rachel Ray, but I love Mario Batalli, the Barefoot Contessa, Sara Doulton (I think that's her name, she's the editor of Gourmet Magazine), and occasionally Bobby Flay. I love love love Mario Batali - he's a genius.

 

[JMohegan]

*faints dead away*

Primarily cooking shows, with some travel stuff thrown in, and also some crazy cake competition shows and then shows where they tell you wayyy more than you ever wanted to know about, say, candy, cookies or beer. The history of pizza.

I like the cooking shows, but I don't like all of them. I don't watch Emeril (gag) or Rachel Ray, but I love Mario Batalli, the Barefoot Contessa, Sara Doulton (I think that's her name, she's the editor of Gourmet Magazine), and occasionally Bobby Flay. I love love love Mario Batali - he's a genius.

God made unconscious women to test our moral certitude. A buddy of mine used to say that all the time in college. It has the ring of truth!

Cooking shows, huh. That sounds a bit sadistic to me. Like they're gonna show you something that looks delicious but you can't smell or taste.

The only name I recognize from your list is Rachel Ray, reigning queen of the housewife magazine covers you see at the supermarket. Who is Mario Batali, and why do you consider him a genius?