The media caters to a particular demographic, telling that demographic what it already believes — even when it is unverified or false. This pandering defines the coverage of the Trump-Russia saga.
Wait a minute. I don't get this. I do get that Trump haters were rabid during his presidency. I "unfriended" several on my Facebook page because it became tedious and their self-righteousness was annoying; probably because I am capable of that kind of behavior myself. But this article fails to mention the flat out lies that Fox New doled out. It fails to mention that reporters are human, fallible and naive perhaps to the kind of pathology that Trump brought to us: The flat out lying to our face. The ignorance. The ridiculous at times, and obvious, undeveloped fragile ego. The viciousness. The name-calling. His behavior set him up to be a target. The childish demanding of loyalty. Many were not prepared. I got tired of CNN, at first, trying to "understand" what he was doing. He has a personality disorder - that is obvious to many of us, we were warned by the Yale forensic Psychiatrist. People associating with , reporting on, cohabitating with someone with a personality disorder are in danger of becoming sick themselves. I get it that social media is an echo chamber. That is a real concern. I get it that journalism needs to change and not be part of the problem of divisiveness and hate in our country. I get it that we all can be self-righteous and not acknowledge our own darkness. I get it that there needs to be less editorializing in the media - facts only. I get it that there are several echo chambers out there. Maybe the only way through this conundrum is to do what Mr. Hedges urged us to do a while back. Look at our own darkness - work personally, in our own neighborhood and towns to create change. But to ignore who Donald Trump was and is and make the media's coverage of him the issue seems a stretch. I would ask "What would be the correct way to report on his dangerous, vicious , ignorant behavior?"
My only signs of hope are first: independent media continues to grow and counters the daily MSM narrative. The second hope is based on Jeff Gerth's piece, maybe some future journalists at Columbia and elsewhere understand that true journalism is hard work. Build on sources, create trust, have others play devil's advocate, question their sources' motives, find other narratives that may oppose what you are investigating and understand that it is not simply googling Wiki info and repeating other MSM narratives as if they're the truth. That is easy and lazy, so be ready to offend your viewing (or reading) audience to find the truth. Chris has shown this throughout his career and I am glad he is able to mentor a new generation of journalists such as Matt Taibbi and Aaron Mate. Hope is in sparse supply, but at least it is something, as the alternative is otherwise dystopian.
As I have said before; these type of canards sell soap. the people who watch these purveyors of amphigory, might as well be watching reruns of Gilligans Island.
Let's shift the window a bit without losing site of this accurate assessment of the broken, twisted and untrustwothy media... and think deeply about this demographic they chase and whore. Because without it might the media have not gone down the skunkhole?
Who are these people, the customers of the dishonet corporate MSM, and where within this country of strong historical support of liberal ideas, including truth, facts, real science and a previous unbending demand to protect free speech, have they devolved from?
The education system that brainwashed them into an anti-American worldview.
And what we are seeing today is a sort of half awakening in a percentage of the people so afflicted... they are growing uncomfortable with bits and joining the voice of criticism for some things... but while holding belief in other bits that, frankly, undermind their overall credibility and effectiveness in what they shift to criticize.
I don't think the problem gets fixed until and unless the education system ideological brainwashing gets eliminated, and a majority of those already afflicted do a full turn against ALL of the illiberal woke ideology that was stuffed in their young impressionable heads.
"The education system that brainwashed them into an anti-American worldview." Yes, they were not allowed to learn the true history of our country with historians like Howard Zinn, neither they were taught that being an American does nothing to do with a particular race and that we all are Americans. They were brainwashed with the false idea that we are exceptional!
Why do you live in this country (assuming you do) when you hate it so?
And while you are thinking of where else you would move to, please let me know why that country is more exceptional than the USA. And also how many people that live in that country are taught by their teacher to hate their country.
Mr. Lee, with pleasure I answer your questions: I live in the U.S.A. because I'm American, I love her and I'm not planning to go anywhere else. We all are made of the same clay and no country is exceptional ( this maybe a little difficult for you to understand). I thought I was agreeing with your comment on the lamentable result of having taught our young kids to hate our country, our true country, and hence they grew up loving a mythical America, and now they are suppressing the true tellers of history and the teaching of critical race theory. I love my America, but the true America with all our virtues and vices. If I misunderstood you, I apologize.
Thank you for the clarification. Sorry I got it wrong. No country is perfect. All countries are exceptional. The USA is unique because it is so young and yet dominates so much of the world. It dominates the world because of its exceptionalism and in ways that are bad and good… but mostly good considering what would be the alternative. That is what is lacking in those focusing on the bad… malcontents that are polluting the brains of our children to lose perspective for the good… and thus risk losing it and all of us becoming much more miserable once they do.
Oh yes... one indoctrinated with critical colonialism theory. And clearly you hate your country. And you ignored my ask to tell my what country you see as the model that the US should be instead. Because without any examples your positions are twaddle.
Breaking what treaties... you mean the bad trade agreements and stupid Paris Accord and stupid Iran deal? Why yes. They are all terrible for the USA and its patriot citizens. No US citizens were deported. What are you smoking... pass some over please so I too can live in a nice fiction story in my head.
Your free speech comment is nonsensical too. Really, you are going to make the case that Trump is an enemy of free speech? Really? I think your middle name might be Stretch.
Wait a minute. I don't get this. I do get that Trump haters were rabid during his presidency. I "unfriended" several on my Facebook page because it became tedious and their self-righteousness was annoying; probably because I am capable of that kind of behavior myself. But this article fails to mention the flat out lies that Fox New doled out. It fails to mention that reporters are human, fallible and naive perhaps to the kind of pathology that Trump brought to us: The flat out lying to our face. The ignorance. The ridiculous at times, and obvious, undeveloped fragile ego. The viciousness. The name-calling. His behavior set him up to be a target. The childish demanding of loyalty. Many were not prepared. I got tired of CNN, at first, trying to "understand" what he was doing. He has a personality disorder - that is obvious to many of us, we were warned by the Yale forensic Psychiatrist. People associating with , reporting on, cohabitating with someone with a personality disorder are in danger of becoming sick themselves. I get it that social media is an echo chamber. That is a real concern. I get it that journalism needs to change and not be part of the problem of divisiveness and hate in our country. I get it that we all can be self-righteous and not acknowledge our own darkness. I get it that there needs to be less editorializing in the media - facts only. I get it that there are several echo chambers out there. Maybe the only way through this conundrum is to do what Mr. Hedges urged us to do a while back. Look at our own darkness - work personally, in our own neighborhood and towns to create change. But to ignore who Donald Trump was and is and make the media's coverage of him the issue seems a stretch. I would ask "What would be the correct way to report on his dangerous, vicious , ignorant behavior?"
Read “Proof of Collusion” by Seth Abramson, all 448 pages. I really respect Chris Hedges, but it seems to me he has been served some cool aid here. 🌻
Reporters make mistakes.
But reporters who are indifferent to truth and facts make a lot more mistakes.
My only signs of hope are first: independent media continues to grow and counters the daily MSM narrative. The second hope is based on Jeff Gerth's piece, maybe some future journalists at Columbia and elsewhere understand that true journalism is hard work. Build on sources, create trust, have others play devil's advocate, question their sources' motives, find other narratives that may oppose what you are investigating and understand that it is not simply googling Wiki info and repeating other MSM narratives as if they're the truth. That is easy and lazy, so be ready to offend your viewing (or reading) audience to find the truth. Chris has shown this throughout his career and I am glad he is able to mentor a new generation of journalists such as Matt Taibbi and Aaron Mate. Hope is in sparse supply, but at least it is something, as the alternative is otherwise dystopian.
As I have said before; these type of canards sell soap. the people who watch these purveyors of amphigory, might as well be watching reruns of Gilligans Island.
davidwmiller.substack.com
Excellent reading of an on-going, dangerously destruction of an American Establishment.
"an echo chamber for a selected demographic."
Let's shift the window a bit without losing site of this accurate assessment of the broken, twisted and untrustwothy media... and think deeply about this demographic they chase and whore. Because without it might the media have not gone down the skunkhole?
Who are these people, the customers of the dishonet corporate MSM, and where within this country of strong historical support of liberal ideas, including truth, facts, real science and a previous unbending demand to protect free speech, have they devolved from?
The education system that brainwashed them into an anti-American worldview.
And what we are seeing today is a sort of half awakening in a percentage of the people so afflicted... they are growing uncomfortable with bits and joining the voice of criticism for some things... but while holding belief in other bits that, frankly, undermind their overall credibility and effectiveness in what they shift to criticize.
I don't think the problem gets fixed until and unless the education system ideological brainwashing gets eliminated, and a majority of those already afflicted do a full turn against ALL of the illiberal woke ideology that was stuffed in their young impressionable heads.
"The education system that brainwashed them into an anti-American worldview." Yes, they were not allowed to learn the true history of our country with historians like Howard Zinn, neither they were taught that being an American does nothing to do with a particular race and that we all are Americans. They were brainwashed with the false idea that we are exceptional!
Why do you live in this country (assuming you do) when you hate it so?
And while you are thinking of where else you would move to, please let me know why that country is more exceptional than the USA. And also how many people that live in that country are taught by their teacher to hate their country.
Mr. Lee, with pleasure I answer your questions: I live in the U.S.A. because I'm American, I love her and I'm not planning to go anywhere else. We all are made of the same clay and no country is exceptional ( this maybe a little difficult for you to understand). I thought I was agreeing with your comment on the lamentable result of having taught our young kids to hate our country, our true country, and hence they grew up loving a mythical America, and now they are suppressing the true tellers of history and the teaching of critical race theory. I love my America, but the true America with all our virtues and vices. If I misunderstood you, I apologize.
Thank you for the clarification. Sorry I got it wrong. No country is perfect. All countries are exceptional. The USA is unique because it is so young and yet dominates so much of the world. It dominates the world because of its exceptionalism and in ways that are bad and good… but mostly good considering what would be the alternative. That is what is lacking in those focusing on the bad… malcontents that are polluting the brains of our children to lose perspective for the good… and thus risk losing it and all of us becoming much more miserable once they do.
Good that you have a balanced view of our situation and I also hope that our teachers do the same.
Oh yes... one indoctrinated with critical colonialism theory. And clearly you hate your country. And you ignored my ask to tell my what country you see as the model that the US should be instead. Because without any examples your positions are twaddle.
Huh? I cannot make any sense out of any of that.
Breaking what treaties... you mean the bad trade agreements and stupid Paris Accord and stupid Iran deal? Why yes. They are all terrible for the USA and its patriot citizens. No US citizens were deported. What are you smoking... pass some over please so I too can live in a nice fiction story in my head.
Your free speech comment is nonsensical too. Really, you are going to make the case that Trump is an enemy of free speech? Really? I think your middle name might be Stretch.