Happy World Press Freedom Day

smoothmoniker · 05-06-2003, 02:16 AM

[MUTANT GEN-X CYNICISM SUPER POWERS ACTIVATE]

Them's the nuts - Mass Media is a bottom line corporation with the stated goal of selling papers, gaining viewers, getting hits, etc. Why do they report what they report? I think the equation looks something like this:

"President Gets BJ in Oval Office" = more papers sold
"A roundtable discussion of the proposed Universal Healthcare program" = less papers sold

"US Troops Storm Baghdad, People cheer in streets" = more viewers
"How is Augustine's 'Just Warfare' theory understood by President Bush as supporting preemptive action?"= fewer viewers

"Those communist whores should be shipped to France! We'll never play their records again" = more redneck listeners
"Following in the proud, open minded traditions of Country Music, here's the latest from The Dixie Chicks" = fewer redneck listeners

CNN/NY Times/Slate = high numbers of like-minded viewers.
FOX/Washington Post/Drudge = high numbers of opposing like-minded viewers.

To assume that there is anything more significant than bottom line economics is to give too much credit to the beast.

[/MUTANT GEN-X CYCNICISM POWERS DE-ACTIVATE]

05-06-2003, 02:16 AM	#6
smoothmoniker to live and die in LA Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 2,090	[MUTANT GEN-X CYNICISM SUPER POWERS ACTIVATE] Them's the nuts - Mass Media is a bottom line corporation with the stated goal of selling papers, gaining viewers, getting hits, etc. Why do they report what they report? I think the equation looks something like this: "President Gets BJ in Oval Office" = more papers sold "A roundtable discussion of the proposed Universal Healthcare program" = less papers sold "US Troops Storm Baghdad, People cheer in streets" = more viewers "How is Augustine's 'Just Warfare' theory understood by President Bush as supporting preemptive action?"= fewer viewers "Those communist whores should be shipped to France! We'll never play their records again" = more redneck listeners "Following in the proud, open minded traditions of Country Music, here's the latest from The Dixie Chicks" = fewer redneck listeners CNN/NY Times/Slate = high numbers of like-minded viewers. FOX/Washington Post/Drudge = high numbers of opposing like-minded viewers. To assume that there is anything more significant than bottom line economics is to give too much credit to the beast. [/MUTANT GEN-X CYCNICISM POWERS DE-ACTIVATE]

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