Public's cynicism about media has become a pressing concern

BOSTON GLOBE ^ | 04/14/04 | Mark Jurkowitz,

[Pikamax]

Public's cynicism about media has become a pressing concern By Mark Jurkowitz, Globe Staff, 4/14/2004

At a time when public distrust of the news media appears to be at a dangerously high level, there is evidence of a deep and fundamental disagreement between those who produce news and those who consume it.

Although most journalists believe quality and values are vital elements of their work and see themselves as providing an important civic function, the reading and viewing public seems to think of journalism as a bottom-line-driven enterprise populated by the ethically challenged. Last month, the Washington-based Project for Excellence in Journalism released a wide-ranging study -- "The State of the News Media 2004" -- that concluded that a key factor in journalism's sagging image is "a disconnection between the public and the news media over motive."

"Journalists believe they are working in the public interest, and are trying to be fair and independent in that cause," the survey found. "The public thinks these journalists are either lying or deluding themselves. The public believes that news organizations are operating largely to make money, and that the journalists who work for these organizations are primarily motivated by professional ambition and self-interest."

[BibChr]

"Jurkowitz."

Is that a name... or a nickname?

Dan
(c;

[jolie560]

Much of my gripes with media is their "pyramid-climbing-lemming-celebrity" style of reporting:

(1) TV reporters appear to be "actors" reading script lines. I think these "actor-reporters" use their reports as part of their video resume to climb up the pyramid.

(2) The "tease"-----'more-on-that-later, but first' syndrome. Even newsprint media have gotten into this habit recently. (more on that later---stay tuned) has shown up in many columns.

(3) Follow the lead lemming---listen to the radio. Same stuff in audio format. Plus, they have the scripted "chuckle-chuckle" segments that now the TV lemmings also follow. Listen to any sports game broadcast. The broadcast wouldn't be complete without a few "chuckle-chuckle" moments.

(4) With the FCC allowing consolidation of media outlets into fewer hands, this pyramid-lemming" style is going to increase in all segments of media.

(5) The only positive for the economy is that "hair-foofers" and make-up artists have good employment opportunities.

(6) Is there any TV newsperson who is ugly? in a wheelchair? has bad skin? is bald? Is there any newsprint writer who can make a short, coherent article in 100 words or less? Is there any radio person who can direct a broadcast without shouting?

(7) As long as Media remains a "celebrity" occupation, I expect more of the same.

[McGavin999]

These guys still don't get it. If they would have asked these questions last night, right after the press conference, they would have found journalist listed on the Enemies of America, right under Bin Laden.

Their performance last night is a prime example of why nobody trusts them. Rude, belligerent, blatantly biased, disgusting.

[dirtboy]

Last month, the Washington-based Project for Excellence in Journalism released a wide-ranging study -- "The State of the News Media 2004" -- that concluded that a key factor in journalism's sagging image is "a disconnection between the public and the news media over motive."

This is all just window dressing to make it seem that the media engages in soul-searching over their bias - when they are deliberately biased and probably proud of it.

[Grampa Dave]

Only the mentally derange Lunatic Liberals believe this bs:

"Journalists believe they are working in the public interest, and are trying to be fair and independent in that cause," the survey found. "The public thinks these journalists are either lying or deluding themselves."

The lying mediot maggots work 24/7 to defeat conservatism, our religious bases and our resistance to those who would destroy America. Now more and more Americans are realizing this.

The rats focus groups in Floriduh where they tried to blame 9/11 on GW damn near ended up in violence with people strongly defendig GW against these lies.

[theDentist]

All those words and they barely touch on the problem. I have no issue with a news organization making a profit. I do have an issue with them not reporting news because it might "disparage" any particular minority group. For example, the GLOBE avoided reporting that the killers of Jeffrey Curley (in Boston) were members of NAMBLA, and tried to avoid giving the impression that they were gay. After all, that might make the gay community look bad. It was only after all the local papers were reporting it fo ra week that they hinted at the lifestyle, and even then, made certain these two creeps did not represent anyone in any gay community anywhere in the world.

Or the Jennings/Rather/Brokaw crowd reporting that America had a temper tantrum in '94, when we took back the House. Maybe it's throwing a hissy fit when Trent Lott says something about Strom Thurmond as President, but not saying a word when Daschle(?) says the same think about Robert Byrd as President.

SH**, they haven't even brushed the surface.

[Grampa Dave]

Only the mentally derange Lunatic Liberals believe this bs:

"Journalists believe they are working in the public interest, and are trying to be fair and independent in that cause," the survey found. "The public thinks these journalists are either lying or deluding themselves."

The lying mediot maggots work 24/7 to defeat conservatism, our religious bases and our resistance to those who would destroy America. Now more and more Americans are realizing this.

The rats focus groups in Floriduh where they tried to blame 9/11 on GW damn near ended up in violence with people strongly defendig GW against these lies.

[mewzilla]

At a time when public distrust of the news media appears to be at a dangerously high level, there is evidence of a deep and fundamental disagreement between those who produce news and those who consume it.

Gee, YA THINK!?!

[Redcoat LI]

Is there any TV newsperson who is ugly? in a wheelchair? has bad skin? is bald?

No there ain't,although the author of this piece,Jerkowitz appears on the local P.B.S station to nod approvingly at his liberal colleagues.

As you can see,he has a face for radio,or newsprint,and he stands about five feet nothin'.

[Arrowhead1952]

At a time when public distrust of the news media appears to be at a dangerously high level, there is evidence of a deep and fundamental disagreement between those who produce news garbage and those who consume it.

Guess the public (who aren't smart enough to visit FR) have been fed enough garbage and find their news on the web or talk radio.

[Dane]

So the public is wising up to what the media has been doing...

Why is that a problem?

To the Boston Globe, CNN, ABC, NBC, CBS, NYT, WashPost, DNC, etc.etc, it is a major problem that people are not taking their BS as the last word and they are in a typical whiny liberal conumdrum about it.

[Eala]

At a time when public distrust of the news media appears to be at a dangerously high level,

Au contraire. Given the ongoing demonstrated bias and fundamental dishonesty of the news media, it would be dangerous if the public did not distrust the media. If anything, the public still trusts the news media too much.

[Mr. Jeeves]

The rats focus groups in Floriduh where they tried to blame 9/11 on GW damn near ended up in violence with people strongly defendig GW against these lies.

That's going to be an ongoing source of strife within the Kerry campaign. Some of his ideologue advisers want so badly to run that kind of ad campaign, becasue they not only personally agree with it but they know it plays so well with the fringe Left that they need to keep from defecting to Nader. The cooler heads realize that blaming GWB for 9/11 is suicidal among moderate voters, who might be unhappy that their job is now in China but will be turned off by that kind of wild accusation.

It's really funny to read posts on other boards frequented by Democrats - the "Bush Lied" crowd is absolutely sure that they have a majority and that the average American thinks Bush is a dolt. I predict great weeping and gnashing of teeth in November.

[Lancey Howard]

66 percent of the respondents said news organizations tended to be biased when covering political and social issues; only 26 percent thought they dealt fairly with all sides

Most "journalists" are liberal college kids who never grew up and got real jobs. So they hate entrepreneurs, capitalism, self-reliance..... and mainly, conservatives. Around here, all we have is the Philadelphia Inquirer and The Bucks County Courier Times. Why would I go to scumbag liberals like them for my news and views? Answer: I wouldn't.

[hopespringseternal]

"a disconnection between the public and the news media over motive."

Like a witch hunter burning the poor witch at the stake to save her soul, journalists feel it is their duty to manipulate, obscure, and outright lie to us for our own good. And that is when they will even acknowledge that reality exists outside their worldview, which they won't most of the time.

Most of the time, they really do believe that Iraq was happier when Saddam was raping their daughters and killing their sons. They write the story according to their worldview, then go look for supporting video bites.

I have experienced this personally. I had a reporterette signal her cameraman to switch off the camer in the middle of my answer to her question when I didn't give her the answer she wanted.

[PogySailor]

IMHO, the fall of the press started when they stopped being reporters of events and became "journalist".

[Grampa Dave]

We can only hope that the Hate GW crowd continues to control al Querry campaign, the DNC and their left wing mediot outlets.

The ultra leftists love this Hate GW message, but it ain't selling with the rest of America.

[mabelkitty]

Only a pressing concern if you draw pay based on public consumption of various media forms.

Otherwise, who cares?

[NathanR]

The public believes that news organizations are operating largely to make money, (If only) and that the journalists who work for these organizations are primarily motivated by professional ambition and self-interest."

Probably true. Self-interest would tend to deselect conservatives.

Journalists believe they are working in the public interest, and are trying to be fair and independent in that cause," the survey found. "The public thinks these journalists are either lying or deluding themselves

Probably both are true, since the concepts of "fair","independent", and "in the public interest" are defined differently by the people queried and journalists. To the journalist, being "fair" means that the conservative POV is represented at all. To actual people, burying that POV at the end of articles would not be "fair". Remember to the (post) modern journalist there is no such thing as Truth, just "truths", all of which change with POV.

[mewzilla]

Limbaugh's getting to this now. LOL.