Election 2004 Will Become a Media Milestone

JEWISH WORLD REVIEW.COM ^ | EDWARD WASSERMAN

[CHARLITE]

Both sides in the presidential contest are eager to declare this election the most momentous event since the discovery of fire, and we won't know how true that is until we see how badly we've been burned. But I think it's already apparent that the campaign will be considered a milestone in the history of the U.S. media.

Here's what has changed:

The mainstream media no longer play a key role in setting the national news agenda. A robust new conversation conducted on the Internet, talk radio and cable TV has assumed historic prominence. Still, despite an unparalleled richness of information and multiplicity of perspectives, the discourse that characterized the current campaign season was dopey, squalid and mendacious.

And vast numbers of people believe important things that aren't true.

Edward Wasserman is a writer and consultant who lives in Miami. He wrote this column for The Miami Herald.

Comment: schmooze@jewishworldreview.com

[onevoter]

"the discourse that characterized the current campaign season was dopey, squalid and mendacious. "

And that pretty much describes this journalist!

[Wiz]

JEWISH WORLD REVIEW.COM? I thought the majority of the Jewish Americans and their media were supporting the Democrats. Hmmm.

[conservativecorner]

Yes it will. Mark 2004 as the year the MSM became irrelevant.

[Happygal]

Milestone?

...or should that be Millstone?

[Paleo Conservative]

Election 2004 Will Become a Media Milestone

Election 2004 Will Become a Media Milestone Millstone

[Sgt_Schultze]

So right. I clicked the link to JWR and read the entire column, then I clicked onto the archive story where Mr. Wasserman pined about his desire for truth.

Then I went to Glen Reynolds for a review on Mr. Wasserman's desire for truth and his practice of it HERE. Needless to say, Wasserman was outed as the pretender he is.

[rjmeagle]

It appears that the gist of what Mr. Wasserman is saying is that modern day media is a source of disinformation, misinformation and non-truth. He particularly points at the Internet and talk radio in making this accusation. I do not buy his argument. We bloggers get feedback from all walks of life and across all experiences. If any argument can be made regarding disinformation, misinformation and untruths it can certainly be made prima facie on the MSM's doorstep.

[Noachian]

The mainstream old media no longer play a key role in setting the national news agenda.

He's got that part right.

[nothernlights]

"people believing things that are not true"
Like this presumptuous news regurgitator who believes that Kerry was a war Hero.The little minions of the MSM are just pissed that a good part of the world has found out :A)that their job is really not brain surgery,B)they can't even do it well!

[tubebender]

Election 2004 Will Become a Media Milestone Millstone

I like it...

[mlocher]

ever since the printing press was invented, politicians have used media to influence people. by 1900 most mid sized cities had several newpapers, each with a political slant. in fact, some politicians set up newspapers to get their message out to the local area.

the day of the local town newpaper is mostly gone. it was replaced by cbs, nbc and abc. now that the internet is here, there is once again a plethora of information sources. cbs, nbc and abc are being displaced...and that is a good thing.

[Paleo Conservative]

I'll be glad when there are internet alternatives to the local fishwrap. One very big advantage is not having to amortize expensive color printing presses. In ten years, I doubt many people will read newspapers printed on paper. High resolution portable reading monitors will be almost as good as paper, but without the paper disposal problems. Downloadable electoronic newspapers would be ideal for these devices.

[mlocher]

I'll be glad when there are internet alternatives to the local fishwrap. One very big advantage is not having to amortize expensive color printing presses. In ten years, I doubt many people will read newspapers printed on paper. High resolution portable reading monitors will be almost as good as paper, but without the paper disposal problems. Downloadable electoronic newspapers would be ideal for these devices.

overall i agree. 15 years ago it was predicted that computers would reduce the amount of paper required to run a business. just the reverse has happened. don't know situation in homes and your underlying assumption is probably correct.

[Paleo Conservative]

15 years ago it was predicted that computers would reduce the amount of paper required to run a business. just the reverse has happened.

But newspapers produce a mass consumption disposable information product printed on paper seven times a week. Nobody keeps papers around once they have read them. They may clip out an article or two, but the rest of the paper is trash within 24 hours. Online and downloadable content is much more compact.

[mlocher]

that is why i said your underlying assumption is correct. i think it can work in the home...business, not sure?

[Paleo Conservative]

i think it can work in the home...business, not sure?

I still need to make printouts of maps. It is very difficult to proof graphics without a paper copy. I am however anxious to scan my archival maps and replace them with georeferenced TIFF files. I talk to older geoligists, and they like working with paper logs, but I hate them. I much prefer having calibrated TIFF images that can be stored on a computer along with databases of formation fault picks made from them.