Journalism's Moral Collapse

New York Post Online ^ | December 5, 2005 | Ralph Peters

[durasell]

Rupe has his eye on the Chinese market...google his name and China and watch what comes up...

[Zacs Mom]

Yet, under the Clinton Administration (and despite laws specifically designed to prevent it) merger after merger took place until finally, by the end of the millennium, a handful of mega-corporations totally controlled the flow of news, information and entertainment within this country ~ this includes books, magazines, television, newspapers, movies, music, internet access, etc.,etc.  

The actual number of corporations dominating most of every mass medium dropped, under this administration, by the from 23 media firms to 6 mega-media corporations Spring of 2000!

But even this number is deceiving ~ the power and influence of these mega-conglomerates is understated by counting them as 'six.' For, in reality, these six are actually intertwined: they own stock in each other, they cooperate in joint media ventures, and among themselves they divide profits from some of the most widely viewed programs on television, cable and movies.

  As foreseen by the Supreme Court in 1945, this consolidation of power and control has been to the detriment of us all as the media role has shifted from ensuring democracy to undermining the function of true democracy

Under this condensed, goal oriented management, our nation's "Guardians Of The Peoples Right to Know" have mutated into little more than "information brokers" and "opinion shapers" who present very specific information in a manner which meets a very specific agenda.  

Shielded behind the cloak of 'journalism' and without regard for truth, accuracy, or impartiality, a countless variety of sources now continually present us with carefully manufactured versions of world events. Sadly, most citizens are completely unaware that 'news' stories repeated by numerous, and seemingly 'different' sources, are actually a single, unencumbered voice.

The central purpose of journalism is to provide citizens with accurate and reliable information they need to function in a free society and the legislative branch of our government owe it to the citizens of this nation to address and correct the unlawful actions taken under the clinton administration which left the flow of information to the public at large in the hands of a very few mega-corporations.

[Paul C. Jesup]

In 1789, Alexander Hamilton and the Federalists were dumping all over the idea of a Bill of Rights. I think Federalist No. 84 and 85 are the numbers (also 81, maybe?) in which Hamilton rolls out the big guns to hammer the Antifederalists' demands for a Bill of Rights.

If I remember correctly, this was one the reasons he was killed in that duel.

Anyway, stop pretending that the media have been traitors to the U.S. since it's founding. That is not the case, the press 220 years ago actually at some level respected those who they reported on. This is not the case today where the leftist press have an agenda to see this nation (U.S.) destoryed by any means they (the press) can support.

[durasell]

Yep. That's about the size of it.

[aculeus]

"Serious" journalists became scandal-mongers in drag.

[wayoverontheright]

A warped world-view which is underpinned by revised history and consistently refuted by daily events must have its propaganda bureau. It is survival.

Much of what we see from journalism today and in the past is demand driven. An ideology which cannot withstand the light shed upon it by facts and truth, must by necessity have a mechanism which shades, distorts, and obscures the facts on the ground. Affirmation and confirmation for bankrupt beliefs do not come naturally, therefore leftist journalism becomes a viable business model. We can rejoice all we want on the news of a reduction in demand for its services, but it will not die. As long as minds can be swayed with words, we will have a war to fight; Fox News and talk radio both shine the light of the sun on this vampire, but other media will continue to provide him the cover of darkness.

Journalism is nothing but a delivery mechanism for a life sustaining drug for many in this country, and it is craved just as intensely. We marvel at the leftist media's agility with information, yet we should not be surprised, they are serving a huge market niche which must have their product to remain viable; their output is needed now more than ever, because lies have been piled upon lies, and the foundation of leftism is beginning to shake.

[OldFriend]

The immoral, agenda driven print media began their attempt to destroy America long long ago.

Before Watergate!

[randita]

The wages of irresponsible journalism are death — for others.

To wit the Koran-toilet flushing fabrication.

[TheForceOfOne]

Media bias just might turn the future of Iraq into a disaster that will reverberate for decades. Last week, The Washington Post interviewed Sunni-insurgent sympathizers. They said they "loved" media-creation Cindy Sheehan and took heart from reports of the anti-war movement in Washington.

There you have it, from the camel's mouth.

They must really hate us and the likes of Rush, Sean, Powerline, etc. meddling in their affairs.

[KCRW]

"Celeb journalists love to invoke "freedom of the press," but dismiss the reality that the exercise of freedom in an open society demands a corresponding sense of responsibility, as well as self-restraint and mature judgment."

Every other American is responsible for what they say and what they do, with the exception of journalists.

The question is, how do we hold these journalists responsible for their words? We literally have American soldier's lives on the line in Iraq. The front pages of the New York Times and their reporters are costing us American soldiers.

It is time to hold these media outlets responsible for causing the death of American soldiers.

[McGavin999]

Great article. Someone needs to send it to each and every "journalist" employed and a copy to the J School profs (not that it will do any good with those creeps)

[MissAmericanPie]

They are the scum of the earth and proud of it.

[JasonC]

There is no story, just a few lines and a boatload of ads. I guess the NY Post is useless too.

[Republican Red]

BTT

for log in info
http://www.bugmenot.com/

[mikegi]

"citizens of the world."

I love that and have heard/read many Leftists use it. It's the coward's way of not taking a stand on anything. Why they are filled with such self-loathing is beyond me.

[Jackknife]

Great article!

[GiovannaNicoletta]

Free Republic posting rules prevent the posting of articles from the New York Post in their entirety.

Several news sources must be excerpted and a link provided to the actual news site. The New York Post is one of them.

Apologies for the inconvenience.

[JasonC]

Which would be fine if their actual site had the actual article, but in this case it does not. It has three lines, a bunch of ads, and an obnoxious sign-in screen. Not your fault, nothing you can do about it. It is theirs. I don't sign such things, so they can just lose me as a reader.

[GOPJ]

bump