> > There is no objective "truth" because it's impossible for any reporter > to be unbiased; be it in the reporting or the choosing of what to > report. The press isn't supposed to be about "good" news and "bad" > news, it's supposed to be about challenging the government and what > they say the truth is. As you say, good and bad are irrelevant.
There IS objective truth, even though, as you say, we may be incapable of being completely objective. As Fox would say, the truth is out there. > > This is whole purpose of the press - to challenge the government to > ensure the people aren't slowly dominated by an increasingly powerful > government; like the Germans were in the 1930s. I want my press to give me facts, whether it contradicts the government, or jives with the government. I don't like this notion that the purpose of the press is to challenge the government. Its not. The press's purpose is to report the truth, or the closest version of the objective truth that they are capable of! If that refutes the government, fine. If not, that's fine too. Don't challenge just to challenge. > > For this reason news from the federal government must be looked at as > propaganda and any news organization whose stated purpose is to > support the government must be viewed as an agent of the government - > ie, FoxNews, by it's own admission, is an agent of the federal > government and therefore should be viewed as propaganda machine. Yes, news directly from a Government should be viewed as propaganda. They aren't news organizations! Where has FoxNews ever admitted that they are an agent of the federal government!?! Did I miss something? > > That said, I would say there are 5 types of "news": > > 1.) Investigative journalism. This is good, because it's usually > meant to expose some wrong doing. Good examples include Watergate, > Monica Lewinsky, etc. And that thin line the reporter is always walking: is this an investigation, or a witch hunt driven by bias? One side will always seem to use this argument. > > 2.) Interviews. This is good because it's important to know about > people and what they think. > > 3.) Analysis. Good analysis attempts to clarify issues and policy and > it's impact on major sectors of society. Bad analysis is just > cheerleading - this is what you see on FoxNews or CNN. "Analysis" is a word that, to me, means "now this reporter will openly insert their bias into this report" > > 4.) Entertainment. Some types are ok like the Daily Show or local > newspapers, the rest is just entertainment. > > 5.) Propaganda. This is the dissemination of information supporting > an agenda. This is what most "news" programs are these days. > I think that's a tad strong. Propaganda doesn't even require that an initial fact or truth exist. At least most biased news reports can/will start with a fact, then apply their own bias to meet that agenda. A subtle but perhaps important distinction. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~| Purchase Dreamweaver with Homesite Plus from House of Fusion, a Macromedia Authorized Affiliate and support the CF community. http://www.houseoffusion.com/banners/view.cfm?bannerid=54 Message: http://www.houseoffusion.com/lists.cfm/link=i:5:150218 Archives: http://www.houseoffusion.com/cf_lists/threads.cfm/5 Subscription: http://www.houseoffusion.com/lists.cfm/link=s:5 Unsubscribe: http://www.houseoffusion.com/cf_lists/unsubscribe.cfm?user=89.70.5 Donations & Support: http://www.houseoffusion.com/tiny.cfm/54
