Perhaps the result of good intentions? The “Golden Age of Journalism” was a period when the news was deliberately separated from profit, first on radio and then on TV. To get the effective monopoly over limited bandwidth, they had to provide REAL news as a public service. CNN broke journalism in the way shown in the cartoon, but FAUX broke it much more seriously. CNN was seriously seeking profit, but FAUX was really just a disguise for propaganda by people rich enough to pay for it.
When the persons who sat behind a desk in front of the camera became celebrities it all went down the tube. Those who now anchor or report the news have elevated themselves to the status of someone we are expected to think is omnipotent in much the same way that Hollywood actors & other entertainers believe themselves to be our guardians. And, don’t get me started on the “Social Influencers.”I yearn for the days when the news was reported without comment and the opinion piece of a broadcast was clearly set apart and defined as such.
Google: Bolton says Trump’s ‘short attention span’ might keep US in NATO
“The remedy I would propose to anybody who doesn’t want us to withdraw from NATO is find a way to distract his attention. And since he has a short attention span, that can work at least for a while until it pops back into his head.”
Google: Donald Trump’s Shortest Attribute Isn’t His Fingers
“I think he’s definitely got attention deficit disorder,” said Trump biographer Michael D’Antonio, who interviewed Trump five times for a total of eight hours and found himself frustrated trying to get him to concentrate on answers to questions about his parents, his childhood, just about anything. “That doesn’t mean he isn’t really smart—it just means he’s not at his best when he’s asked to dwell on a topic.”
I recommend Free Speech TV. Especially Thom Hartman and my girl Randi Rhodes. It’s completely viewer supported. They accept no money from businesses or corporations.
What news?? Glossy, glib, fragmented, continual movement, loaded with hypebole. 20 minutes of totally useless ads and a couple of biased 2 min segments on subjects that an hour wouldn’t adequately cover.
Nothing new here. “All the News That’s Fit to Print” sayeth the New York Times. Who among them determines what is fit to print?
The news I see is upsetting enough, but I worry more about the news I don’t see. That’s why I depend on multiple sources: I like to see how they handle the same story and I like to see the stories they omit.
I’m a recovering news junkie. I haven’t watched cable news in years. I now, occasionally watch a couple of our local news channels and scan a couple or three online newspapers daily. I’ve added years to my life by reducing my cable news stress intake and I’m much better because of it!
Look a bright, shiny thing. Hah! Too late. Time for another commercial. Buy our nice, shiny things. Too late. News about a lost cat in Sinagpore. Too late. Back to speculation about something that will be definitely decided tomorr…. too late!
I’m not sure the cartoon shows the cycle as enough of a closed loop where you see the same robbery 24-36 times in a day. That can help explain why people think crime is rampant. They just see the same few crimes on a near infinite loop and think they are all different. Of course, it doesn’t help if the talking heads present them as part of the “larger crime wave” sweeping the country, the FBI statistics notwithstanding.
If you were to take out all the happy-talk focus passing — “We go now live to WPQR’s Jane Johnson standing outside the emporium where the ice-cream eating contest is being held. Jane?” “Thank you, Robert. I’m standing outside the Happy Cow ice-cream emporium where their annual ice-cream eating contest going on today.” yada yada yada “Back to you, Robert.” “Thank you, Jane.” “Thank YOU, Robert.” — the average newscast would be down to about 5 minutes.
The 15 second spot and quick cutting in longer ads. Also there’s survival value in a short attention span. If you’re sensitive to movement in your peripheral vision you may spot more prey or predators.
Oh, but there are plenty of US-born-and-bred “journalists” who will do the same. Look at the New York Times and their hands-off treatment of The Orange Menace and his cronies.
rmremail 4 months ago
No, Cable News is all Israel, all the time.
When was the last time you saw any news about Sudan, or Nigeria or Myanmar? Even China gets less news time than Israel.
AlnicoV 4 months ago
Sounds about right and the worst offenders happen to be the anchors on cable news channels.
sirbadger 4 months ago
That’s how I keep my brain in shape — by mentally running around in circles.
keenanthelibrarian 4 months ago
I hate to admit it but Rupert is (was) Australian.
danketaz Premium Member 4 months ago
Keep an eye out for egresses.
erik.vanthienen 4 months ago
The situationists already predicted the society of the spectacle in 1957.
eromlig 4 months ago
Don’t forget to take a ride on the News Cycle…
PraiseofFolly 4 months ago
Extra! Extra! Scan All About It!
shanen0 4 months ago
Perhaps the result of good intentions? The “Golden Age of Journalism” was a period when the news was deliberately separated from profit, first on radio and then on TV. To get the effective monopoly over limited bandwidth, they had to provide REAL news as a public service. CNN broke journalism in the way shown in the cartoon, but FAUX broke it much more seriously. CNN was seriously seeking profit, but FAUX was really just a disguise for propaganda by people rich enough to pay for it.
Funniguy 4 months ago
When the persons who sat behind a desk in front of the camera became celebrities it all went down the tube. Those who now anchor or report the news have elevated themselves to the status of someone we are expected to think is omnipotent in much the same way that Hollywood actors & other entertainers believe themselves to be our guardians. And, don’t get me started on the “Social Influencers.”I yearn for the days when the news was reported without comment and the opinion piece of a broadcast was clearly set apart and defined as such.
For a Just and Peaceful World 4 months ago
Google: donald trump attention span
Google: Bolton says Trump’s ‘short attention span’ might keep US in NATO
“The remedy I would propose to anybody who doesn’t want us to withdraw from NATO is find a way to distract his attention. And since he has a short attention span, that can work at least for a while until it pops back into his head.”
Google: Donald Trump’s Shortest Attribute Isn’t His Fingers
“I think he’s definitely got attention deficit disorder,” said Trump biographer Michael D’Antonio, who interviewed Trump five times for a total of eight hours and found himself frustrated trying to get him to concentrate on answers to questions about his parents, his childhood, just about anything. “That doesn’t mean he isn’t really smart—it just means he’s not at his best when he’s asked to dwell on a topic.”
JohnCL 4 months ago
Bread and circuses.
TampaFanatic1 4 months ago
Nice adaptation of Penrose Stairs/Steps……
Anon4242 4 months ago
When a magician is doing something flashy with one hand, it’s a good idea to take a look at what his other hand is doing.
Anters55 4 months ago
Cable news is quickly becoming anachronistic.
awittbek Premium Member 4 months ago
Certainly not limited to cable.
Can't Sleep 4 months ago
My wife once said, “They treat news like gossip and gossip like news.” And she was right.
Kilrwat Premium Member 4 months ago
They do it because it works.
think it through 4 months ago
That sums up cable entertainment ’’news’’. It’s like a rocking chair, it gets you nowhere but gives you something to do.
SusieB 4 months ago
I recommend Free Speech TV. Especially Thom Hartman and my girl Randi Rhodes. It’s completely viewer supported. They accept no money from businesses or corporations.
sandpiper 4 months ago
What news?? Glossy, glib, fragmented, continual movement, loaded with hypebole. 20 minutes of totally useless ads and a couple of biased 2 min segments on subjects that an hour wouldn’t adequately cover.
dflak 4 months ago
Nothing new here. “All the News That’s Fit to Print” sayeth the New York Times. Who among them determines what is fit to print?
The news I see is upsetting enough, but I worry more about the news I don’t see. That’s why I depend on multiple sources: I like to see how they handle the same story and I like to see the stories they omit.
Linguist 4 months ago
I’m a recovering news junkie. I haven’t watched cable news in years. I now, occasionally watch a couple of our local news channels and scan a couple or three online newspapers daily. I’ve added years to my life by reducing my cable news stress intake and I’m much better because of it!
calliarcale 4 months ago
That’s about right.
mindjob 4 months ago
No matter what channel you watch, there is some eye candy to look at, usually in the form of a blond with big honkers
timbob2313 Premium Member 4 months ago
Congratulations Wiley, you nailed it.
Calvins Brother 4 months ago
SQUIRREL!!
Govi Premium Member 4 months ago
Ouch! That’s gonna leave a mark.
PoodleGroomer 4 months ago
Click here leaves nothing to the imagination.
JimValTen Premium Member 4 months ago
That pretty well sums it up. Now back to you Jake.
Mike Baldwin creator 4 months ago
Ha! Before before we move on, let’s hear what another panel of experts thinks….
lnrokr55 4 months ago
The 24 hour news cycle always was a myth, OCD & ADD (triggered much ?) however, are very real! Have a happy 4th! ;-)
kathleenhicks62 4 months ago
O.K. some are like that- – -
Tom Toro creator 4 months ago
I didn’t get the joke because I lost patience and stopped reading. (j/k it’s a great one!)
mistercatworks 4 months ago
Look a bright, shiny thing. Hah! Too late. Time for another commercial. Buy our nice, shiny things. Too late. News about a lost cat in Sinagpore. Too late. Back to speculation about something that will be definitely decided tomorr…. too late!
TexTech 4 months ago
I’m not sure the cartoon shows the cycle as enough of a closed loop where you see the same robbery 24-36 times in a day. That can help explain why people think crime is rampant. They just see the same few crimes on a near infinite loop and think they are all different. Of course, it doesn’t help if the talking heads present them as part of the “larger crime wave” sweeping the country, the FBI statistics notwithstanding.
Bilan 4 months ago
“Later on, we’ll tell you about …”
“After the break, we’ll tell you about …”
“Now we’ll tell you what little we already mentioned …”
Richard S Russell Premium Member 4 months ago
If you were to take out all the happy-talk focus passing — “We go now live to WPQR’s Jane Johnson standing outside the emporium where the ice-cream eating contest is being held. Jane?” “Thank you, Robert. I’m standing outside the Happy Cow ice-cream emporium where their annual ice-cream eating contest going on today.” yada yada yada “Back to you, Robert.” “Thank you, Jane.” “Thank YOU, Robert.” — the average newscast would be down to about 5 minutes.
christelisbetty 4 months ago
Everyone ! Go to your windows and yell out, " I’M MAD AS HELL, AND I’M NOT GOING TO TAKE IT ANYMORE! "
funnypenguins 4 months ago
And repeat, ad infinitum.
ktrabbit 4 months ago
“Wait for it…!”
willie_mctell 4 months ago
The 15 second spot and quick cutting in longer ads. Also there’s survival value in a short attention span. If you’re sensitive to movement in your peripheral vision you may spot more prey or predators.
jvscanlan Premium Member 4 months ago
If our Media had spent the last few years looking into cause and effect on issues instead of the horserace this election would be a blowout
GemCityBlue 4 months ago
Oh, but there are plenty of US-born-and-bred “journalists” who will do the same. Look at the New York Times and their hands-off treatment of The Orange Menace and his cronies.
eddi-TBH 4 months ago
Cable news has destroyed us.
Otis Rufus Driftwood 4 months ago
Why I stick to my local stations.
[Unnamed Reader - 14b4ce] 4 months ago
Rachel Maddow…the last sane one