|
News isn't about providing a public service anymore. It's about appealing to the lowest common denominator and making $$$.
Which is a shame because the news isn't supposed to be about making money.
It used to be something forced on the network to keep their license renewall.
FCC broadcast licenses used to be based on an obligations to operate "in the public interest." When a station license came up for renewal, the station had to demonstrate with it's broadcast shedule and accessibility for the public, that it made an effort to live up to the commitment to the community. That forced them to pour money into a quality news program. Citizens could also protest at the renewal hearing and give evidence that the broadcaster wasn't in compliance.
In the 80's the FCC stopped requiring them to be dilligent in their presentation. And now it's a sham and a joke where the broadcasters take their licenses for granted and see them as an entitlement.
That, and the 'evolution' of news into entertainment, something that became marketable (at the grossest end are the 24 hour cable news networks), are what brought about the downfall of a quality news reporting.
When they put a tv personality like Katie Couric in the same chair Walter Cronkite used. It's an embarassment to journalism.
Then, the fact that one of those 24 hour cable news station, Fox, created and gives air time to a half hour satire news show is just irony piled on top of itself. That they felt the need to copy (quite poorly too), what is unfortunately the most insightful news program on the air is sad.
|