So there I was, thinking that NOT all the media are alike; that some media believe in truth, justice and the American way. That there are still people who believe in the methods employed by Woodward & Bernstein. But as the saying goes, "Birds of a feather, flock together." After-all, these journalists must have some fears too, right? But for the life of me, I can't figure out, what any intelligent journalist can be afraid of. Can they really think that the Obama administration has stronger anti-Freedom of Speech tendencies than any of the excesses of the previous administration? While I can't even remotely fathom this, this is the only thing that comes to mind.
Still, after tonight's report on CBS Evening News, DEFENDING, of all things FOX News, I had to write to them the below letter (immediately, I might add):
This letter is in response to your Report on the CBS Evening News of October 23rd, 2009 by Jeff Greenfield.
This was a terrible piece of reporting and completely Biased. Do you guys like to lie?
The Problem with FOX News is not that they criticize the President (the Obama Administration). If there are legitimate reasons to criticize the administration (any administration), I call on ALL Media to do so.
The Problem with FOX News is that they Manufacture news, fabricate news, use GOP (Republican) Press Releases as Talking Points DURING so-called news programs. In fact, they editorialize DURING their NEWS COVERAGE. IF CBS Evening News (my only source of news at this point -- along with "60 Minutes" for Investigative Journalism) was to start doing that, who are we (as in the Public) to trust then?
In this Home, FOX NEWS has been removed from the Cable Line-up because they constantly LIE. As for MSNBC, who you said got special treatment from the White House this week (I seem to recall, when the President got into office this year he had the same kind of dinner with all the media, so why did this meeting bother you?) -- I can't even GET MSNBC where I live. And yes, I live in a RED STATE, super-conservative country.
So, 6 years ago, the major media outlets (including the CBS Evening News and NBC where Ms. Couric previously worked) all beat the drum for War in IRAQ WITHOUT major investigative pieces into the cost of what that decision meant or was going to cost. I seem to recall, that FOX NEWS set the agenda for all the other media outlets, and the rest of you were cowed into fear. I also, seem to recall that Dana Perino the previous President's Press Secretary, launched an attack on NBC (and particularly MSNBC) and their programs. You didn't come to MSNBCs defense then. Why not? (Why come to FOX's defense then?) And then this year, FOX NEWS, once again set the media's agenda with the ACORN story, which again is completely different in reality than in the fiction that FOX presents.
Why don't you do some investigative pieces into the lies that FOX News spreads as news? I am not talking about their Editorial Shows. I could care less about them. I don't watch them anyway. I am talking about their so-called NEWS.
Yes, I whole-heartily support Freedom of the Press, and Integrity of the Press and all of that nice stuff, but I won't tolerate the garbage being peddled on Air.
PBS Newshour doesn't peddle garbage. BBC News when I catch it, doesn't peddle garbage. Why do you insist in supporting a network like FOX that does?
And to answer your question: Yes, I live in the South. Yes, I am Independent. And Yes, I voted for Barack Obama in the last Election because I finally got fed-up with lies.
What my eyes and ears are telling me, what all my senses are telling me, is that lies are being peddled. I don't respond well to lies. As for their ratings? Those too are a lie. Why don't you do a real investigation to figure that out? What are you afraid of?
Every time I walk into the car repair shop down here, the TV is tuned into FOX News.
Every time I walk into my doctor's office (all of my doctors), the TV is tuned into FOX News.
Every time I walk into any waiting room indeed, the TV is tuned into FOX News.
You want to know why their ratings are high? There is your answer. It's all artificial.
But, I guess I am wrong about all the assumptions I made in my intro.
*There is no such thing as Journalistic Integrity anymore when they support FOX News as a real news organization.
* Woodward & Bernstein, whatever their faults, were just a momentary blimp, there will never be such investigative reporting again.
* Edward R. Morrow, who I didn't even bring-up in my letter to CBS, was twice the Journalist anyone today can even aspire to be.
And finally, lesson learned -- watch, but watch with an even more critical eye. Those who control the media, control the minds of most of the population. Not everyone is intelligent enough (like most here) to go out and search for the truth.