Most of the day to day of the news reel is basically Reality TV.
Firstly, the Cable news stations (CNN, Fox News) aren't news programs - despite the name - they are talk shows. It's Maury for politics.
The broadcast news, that's news. But it's not without its problems. Whenever I would over hear my mom watching it - it's so shocking how it's done. some of my gripes, based on what little I've seen over the past few years:
- The tone of the newscaster has changed - they don't sound like they're just reporting it - there's emotion or gravitas in their voice that make what they're saying authoritative.
- When they cover politics - especially elections - it's always a fluff piece about the big two candidates. When the democratic primaries for the 2016 election were happening - they'd barely mention anyone but Hillary. You'd have 10 minutes of Hillary, 1 minute of Bernie and 0 minutes of everyone else. Same in 2020, but add Biden. It's no wonder my mom had no idea the other candidates even existed. (and don't get me started on how the candidates make up issues just to debate them - so tricky - pick a hot button topic that is important, but may not be important right now - I think we know the big ones)
- Fear mongering - this goes with the first one I listed. Instead of simply reporting that tragedy happened and giving the facts, they'd just keep the emotional level up. It's a bait and switch. You get drawn in by it and then vote for whoever is going to "fix" everything. The morality of it is, in my opinion, similar to what psychic does - play on the emotion of someones tragedy for money.
And I say all this as someone who doesn't follow the news or politics very closely.
Firstly, the Cable news stations (CNN, Fox News) aren't news programs - despite the name - they are talk shows. It's Maury for politics.
The broadcast news, that's news. But it's not without its problems. Whenever I would over hear my mom watching it - it's so shocking how it's done. some of my gripes, based on what little I've seen over the past few years:
- The tone of the newscaster has changed - they don't sound like they're just reporting it - there's emotion or gravitas in their voice that make what they're saying authoritative.
- When they cover politics - especially elections - it's always a fluff piece about the big two candidates. When the democratic primaries for the 2016 election were happening - they'd barely mention anyone but Hillary. You'd have 10 minutes of Hillary, 1 minute of Bernie and 0 minutes of everyone else. Same in 2020, but add Biden. It's no wonder my mom had no idea the other candidates even existed. (and don't get me started on how the candidates make up issues just to debate them - so tricky - pick a hot button topic that is important, but may not be important right now - I think we know the big ones)
- Fear mongering - this goes with the first one I listed. Instead of simply reporting that tragedy happened and giving the facts, they'd just keep the emotional level up. It's a bait and switch. You get drawn in by it and then vote for whoever is going to "fix" everything. The morality of it is, in my opinion, similar to what psychic does - play on the emotion of someones tragedy for money.
And I say all this as someone who doesn't follow the news or politics very closely.