For Good or Bad, one of the Results of a Global Information System, is that anyone can Post Whatever they want. There is no way to Protect the Young and Impressionable from Factual Errors, Not to Mention the Irrational Mindset that Ignores the Rules of Logic and The Scientific Method.
In Addition, the Cable Network Explosion, created New Outlets for Fringe Ideas and Claims. At One Time Cable Channels like DISCOVER, HISTORY, THE LEARNING CHANNEL etc., were proud of the Educational Quality of Their Programming, which could also Entertain. Now much of what you see on Their Schedule is a Parody of What They Use to Put On the Air.
It is Fascinating to watch the Dead-Pan Expressions, and the Serious Dialogue, that is Exhibited by the "Investigators" who Inhabit these shows. They Misrepresent, Misinterpret, and Mistake the DATA presented on these programs so often, that you have to wonder how many Takes were made, before they were able to do it with a straight face.
What Happened? Once the Fans of Tabloid Magazines from the Check-Out Line Learned That Watching Mindless Drivel was just as Entertaining and Challenging as Reading it, all Bets were off. Lets face it, at one Time Shows like LIFESTYLES OF THE RICH AND FAMOUS, REAL PEOPLE, AND CANDID CAMERA were an Amusing Outlet for Silly Ideas and Odd Characters. No one took then seriously.
Today, this Type of Programming is now Spread Across the Airways, and not just on Cable Television. The Major Networks have moved into this Realm of Pseudo- Reality Television, where Facts are not considered vital when considering what shows to put in Their weekly Line- Up.
Tragically, the NATIONAL NEWS DESKS OF THE MAJOR NETWORKS ARE BEING PULLED INTO THIS TYPE OF SENSATIONALISTIC JOURNALISM. The Desire to "BREAK THE STORY", AND GETTING A LEG UP ON THE COMPETITION, IS CAUSING THE MAJOR NEWS BUREAUS TO ALLOW NEWS AND INFORMATION TO BE BROADCAST REGARDLESS OF THE SOURCE, OR THE ABILITY TO VERIFY THE TRUTH AND NATURE OF THE FACTS AND DATA THEY ARE SENDING TO THE VIEWERS.
The Real Tragedy is that there is no longer a Trusted Source for Accurate and Current News, that puts the need for Truth and Responsibility as an Essential Part of The Public Service On- Air Journalists were once proud of.
Now we can Blame Cable News Shows, Especially FOX NEWS, for helping to create the growing Cesspool that the News Media finds itself in. However, the Truth Regarding the LOWER QUALITY OF T.V. NEWS PROGRAMMING means one thing:
THIS IS WHAT NETWORK EXECUTIVES BELIEVE THAT AMERICANS WANT, AND THEIR JOB IS TO GIVE IT TO THEM.
BUT IS THIS TRUE? IS IT WHAT THE VIEWERS WANT? CAN THERE BE ANOTHER EXPLANATION?
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