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desiderata · 05-03-2007, 03:58 PM

[Rant]I know the news is criticized a lot these days, but I have a different gripe than others I hear. I hate it when the news covers worthless things like American Idol. Those interested in that will watch the show! Since when did that become "news"?!!! I also hate what seems like a daily story of someone's strange/super pet. I think that Americans have become obsessed with animals or something.[/Rant]

Without getting too political (we all know news is biased in some way or another), what are some other worthless news stories?

Edit: that's one thing I like about reading a tangible newspaper or online news--I can pick and choose what I want to read.

**olllllo** · 05-03-2007, 04:00 PM

Where in the world is Matt Lauer?

**olllllo** · 05-03-2007, 04:03 PM

Local reaction to any Global Issue.
ex. Going to a Iraqi restaurant to (confirm) that he/she supports the troops and that he/she wishes that there was an end to the war/violence.

duh.

rdwj · 05-03-2007, 04:07 PM

Much like beer, major news networks are trying to appeal to a mass market. When you do that, you may be popular, but chances are that your product is pretty watered down.

There are plenty of sources for news coverage; why choose major network news?

**the_bird** · 05-03-2007, 04:11 PM

I haven't watched network news regularly in at least a decade. I listen to NPR, read the WSJ, read the local paper, and read the Boston Globe online (and occassionally the NY Times online). If there's a BIG story and they're paying attention to something important, CNN. CNBC in the morning, Bloomberg TV is usually on in my office.

There's no reason at all to confine yourself to crappy news outlets.

homebrewer_99 · 05-03-2007, 04:13 PM

Regardless of what you've been told or believe, the media is regulated by the Fed Gov't.

There are many items that are news worthy such as the recent admittance by E Howard Hunt that it was LJB and the CIA who killed JFK...how many soldiers have actually been wounded in the sandbox...the real reason why fuel prices are so high...(this one is great as you can just spin the wheel and get 1 of 5 answers and feed it to the public everyday and there ain't a damned thing they (we) can do about it)...the list goes on and on...and who cares about Matt Lauer anyway?

**olllllo** · 05-03-2007, 04:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by the_bird

If there's a BIG story and they're paying attention to something important, CNN. CNBC in the morning, Bloomberg TV is usually on in my office.

I see what you are saying, but the 24 hour breaking newscycle has its own pitfalls. Useless footage loops, recycled pundits and talking-head speculation, citing that other news agencies are reporting something (that was not actually fact-checked) tends to overblow relevance and newsworthiness.

Do we really need to trot out a paramedic that used to work near VT for his ad-libbed reaction while footage of crime tape and university buildings plays in the background only to be interrupted by a senator that backed the Brady Bill for his reaction?