TRUSTING THE MEDIA
We seem to be experiencing occasional outbursts expressing distrust of various branches of the media.
So many of the attacks are unwarranted, unfair and based on the flimsiest of circumstantial evidence and anecdotal trivia.
Such bad-mouthing of the “press”is not new, of course not is it a thing which should be forbidden or eliminated. Honest criticism can be helpful in many ways, but constant carping on inconsequential details can be deadly.
Our American system actually thrives on sincere opposition. The story may be apocryphal, but I recall when the well-known author Sherwood Anderson is said to have done. Anderson, the author of many fine novels of our time, wanted to invest some of his earnings in a weekly newspaper. I may be wrong by twenty miles or so, but I think he chose the town of Marion, Virginia for an interesting journalistic experiment. Instead of buying one weekly newspaper Anderson bought two of them in the same area.. He named a dedicated Democrat as Editor of the one; and a rival Republican for the other. He funded each equally and instructed - even ordered - them to take firm party stands and to debate the issues regarded as critical for the area. I moved away from the area, and I cannot tell how the situation actually worked out, but the idea is useful. Each party thrives on sincere opposition from the other; if there is no give-and-take there can be little growth with a resulting laxity in maturity and durability of popular concepts of just what good government ought to be.
Today the various branches of what we now call “the Media” are in direct competition with each other. We should keep that in mind and be aware, always, which field of special interest they favor. It can be a good thing when one element of the media actually supports the very political party with whom you find yourself in agreement. It is a benefit quality as long as they make it obvious to all to what point they are biased in their view
So much of the distrust we talk about in relation to the Media today can be traced along two paths. The one leads to the door of those members of the media who are still living in the past. Violent changes have taken place in all the media and few, if any, can function as they could, and did, years ago. Far too many of them continue to try to be all things to all people.
The second pathway which can cause distrust leads to the individual's doorway - people such as you, such as me - who expect every portion of the media to be just that - all things to all people !
The worthy media is not structured that way at all.
We, as individuals, have the responsibility to pick and choose the segments of the media which best state our views and speak to our vital concerns. If you turn that job of yours over to talking heads, boiler plate printers, jingo jabberers, knee-jerk side-takers or erudite, educated idiots ... you are forfeiting your right to a freedom envied by much of the rest of the world.
A.L.M. September 19, 2003 [c565wds]
