Zipp0 1 #1 July 20, 2007 Not being political here.... seriously. Have you taken the time to read the headlines on the foxnews.com site lately? They are becoming total tabloid journalism. It's like a huge version of Inside Edition, which may help explain O'Reilly, and show his influence on the network. Here's an example of a headline for today: Dog Eats $750, People Dig Through Poop http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,290092,00.html Funky Winkerbean to Kill Character http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,290085,00.html You'd think there was no fucking real news!! It's pretty funny, actually. Maybe instead of watching Fox, you should just head to the Supermarket and pick up a copy of The Globe. -------------------------- Chuck Norris doesn't do push-ups, he pushes the Earth down. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
NCclimber 0 #2 July 20, 2007 Looking at Fox's history, it seems like they've always had a portion of it's programing dedicated to the lowest common denominator. Married w/ Children In Living Color America's Most Wanted 90210 - Melrose Place Who Wants To Marry A Millionaire Temptation Island The O'Reilly Show I hate that robot football player they show constantly throughout NFL broadcasts. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mnealtx 0 #3 July 20, 2007 And your point is, what? (btw, CBS carried the dog poop story, ABC carried the FW breast cancer story) >>You'd think there was no fucking real news! Hmm... I guess none of this counts? * 4.2-Magnitude Earthquake Hits San Francisco Area * Pakistani President Musharraf Overruled by Court * Man Arrested in Killing of Seattle Talk Show Host * Sen. Byrd: Dogfighting Is 'Barbaric! Barbaric!' * NBA Ref Reportedly Placed Bets on Own Games * City Councilman Tells Teen 'Go to Jail or Cemetery' * Sen. Clinton Fires Back at Pentagon Official on Iraq * 18 South Koreans Abducted Off Bus in Afghanistan * Study: Anti-Smoking Ads Have Opposite Effect on Teens * Alabama Girl Accidently Strangled by Swing Set * Officials Say No Health Risks After NYC Pipe Blast * Former Pro Wrestler Found Dead in New Hampshire * Dog Eats $750; Family Digs Through Poop * Report: Feds to Lift Ban on Many Lighters on Airplanes * Drunk Mother Put Baby in Microwave, Police Say * Sergio Garcia Leads at British Open | PHOTOS >> head to the supermarket and pick up a copy of the Globe It's probably about as accurate as ABC/CBS/NBC, anyway (the Globe, that is)... so why not?Mike I love you, Shannon and Jim. POPS 9708 , SCR 14706 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Zipp0 1 #4 July 20, 2007 *Drunk Mother Puts Baby in MicrowaveAnd yes, most of the news services are lame, but Fox seems to love this crap. I wish they(the media in general) would do some more in depth reporting/investigations instead of catering to, and possibly exacerbating, the short attention span of the American media consumer. -------------------------- Chuck Norris doesn't do push-ups, he pushes the Earth down. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mnealtx 0 #5 July 20, 2007 Quote *Drunk Mother Puts Baby in MicrowaveAnd yes, most of the news services are lame, but Fox seems to love this crap. I wish they(the media in general) would do some more in depth reporting/investigations instead of catering to, and possibly exacerbating, the short attention span of the American media consumer. Unfortunately, the news shows (because they sure AREN'T news reports anymore) have gone WAAAAAY downhill... and have for at least the last 15 years or so. It's gotten so it's like several different recaps of "Entertainment Tonight" or something.... I don't hardly even watch any TV anymore...just sick of it all...Mike I love you, Shannon and Jim. POPS 9708 , SCR 14706 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
idrankwhat 0 #6 July 20, 2007 QuoteAnd your point is, what? .... You're right that FOX isn't that different in that most of the stories are carried by everyone but they do seem to have a tendency to headline flashy, sex stuff quite a bit. Especially in the margins of the web pages. A quick check of the main page and you have: *Hedge Trimming Hotties *Gutfeld: Sex can stop terror *Sex education for pre-schoolers *Hef's Hottie, Bridget Marquardt *No Pantyless Antics They know what sells and aren't afraid to use it. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
idrankwhat 0 #7 July 20, 2007 Quote Unfortunately, the news shows (because they sure AREN'T news reports anymore) have gone WAAAAAY downhill... and have for at least the last 15 years or so. It's gotten so it's like several different recaps of "Entertainment Tonight" or something.... I don't hardly even watch any TV anymore...just sick of it all... I couldn't possibly agree with you more. It used to be that Entertainment Tonight came on after the news. Now entertainment is typically the lead story in the "news". Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wmw999 2,589 #8 July 20, 2007 The fall of news probably started happening with 24-hour news. There just isn't 24 hours' a day worth of important news. Before, if it was important enough, they'd make room for it on the evening news, either national or local. Now, they're begging for stories that no one else has, so they get an exclusive. And, actually, I kind of like the current "Funky Winkerbean" story arc . It's one of just a couple that I follow. Wendy W. There is nothing more dangerous than breaking a basic safety rule and getting away with it. It removes fear of the consequences and builds false confidence. (tbrown) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
billvon 3,120 #9 July 20, 2007 > The fall of news probably started happening with 24-hour news. The fall of news started happening with widespread use of TV's. Clever psychologists realized that humans have an "orienting response" that can be exploited to make money. Our eyes (and attention) are drawn to threats and opportunities. Back when we were evolving on open plains, our eyes were drawn to rapid motion against a background; it meant a predator or prey. Our eyes were drawn to members of the opposite sex that looked a certain way; it meant an opportunity to reproduce (the purpose of evolution.) TV news producers quickly learned this. Good looking women (and men) are prominent on most news shows. Rapid cuts "capture" the eye, and producers choose video clips that provoke the orienting response - car crashes, car chases, explosions, trees falling over, etc etc. In that way they are almost literally gluing people's eyes to the screen. They've learned that these sort of video clips will do far more to capture viewers (and thus ad revenue) than the veracity or depth of material they present. Indeed, video clips are cheap, and investigative reporting is expensive and dangerous. Networks now concentrate on the most cost-effective approach. Which means car chases, floods, fires and the latest starlet sex scandals instead of an analysis of the potential for wind power in the western states (to use a random example.) There are exceptions, of course, but generally not in the world of TV news. One reason I avoid that medium. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
pirana 0 #10 July 20, 2007 Network news became more about entertainment than news long ago. If you want real news, watch BBC or PBS. If you want fluff, warm fuzzies, and a cute animal story at the end of every broadcast; watch the networks. You know it's spring when all the stations put on their family-of-geese-crossing-the-road story. It would be far more interesting if an 18-wheeler mowed them all down in the middle of breaking news, on-the-scenes, in the nickof time live broadcast. And took out the reporter too." . . . the lust for power can be just as completely satisfied by suggesting people into loving their servitude as by flogging them and kicking them into obedience." -- Aldous Huxley Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Muenkel 0 #11 July 26, 2007 Amen to Wendy and Billvon. You both hit the nail on the head. If you're interested in getting the real news of the day, there are so many sources other than the cable news channels that just regurgitate the same story over and over and over. _________________________________________ Chris Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Zipp0 1 #12 July 26, 2007 I watched the Dan Rather show on HD Net the other day. REALLY well done, fairly balanced, and interesting. It was more of a focus group than a news show, but was so much better than giving 19 seconds to an issue and counting on Ann Coulter to provide a controversial sound byte. -------------------------- Chuck Norris doesn't do push-ups, he pushes the Earth down. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
sundevil777 102 #13 July 27, 2007 Have you watched the Special Report with Brit Hume? I think it does a good job of mixing straight news, some politically oriented news, extended interviews/extended news stories, and 2 long sets of panel discussions in each day's hour long show.. They have Mara Liasson and Juan Williams of NPR/PBS to represent the liberal position.People are sick and tired of being told that ordinary and decent people are fed up in this country with being sick and tired. I’m certainly not, and I’m sick and tired of being told that I am Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
