Decline of "The News."

By TLS

I recently read an article by Paul Farhi, Is American Journalism Headed Toward an ‘Extinction-Level Event’? talking about the decline in the news and journalist layoffs.

In the article the author refers to “news fatigue.” I have been saying something similar for several years now; the news is no longer the news. The news is now a cesspool of fear, hate, anger, and motivated only by how they can spool you up.

I’ve lost track of the TV clips where someone has endured or survived something terrible. Then a ‘journalist/reporter’ comes in with a camera and sticks a microphone in their face. The reporter then says “…most of your family is gone, your house burned down, you have no insurance, and no aid, someone just pushed your grandma into a ditch…how do you feel?” Print is not much better.

This is a pattern that repeats throughout the news, even the news desk anchors. Start watching for this pattern and you then won’t be able to unsee it. It’s nauseating to watch.

Anytime discussion of the news comes up with friends, aquaintances, or even strangers, they almost always get heated or disgusted over what they have been watching. It’s usually just an endless stream of what they’ve seen that makes their blood boil. I, almost universally, tell them to stop watching the poison.

They usually nod and say “you’re right, I should.” But, I know they won’t and they usually don’t.

Much of print and especially network ‘news’ is not about news anymore. The sole purpose now is to make us mad or afraid, to keep us watching or clicking at all costs. This has made news synonymous with sewage.

We live in a different time, with different morales, ethics, and interests, and much different attention spans that require a different approach. The path many journalist have taken seems to be the easy click-bait approach. Just throw something inflammatory out there, who cares if it’s any good, or even true as long as it gets clicks or views.

Another nefarious tactic used by the news is to present “both sides” of an issue. This is often misleading as being fair to the issue. Not all points of view are equal. Just because there are opposite views presented does not mean an informed or accurate discussion. Also, giving a very disreputable spokesperson (or view point) air or print time opposite a credible one implies the former is as valid. This is not always true but usually leads to a heated arguement, which gets more clicks or views. This of course was the whole point of the ‘both sides.’

Much of the responsibility lies with us, the viewer or reader (or clicker). As consumers, or preferably as concerned, educated, and informed citizens, we need to learn to choose better. See the click bait for what it is, poison. Stop watching the low-quality/no-quality network news. Support sources and channels that do a better job of presenting issues.

Journalists are upset over loosing their jobs? I can imagine. Maybe focus on producing something high-quality instead of the garbage we’ve been fed these past many years. But, somehow I doubt thats going to change anytime soon…if ever again.

Clip art

<a href="https://www.freepik.com/free-vector/infodemic-news-illustration_10806608.htm#query=News%20decline%20cartoon&position=15&from_view=search&track=ais&uuid=2707b08d-f5db-4c7f-8aff-1851dda41657">Image by pikisuperstar</a> on Freepik