Television News: Fact Or Funding

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Television news: Fact or funding
Most people believe their evening television news program is an accurate description of the world they live in and the occurrences of the day. Unfortunately this is not entirely true. It is impossible for fairness to exist. The news story you are watching may be skewed by the reporters point of view. Also, news broadcasts need to keep their ratings up to justify the expense they impose on the network and their ability to attract advertising dollars to help offset those costs.
Ask yourself this. “What makes this story worth reporting to me for the journalist?” Is it a genuine concern for the issue? Possibly, but more likely than that the journalist was assigned the job of reporting on the story and is there only for that reason. Suppose the reporter chose to report on the story by herself. What is the motivation? Maybe she simply wants to expose the truth, a stronger drive would be the elusive anchor position!
News programs are less concerned with the reality in our world than they are with being able to entertain their viewers. This is why we see stories on the latest big name movie star or politician and the most recent scandal they have gotten themselves into rather than one about the small town boy who saved his baby sister from drowning in a ditch. Now, what if that same baby was lost in the mountains or trapped in a well? Thereby giving the networks enough time to roll in their mobile broadcasting equipment, that would make a newsworthy story. Why is this? Look at the drama involved. Will the baby live through the freezing temperatures tonight? Are the sides of the well going to collapse on her while she is being dug out? Everybody loves drama! Formula: Intense drama = Good ratings = More advertising dollars.
Why is it that we are battered with pictures of Hurricane Frances tearing apart Florida neighborhoods? Thrust into the midst of a car bombing in the Middle East. Smothered with the ima...