THE MEDIA.
I love to
quote Abraham Lincoln, he truly was ‘one for the ages.’
Several years
ago, a change took place that was of ‘little note nor long remember’(ed).
The change
allowed media companies to buy other media companies. Earlier a newspaper could
not buy a TV station. What happened thereafter was a logical progression,
unforeseen at the time—we wound up with media conglomerates—mega-media.
They still
had to compete, of course, but the rules changed, and new elements entered the
fray: smart phones, social media, the 24 hour news cycle. All became radically
different from the days when dad picked up a morning newspaper on the way to
work and an evening newspaper to read on the way home and while waiting for
supper and the 7 o’clock news. Media now have to identify with the widest
audience possible—earn their loyalty—reach for the lowest common denominator.
Echo chambers blossom.
A major
factor in any business is cost control. The 24 hour news cycle provides the
subject of the day and the media make what they can out of it. They manufacture
the news, blending in those old reliables, scandal, gossip, sex, rumors,
wherever possible. The rest is up to their celebrities who have no time
to understand what they’re talking about. There is no time, or money for anything
that does not clearly contribute to adding to an audience, tuning in for
infotainment.
Our elected
leaders understand all this (along with how to collect legal bribes).
They eagerly provide ‘content’ to their favorite media.
It’s obvious
that many intelligent people realize that something is wrong. But where to
turn?
During my
various careers, I learned that motivation drives behavior. If you reward X
behavior but preach Y behavior, you may get a little Y but it won’t last.
Motivations for our elected politicians and our media are well entrenched.
Their behavior won’t change. Act accordingly: Ignore all media, the news is misleading
(on purpose), believe only what has already taken place and can be verified.
Also, ignore politicians (especially those of your party). Learn to think for
yourself.
Joe Bakewell
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