I spent my career in broadcast news, first in radio, then TV, then back to radio and the old CBS network, AP radio, the Wall Street Journal network, the short-lived NY Times radio operation, and finally Fox News Radio. Sad to say, but I fear you are quite accurate. The damage to democratic governance is already immense snd increasing.
By the way, after retiring from the news business, I trained as an artisan bread baker and spent the past ten years working (more happily) in bakeries in NYC and finally here in Seattle. The news industry is collapsing, and I'm glad to be gone.
This is why we at Media Action Center are fighting to protect the publicly owned airwaves. On our airwaves, CBS and others must prove that they are truly serving the Public Interest as condition of holding a broadcast license. Producing genuine news product is the best way for them to make that case.
There are many saying that the publicly owned airwaves are obsolete. Funny, they are the same ones who are trying to reduce access to real news and disparate commentary.
We are not going to let that happen. The airwaves are like the National Parks. They are ours - and we are not giving them up.
The optimist in me believes that societies worldwide have lived through painful periods of change—sometimes complete metamorphosis—and emerged with progress and positive reform because of the lessons they learned.
I hope the part of human nature that seeks justice, fairness, virtue, and true morality—not just the public display of morality or evangelism—will strengthen as people like you, Rob, recognize the red flags. I hope more people will strive to keep those values alive and help shape how our society evolves.
I think the only way to overcome the decline in critical thinking and the growing habit of accepting what we see on social media without verifying it is to actively keep real journalism alive through attribution, thorough investigation, integrity, accountability, and a commitment to the truth. We, as the audience, readers, and consumers, also have a responsibility to demand it by checking facts ourselves before commenting or sharing.
I also think this could give rise to an entirely new industry focused on independent fact-checking and verification. AI can certainly help, but it can also be wrong. I hope there's a massive course correction to what is happening. No, it won't all go away when 47 leaves office, but we can make it both admirable and profitable to be thoughtful, ethical people who are committed to finding and reporting the truth.
Ronnie, I think you got it correct, when you characterize this as a period of change. There is actually more access to news than ever before. It's not that news is dying. It's changing. It's breaking down into smaller outlets, and more partisan outlets. But this is a natural result of the democratization of the news business. I don't really have any sympathy for the dying, large media outlets, when they moan and groan about the (alleged) death of news. They oppose this democratization process because it takes control and money from them. I'm grateful the major network monopoly on news is over. But that is just my opinion. And I really like CBS as an entertainment network, but couldn't care less if their news operation ends.
Alas, when it comes to CBS, this scenario is already well underway. Despite spending a good chunk of my career at CBS News, it is no longer watched in my household. And, if we are to believe the ratings, overall viewership of CBS News is dropping like a rock.
We’ll have to see what happens with efforts to nix the Paramount-Warner merger. But, if it does come to pass as currently negotiated, CNN will be the next to fall. But will it matter anymore?
One of the reasons I decided to retire from broadcast news in 2024 is because it was clear to me that most Americans no longer had any interest in the truth. They wanted to be told that whatever they already thought was correct.
There’s an old saying: “Every nation gets the government it deserves.” It was true when Joseph de Maistre first wrote it more than 200 years ago. It remains true today.
The issue is mainstream outlets chose sides and ceased being fair arbitrators of pure facts. They wove an agenda into each story and interview. They engage in "group speak." Even many conservative outlets filter their news through a singular narrative. It became opposing opinions pretending they are news. The bottom line is they are all a business to turn a profit.
I spent my career in broadcast news, first in radio, then TV, then back to radio and the old CBS network, AP radio, the Wall Street Journal network, the short-lived NY Times radio operation, and finally Fox News Radio. Sad to say, but I fear you are quite accurate. The damage to democratic governance is already immense snd increasing.
By the way, after retiring from the news business, I trained as an artisan bread baker and spent the past ten years working (more happily) in bakeries in NYC and finally here in Seattle. The news industry is collapsing, and I'm glad to be gone.
Stephen Knight
Great think piece, Rob.
This is why we at Media Action Center are fighting to protect the publicly owned airwaves. On our airwaves, CBS and others must prove that they are truly serving the Public Interest as condition of holding a broadcast license. Producing genuine news product is the best way for them to make that case.
There are many saying that the publicly owned airwaves are obsolete. Funny, they are the same ones who are trying to reduce access to real news and disparate commentary.
We are not going to let that happen. The airwaves are like the National Parks. They are ours - and we are not giving them up.
The optimist in me believes that societies worldwide have lived through painful periods of change—sometimes complete metamorphosis—and emerged with progress and positive reform because of the lessons they learned.
I hope the part of human nature that seeks justice, fairness, virtue, and true morality—not just the public display of morality or evangelism—will strengthen as people like you, Rob, recognize the red flags. I hope more people will strive to keep those values alive and help shape how our society evolves.
I think the only way to overcome the decline in critical thinking and the growing habit of accepting what we see on social media without verifying it is to actively keep real journalism alive through attribution, thorough investigation, integrity, accountability, and a commitment to the truth. We, as the audience, readers, and consumers, also have a responsibility to demand it by checking facts ourselves before commenting or sharing.
I also think this could give rise to an entirely new industry focused on independent fact-checking and verification. AI can certainly help, but it can also be wrong. I hope there's a massive course correction to what is happening. No, it won't all go away when 47 leaves office, but we can make it both admirable and profitable to be thoughtful, ethical people who are committed to finding and reporting the truth.
Ronnie, I think you got it correct, when you characterize this as a period of change. There is actually more access to news than ever before. It's not that news is dying. It's changing. It's breaking down into smaller outlets, and more partisan outlets. But this is a natural result of the democratization of the news business. I don't really have any sympathy for the dying, large media outlets, when they moan and groan about the (alleged) death of news. They oppose this democratization process because it takes control and money from them. I'm grateful the major network monopoly on news is over. But that is just my opinion. And I really like CBS as an entertainment network, but couldn't care less if their news operation ends.
Alas, when it comes to CBS, this scenario is already well underway. Despite spending a good chunk of my career at CBS News, it is no longer watched in my household. And, if we are to believe the ratings, overall viewership of CBS News is dropping like a rock.
We’ll have to see what happens with efforts to nix the Paramount-Warner merger. But, if it does come to pass as currently negotiated, CNN will be the next to fall. But will it matter anymore?
One of the reasons I decided to retire from broadcast news in 2024 is because it was clear to me that most Americans no longer had any interest in the truth. They wanted to be told that whatever they already thought was correct.
There’s an old saying: “Every nation gets the government it deserves.” It was true when Joseph de Maistre first wrote it more than 200 years ago. It remains true today.
Even 5 years ago, I would disagree strenuously. Now, I'm not so sure.
The issue is mainstream outlets chose sides and ceased being fair arbitrators of pure facts. They wove an agenda into each story and interview. They engage in "group speak." Even many conservative outlets filter their news through a singular narrative. It became opposing opinions pretending they are news. The bottom line is they are all a business to turn a profit.