Presstitution: Who REALLY Cares About...

[nostamj]

Kobe, Arnold, Laci, etc. ???

Wolf B. read an email that complained about the overhyped coverage of utterly news-worthless stories while there was a bombing in Baghdad and two more dead soldiers--not to mention an important speech by Al Gore.

Wolf said, 'we did cover them too'

But... on Lou Dobbs, the Iraqi stories were 3rd or 4th after ARNOLD and KOBE. The essential news is almost afterthought.

We're told, endlessly, that KobeArnold is 'what people are talking about' and yet I've encounted no one that is really interested.

The truth is that the media is telling US which stories are important and not the other way around. No one would care about one more rich athelete in a sex scandal w/o the 24/7 hyping. And, if a dem celebrity of Arnold's visibility announced, it would be laughed off and dropped.

Dropped like the WMD Lie, dropped like the 9/11 obfuscation, dropped like *'s 'vacation' and taxpayer-funded fund raising. (Picture the coverage if a Dem politician cost local governments the kind of $$$ a * visit costs cities... due to his arrogant refusal to confront his critics)

The tiny glimmer of light when the Niger Lie led the news is GONE.

The "news" has become utterly unwatchable (ok, that's hardly news) but the manipulation of what constitutes "news" is getting worse.

Isn't it?

Somewhere a schools of sharks is realizing that they will have to chow down on Kobe or Arnold to get ANY press this summer.

[RobertSeattle]

1. This is when I appreciate NPR

They really downplay the "celebrity news" crap quite well and stick to the important stuff. They didn't even do much with the Lewinsky matter until impeachment putsch.

[pretzel4gore]

2. not only does mediaho's tell them what to think...

but it tells them what THEY THINK they think they THINK they THINK they THINK they THINK!!

[tom_paine]

3. Hey, that's my line!

:evilgrin:

(they say imitation is the most sincere form of flattery)

:evilgrin:

[nostamj]

4. and...

what they THINK about what they THINK they THINK. (i think)

[Muddleoftheroad]

5. Sorry

But Arnold is running for governor. Would you have the media ignore that?

[nostamj]

6. ignore it, no

BUT HYPE IT AT THIS EXTENT WHEN IT IS NOTHING BUT A *CELEBRITY* BIT OF EGO DRIVEN NONSENSE???

it deserves LESS time than the Baghdad bombing and loss of another two soldiers (not to mention Gore's speech)

it's NOT about censoring the story but placing the story in some context. the story is (once again) about the story. the press is covering the press covering the 'story'

and it is all DISTRACTION

[nolabels]

9. Two kinds of News, REAL News and Corporate News

I don't know how the rest of the people pay attention to any of it. I get my newspaper in the morning and it immediately goes in the recycle bin. I never watch TV, except C-span occasionally, and only listen to independent community Radio. (even that's getting tainted).

I am not too worried though, things always get worse before they get better, it's just time a major correction must be coming, what else could explain it?

[Muddleoftheroad]

11. I disagree

The California fiasco IS a big story. The biggest state in the union is in electoral chaos. Everybody -- including Larry Flynnt and Gary Coleman -- is running for the POTENTIALLY open job. So one of the most well-known people in the world declares. Well, that's news.

[Qutzupalotl]

7. Started a thread on this today...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=104&topic_id=131479&mesg_id=131479

and emailed CNN & MSNBC with my idea. :)

[nostamj]

8. the "kobe channel" ???

oh my dear, that is SO pre-Arnulled...

;-)

[Suspicious]

10. I feel your pain.

I was disgusted and offended last night when someone (I believe it was Dobbs) did a lead-in to his hour of endless Kobe coverage that went something like, "Like it or not, America's fascination with the Kobe Bryant story says something about our society...", as if we, the viewing public, have a damn thing to say with regard to programming (well, we have something to say, but the powers-that-be are highly unlikely to give a rip).

I was offended because, as you said, it is preposterous and insulting for Dobbs - or the person who writes his claptrap - to think that we are no more intelligent than to buy such a load. The media beats these things into the ground - and over our heads - leaving us no choice but to listen to the tripe or turn off the television, and then they have the nerve to make snide comments regarding the sad state of our society - oh, how Americans just love their sensationalism. :eyes:

I agree with you, wholeheartedly - what passes for news in this country is utterly unwatchable. I have to rely on NPR on the drive to/from work, and the internet, if I hope to have any idea of what is happening in the world, aside from Bryant's personal/legal woes and <insert sensationalist story of the week here>.

[Skittles]

12. you're right

I don't know anyone who is interested in Kobe/Laci.

[nostamj]

13. thanks!

i'm kinda sorry i spent time with that braindead 9/11 distractor now.

this was the important story (about the story that wasn't the story)