Which "news" outlet will throw up on the Kool-Aid and break ranks first?

[hvn_nbr_2]

Which "news" outlet will throw up on the Kool-Aid and break ranks with the media cartel first?

Here's how I handicap the odds:

ABC and NBC both: 25-1. I don't know of any reason either is more or less likely than average.

CBS: 10-1. There's such a thing as institutional memory, and Edward R. Murrow of CBS exposed Joe McCarthy. They probably have pictures of Murrow around everywhere, and it probably makes the remaining closeted journalists nauseous. Plus his ghost must be haunting their dreams. Plus, Dan Rather is still at 60 Minutes and 3 of those 4 producers were still refusing to resign, last I heard.

CNN: 15-1. The new guy in charge, Jonathan Klein, is there because the previous guy forgot his daily dose of Kool-Aid one day. He calls progressives "morally relativistic," a term that only wingnuts use, but he didn't sound to me really fluent in its use. Plus, he knows the term "progressive." There have been a couple inklings, like the streaming message about the memo, and the memo being on the website yesterday. But that may just be the closet journalists testing the new guy. Some possibility, but not much.

MSRNC: 75-1. They seem to have reined in Olberman, based on how little I hear here of what he's covering. All other indicators are negative.

Faux/Foney: 10000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000-1. That's a googol (not to be confused with google). Need I say more?

N.Y. Times: 25-1. Even if they changed, I don't know that they matter any more.

Washington Post: 25-1. Woodward and Bernstein are gone, Katherine Graham is an old woman, and who cares what they say anyway?

None, but the internet will save us: 3-1. Maybe, but I don't see it developing fast enough.

None, we're screwed. 6-5. Seems most likely.

I considered another option, "How the hell would I know? I never watch any of them." but I figured too many people would want to check that and another option. Besides, polls only allow ten options.

[donheld]

1. I feel guilty being the first responder and so cynical

But i do believe nobody will

[Stand and Fight]

2. Sadly, no one.

Not one of them will step forward, and no one really takes the Internet as seriously as they should.

[dhuss]

3. If this were a money bet...

I'd put the minimum on faux just for the HUGE payoff if they did and a larger bet on the Internet.

D.H.

[ClintonTyree]

4. Saying that the internet....

will be our savior isn't such a good bet. That would require people to actually log on and LOOK for the information. That would mean they'd have to miss "American Idol" or "Survivor". I don't see that happening.

[Protagoras]

6. My fear is any area of the internet that becomes problematic

will be bought up or otherwise regulated into extinction.

More than likely, they'll leave small echo chambers up so that people feel like they have some expression...and they'll just squash any place that actually begins to organize mass change. All the rest are no threat.

[GreenArrow]

5. none

and if the internet(s) actually become to big of a threat it will be co-opted/censored.

[Stinky The Clown]

7. I still have hope for CBS and so voted

Your handicapping analysis is pretty good. Somehow I think the Ghosts of Goodness Past rattle their chains loudly over there.

[hvn_nbr_2]

14. I have some hope there.

My reply #13 mentions it. Maybe we should all do a seance (spelling?) to rouse the ghost of Edward R. Murrow to haunt them.

[Nevernose]

8. Honestly? Fox.

They'll actually be the ones to break it, but they'll do it in one of their instant-spin, wild-rumor, nothing-to-see-here styles. A preemptive attack to discredit the story before the rest of the press gets rolling with it.

[wakemeupwhenitsover]

9. Katherine Graham is dead . n/t

[orwell]

10. None...

it isn't "the media". It's the consumers of the media which gives them their so-called power.

I don't think I've watched a "news" or political program since Bush V. Gore was issued. That whole circus was the last straw for me. I knew what was coming.

As long as the mass mind accepts crap on toast, the ruling class will serve it to us...and charge us for the privilege.

[Berserker]

15. orwell

your post says it all. it isn't "the media". It's the consumers of the media which gives them their so-called power. The people are the ONLY ones that can change this. They are ruled by money and when no one watches the bullshit spewed now they will have to change or lose the mighty dollar.

[orwell]

16. Bingo

You got it. Corporations exist for profit. They shovel this crap at us because we watch it. Sponsors pay them to deliver target markets so they can shovel their own crap at us.

If truth became a marketable commodity, suddenly everyone would be 60 Minutes or Frontline.

It's all pretty pathetic.

[zippy890]

11. I may be hopelessly naive but I think Dan Rather

is going to wreak some revenge on those that took him down.

Go Dan go!!!

[hvn_nbr_2]

13. I'm hoping.

I don't really expect it, but I keep hoping. There have to be a lot of people there steaming over that whole thing. They probably have to work underground out of management's sight, but then Edward R. Murrow did the McCarthy expose without CBS management support--I just read that CBS wouldn't advertise it so the individuals involved went out and bought newspaper ads with their own money to promote the show.

[Coexist]

12. My money is on MSNBC - they will need to shake things

up after Bill Gates pulls out - their two top-rated shows have been Donahue and Countdown. Yes - they canned Donohue, but in retrospect maybe the see that he was forward thinking on the war (a girl can hope!).

Copycatting Fox wouldn't be a good thing - Fox has already branded themselves to the small audience that they will have to their dying day - no Limbaugh copycats have made it big. So going back to real hardhitting reporting may look like a viable option for them. Tucker Carlson is going to bomb worse than Scarborough.

Then again - what the hell do I know.

[autorank]

17. All of them but Faux...when "management" gives the word.

I think we're in a trial run. All of these outlets, except Faux, are practicing being real journalist right now. The LAT and CNN are starting up on the Blair Memo (impeachable offense, no doubt), ABC ran a series of negative stories, it's coming our way. Once they've had time to practice, then "management" will turn them loose. Faux will remain loyal to * but at the last minute turn on him. Murdoch has to do this for two reasons. His financial empire may be on shaky ground and the * Feds could overturn it with a quick investigation. Plus Murdoch pledges loyalty to the powers that be, i.e., Blair, the Chinese Communists, regardless of the news. He will jump ship at the very last moment, but he'll jump.

It's all good.

[hvn_nbr_2]

20. Yep, a lot wind-testing and trial ballooning going on now.

From some other threads, it sounds like Scottie's press conference had some journalists experimenting with being real journalists. Things are moving.

BTW, I've seen your references to "management" a few times. Do you have some group in particular in mind, or just a vague "whoever really runs things," or maybe something you don't want to be specific about now? Just wondering.

[autorank]

22. I've got two references (BTW I like "wind-testing", I'll steal it)

The real reference is to the people behind the people who have a great deal to lose with a barking mad clown and his crew of screw ups running the country. Little things like the collapse of the dollar, the alienation of Europe, or a recent one tonight, the ruination of tourism in Florida (think Europeans will come when then know they can get shot for just looking at someone the wrong way). I see * as the rogue element, the energy group, plus a few mountebanks stealing everything that isn't nailed down. "Management" doesn't like total greed because the sheeple, us, can't buy premium products. They're probably a bit concerned with the housing bubble, the brain drain, etc. all of which result from * and co's nihilism and stupidity. I see things now as similar to Nixon's first year of the second administration. Now there was a very bright guy who (crook that he was, war criminal, etc.) went totally around the bend. Voila, a dead story in the WaPost becomes a cause celebe (Gawd, I'm rambling).

The second reference is to Carnavale (the HBO series) where a traveling side show/freak show roamed the countryside directed by the mysterious "management." Sick, I know but having been told never to go near carnivals, I can't resist.

:hi:

[Stinky The Clown]

26. autorank, my friend ......

Are you the one who stole my rose colored glass?


Actually, I kinda see it the way you do. Not so much about Murdoch, but just in general. I also thought I saw it before the last election, when it appeared Kerry would win. A modest shift toward reason and responsibility. Not much .... but discernible. And I'm seeing it again. As before, not much ...... but discernible.

[paineinthearse]

18. PBS and NPR are missing.

Bill Moyers has retired, but David Broncachio is still reporting.

[hvn_nbr_2]

21. You're right.

I thought of that after I posted the poll, but I already had the max number of options for polls. Guess I could have combined NYT & WaPo, or skipped Fox (but I wanted to put the googol thing in, for fun). However, I don't think PBS and NPR have the clout to change things or get the others to follow them.

[alfredo]

19. I say ABC because they are not owned by defense contractors.

Their fortune is not dependent on bush's wars.

[Radical Activist]

23. ABC is the only network news I can stand anymore.

My money is on them.

[alfredo]

27. After Nightline last night, I felt that they are not

intimidated by the junta.

[Tactical Progressive]

24. CBS is busy trying to catch up to the rest of the whores

They have caved in so many times in the past few years to lawsuits and political pressure that I can't see them stepping up to the plate until it is totally safe to come out of their hidey-holes.

ABC if anyone, but the reality is that honest and decent journalism isn't coming back to America, period. It will be varying levels of right-wing support from here on out. Don't expect them to get hard on anyone unless Democrats regain control of the government. It wouldn't be 'fair and balanced' until then.

I've given up on them for all time. I don't care what they do from this point on - institutional journalism is corrupt all the way down to the core.

[Dr Fate]

25. None of them. Read the "internets" and tell others about what you read.

[triguy46]

28. In general, I'm for the papers

TV sucks. They have no editorial standards, they have marketing departments. You can't write/comment on any concern. TV should not be confused with the "press".