Carl Bernstein - laments 'idiot culture', says

[KG]

when Deep Throat dies, "We will reveal him."

Former Washington Post reporter Carl Bernstein told about 200 people in Tampa that today's media is more gossip and trash than news.
By BRADY DENNIS, Times Staff Writer
Published March 19, 2004

TAMPA - Legendary reporter Carl Bernstein riffed Thursday night about President Bush, the Martha Stewart trial, the war in Iraq and his affection for Florida.

But mostly he talked about an epidemic that troubles him deeply these days. He calls it "the triumph of idiot culture."

Speaking to a crowd of about 200 at the Wyndham Westshore, he placed most of the blame on modern media outlets.

Bernstein, the former Washington Post journalist who, along with fellow reporter Bob Woodward, unearthed the Watergate scandal that led to the resignation of President Richard Nixon, said much of today's news has deteriorated into gossip, sensationalism and manufactured controversy.

That type of news panders to the public and insults their intelligence, ignoring the context of real life, he said. Good journalism, Bernstein said, "should challenge people, not just mindlessly amuse them." MORE>>>

http://www.stpetersburgtimes.com/2004/03/19/Tampabay/Ex_Watergate_writer_l.shtml

[dolo amber]

1. A-freakin'-MEN!!

Only thing wrong with this article is that I've been saying this for years, since the early days of "Jenny Jones", "Geraldo" and the first *reality* TV shows...It was clear this was the direction it was going. Why haven't the Bernstein's of the world been out in force battling this all this time? Surely if I knew where it was headed they HAD to know...:eyes:

But, as with Stern's awakening, better late than never I s'pose...

[KissMyAsscroft]

2. This quote says it all.

Their interest in truth is secondary to their interest in huge profits," Bernstein said.


>>When media becomes big business it's all over.