Could television news become obsolete?

[hollywood926]

It seems to me that neither side trusts TV news, anymore - the right wing goes on about the "liberal media" and we on the left certainly know that real journalists are dying off faster than the spotted owl.

With computers becoming faster and more common, and blogsters doing more accurate research than any TV news reporter these days, am I crazy to think TV news could render itself obsolete?

I'm starting to hope so.

[jdj]

1. absolutely, and the sooner the better.

The dinosaurs are retiring, and the right wing shills who want to replace them have no class. They have weeded out anyone from the left or center-left long ago, so that road is a dead end.

America automatically will not "trust" an O'Reilly or Hannity on the majors. It will be a great place for the aging women like Paula Zahn and Katie Couric to take over, because they are the only ones with any perceived "neutrality" but by that time everyone will have stopped watching anyway.

[nadinbrzezinski]

5. The AP has a story saying

there is a backlash against the talkie news.

There is a backlash since it is not news

I think they are realzinging, too late, that we are not watching no more

[Kali]

2. already is nt

[Maple]

3. It already is

but not because of bloggers, they usually just write their own opinions, or do cursory research. Not all of them, but most.

However, online you have access to all the print media in the world, as well as film and music.

You can choose what you want, or skim a bit of everything, so you get a rounded picture of what's going on, internationally, without the bias, and without the breathless hype.

No endless commercials either.

[StephanieMarie]

4. It is for me.

All TV is "State Television" now. They're all the talking heads of Rove, repeating over and over the same talking points. As Goebbels said, "The most brilliant propagandist technique will yield no success unless one fundamental principle is borne in mind constantly ... it must confine itself to a few points and repeat them over and over." Rove is the master of this, and TV news anchors are his puppets.

[Tsiyu]

6. It already is

I know the anchors try to hold on to some semblance of professionalism ( Rather being the only one remotely succeeding) but even they know their networks can't sustain news departments if no one is watching.

If they are offending both sides, they need to appeal to one or the other. But that would be too obvious so they wallow in the mire of mediocrity and half-truth. Still, until they take all the weenie stiffeners off the market, they do have the Pharm sponsors to keep them afloat for a small while.

[American Tragedy]

12. Dan Rather is sunk in my opinion

It hurts to say this, but from what I have seen, Rather has deteriorated into a melodramatic emotional fool in the past couple of years. Like many journalists, he has virtually sold out, desperately skewing coverage in order to prove how fair and patriotic he is. It's gotten worse recently.

[leesa]

7. Hopefully, it's all worthless propaganda anyway.

[robbedvoter]

8. Since december 13, 2000 in my house

[American Tragedy]

9. I'll never depend on it again

I'll watch CSPAN, and I will refer to news channels for interviews and what not, but their slavish and incompetent coverage of the war and its aftermath destroyed my interest in telejournalism forever. I will never forget that as long as I live.

[knowbody0]

10. oh yeah

[DELUSIONAL]

11. It is entertainment only -- talking heads are paid way too much

the talking heads have become bigger stories than the "stories" they are supposed to cover.

How many really go out and dig for a story?

Each is fighting to be the main propaganda network of the bush mafia.

From what I read on DU -- ABC and CBS have rare moments when an individual reporter remembers what a Journalist is supposed to be. I won't know -- I gave up TV viewing over 2 years ago and haven't missed a thing. In fact I am better informed than the vast majority of Americans.

[Sleepysage]

13. National news? Probably...

But I think most people will still watch their local news.

I've always preferred print media, anyway.

[Sperk]

14. OMG, I had the exact same thought tonight.....sooner or later they

are going to be irrelevent. It's already like tuning into another universe. The talking heads are getting more and more foolish looking every day. And as more people see important stories being covered online, they have to be wondering why the hell the t.v. news shows are not covering them. And aren't people getting sick of seeing the same 10 people day after day, talking the same drivel day after day? Thanks God for the internets!! Thank you Mr. Gore!!