FAQs about the MSM, the "news" and 'when is it going to do it's job?'

[KurtNYC]

Q: When is the MSM going to do it's job -- cover what's important, investigate, put across the facts without bias ?
A: NEVER. The MSM is privately owned. It is not public and is not in the business of doing investigative journalism. It is not even close to that kind of a business. It's job is to treat the viewers like mushrooms -- keep them in the dark and feed them lots of bullshit.

Q: Can we boycott news programs that don't give coverage to relevant events or are horribly biased?
A: We aren't the customer so a true boycott is impossible. Boycott also ask for change and the MSM isn't about to change. Looking elsewhere for news sources is the best option.

Q: But if the audience is smaller doesn't the channel make less money?
A: Not necessarily. MSM entities are often the least profitable part of multi industry empires. The job of the MSM outlets is to help the rest of the conglomerate. It is like buying advertising wholesale in a sense. Many news shows have very tiny audiences but they get echo. The average audience for cable news is very mature. The majority of it falls outside of the target demos for most advertisers. TV news is not about making money. The reason to own a TV news entity is to influence public debate and help move legislation that favors you and your allies.

Q: How does the right get away with claiming the media is liberal ?
A: Those with strong bias tend to see strong bias in media. It is pretty easy to tap into that and also play blame the messenger. RWers don't love everything they see on TV but also, for example, if the MSM doesn't focus on Obama's birth certificate they take that as all the evidence they need to prove the media's bias.

Q: Why can't we just invoke the Fairness Doctrine and force them to give equal time to opposing viewpoints?
A: In 1987 the Reagan FCC abandoned the Fairness Doctrine. They reasoned in part that there was a diversity of media and the concept of each channel having to present a balance was archaic.

Q: We have to change the MSM. We have to make them honest and make them cover the whole spectrum. Don't we?
A: We have to accept that we can't change most of the MSM but the good news is we don't need to. Americans are increasingly cynical about the MSM. It is like a scoreboard which is broken -- as the game goes on, more people will look elsewhere, or compare notes with others to see the true score.

[Demeter]

1. When someone Other Than the Fascists Define That Job

but as of right now, MSM is doing exactly what it's paid to do--by the owners.

[cleanhippie]

2. Careful, calling the Fascists Fascist will get you flamed.