Two years on, is it time to boycott CNN and the rest of corporate media?

[Jack Rabbit]

Poll question: Two years on, is it time to boycott CNN and the rest of corporate media?

In light of the bang-up professional job (really fair and balanced) they've done covering the US invasion of occupation of Iraq after two years and US political issues in general for the last thirty years:

Is it time to boycott CNN and the rest of corporate media?

[BlueEyedSon]

1. There is no effective way to boycott CNN, etc.

You cannot carve out the exact cable/satellite station you want, they are assembled into "packages".

[Jack Rabbit]

4. Try this

Image from Kill Your Television

[BlueEyedSon]

10. I had no broadcast television in my home for TEN TEARS. until

9/15/01

[Jack Rabbit]

15. And you were probably better off for it

See below. I discuss how I get my information from the Internet. I've done that for years and think I am better informed than people who get their news from televison.

[BlueEyedSon]

20. I watch the Daily Show, Maher and a few movies.

If there is a national crisis (like 9/11) i want news.

[Jack Rabbit]

23. Then I suggest that you find some news

The question is whether you'll find in on television nowadays.

[BlueEyedSon]

24. I get all my news right here.

[Jack Rabbit]

26. Then can we say you are boycotting CNN?

??

[Just Me]

42. Let's surround FOX/FAUX,....FIRST!!! They are enemies of news,....

,...twist "facts" and proffer themselves as "fair and balanced".

Those people should have NO LICENSE as "news broadcasters".

[blm]

12. Picket their studios and headquarters with ENORMOUS signs.

CNN LIES FOR KING GEORGE

CNN - BUSH's PROPAGANDA TOOL

CNN - CORPORATE NEWS NETWORK

CNN - SHILLS FOR NEO-CONS

[Just Me]

40. I'd put FOX and MSNBC on the list. Wouldn't you?

:shrug:

Hell,...I'd freakin' surround FOX, first,...being THE ARM OF PROPAGANDA,...

,...wouldn't you?

:shrug:

CNN is failing, yes,...but the ENEMY is FOX, FOX, FOX,...

,...YES?

[Jack Rabbit]

45. I did say "and the Rest Of Corporate Media"

That should cover MSNBC and the three major air networks.

I'm picking on CNN, of course, because their poll question today was:

Two years on, is it time to end protests against the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq?

That question comes close to being loaded. It is beyond the pale for a (presumably) objective news outlet to pose a question like that and still call itself objective.

As for FoxNews, I don't see any reason to put any emphasis on that shameless propaganda outlet. Most people who watch FoxNews do so because they're already convinced. The only reason anybody here watches FoxNews is shock value.

[mcscajun]

27. Well, your cable company certainly tracks what channels you have on

at any given time and for how long. You can Bet that information gets back to the networks and their advertisers.

[Just Me]

2. Yes, Yes, and Yes!!!

Boycott their failure to actually report relevant news!!!

[rucky]

3. And nobody give me the "know your enemy" excuse!

We know our enemy. How could we not by now?

[NewInNewJ.]

6. I won't give that excuse

but what news do we watch?

[Jack Rabbit]

11. Who says you have to "watch" news?

You can get it off the Internet and probably be better informed. I've been doing that for years. I have a diet of the British press (particulary the BBC and the Guardian), some US sites that exist on the fringe of the establishment, such as The Nation and Mother Jones, and even some alternative media. I also look at some conservative opinion from time to time in order to get an occasional reality check -- or just to see if they've come back to reality.

[NewInNewJ.]

17. OK

I normally read the web news and listen on TV to CNN or MSNBC and C-Span. C-span is not much better then the rest anymore. Only Conservatives on. You'd think that there is not a Dem. or left leaning in the viewing area.

[Warpy]

Watch it on the web!

For people with broadband, try http://tv4all.com/portal.htm

Or try http://www.webtvlist.com/

A lot of it is banal, but at least it's not lying.

[Cha]

5. YES! And thank you for

bringing this up! I've boycotted them since Nov 6, 2002..but I think we need the really big numbers! And I think mass protests in ATlanta should not be out of the question!

[Cleita]

7. I've already been boycotting them for a long time.

You won't miss anything, trust me.

[ProgressiveConn]

8. The only show I have watched in forever is Countdown.

And even then outside of a couple week period there when Keith was in there and doing the right thing I havn't even watched that.

[teryang]

9. Yes, I started two years ago

Just shut it off.

Dumbed down media is by design.

Wars are only a side show as long as you have the wonderful world of consumer goods to distract you.

[babsbunny]

19. I stopped watching

a long time ago too! I emailed and wrote letters saying I would have to go elsewhere to get my news because I want to know the truth!

[seabeyond]

13. started in oct........still holding strong n/t

[Beam Me Up]

14. CON -- CON -- CON -- CON -- CON -- CON -- CON -- CON

Make it the new meem:

Not "MSM": C O N

Corporate OWNED News Corporate OWNED News Corporate OWNED News Corporate OWNED News Corporate OWNED News Corporate OWNED News Corporate OWNED News Corporate OWNED News Corporate OWNED News Corporate OWNED News Corporate OWNED News Corporate OWNED News Corporate OWNED News Corporate OWNED News Corporate OWNED News Corporate OWNED News Corporate OWNED News Corporate OWNED News Corporate OWNED News Corporate OWNED News Corporate OWNED News Corporate OWNED News Corporate OWNED News Corporate OWNED News Corporate OWNED News Corporate OWNED News Corporate OWNED News Corporate OWNED News Corporate OWNED News Corporate OWNED News Corporate OWNED News Corporate OWNED News Corporate OWNED News Corporate OWNED News Corporate OWNED News Corporate OWNED News Corporate OWNED News Corporate OWNED News Corporate OWNED News Corporate OWNED News Corporate OWNED News Corporate OWNED News Corporate OWNED News Corporate OWNED News Corporate OWNED News Corporate OWNED News Corporate OWNED News Corporate OWNED News Corporate OWNED News Corporate OWNED News Corporate OWNED News Corporate OWNED News Corporate OWNED News Corporate OWNED News Corporate OWNED News Corporate OWNED News Corporate OWNED News Corporate OWNED News Corporate OWNED News Corporate OWNED News

Edit to add: I stopped watching CON after the Selection of 2000 because everytime I saw SMIRKY'S SMIRK I started throwing things. I feel MUCH BETTER now! ;)

[Clark2008]

21. Or Poodle Press or cWHOREporate media or

entertainment media.
Anything BUT 'mainstream' media, because they're not.

[beanball]

28. The 1% that own

the media don't give a damn about you or America.Its the $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$.They also own the congress,both houses and the chimp in the oval office.

[Beam Me Up]

47. Well, the feeling is mutual.

I don't care much for THEM, either.

They've made a lot of very stupid and down right evil decisions that are threatening not only MY existence, but THEIR OWN.

Who do they think is really under surveillance? Small potato pacifists like myself? Perhaps. But I don't weild enough power by myself to effect change on a very large scale. However, there ARE people who DO effect change on THAT scale; and they think THEY are the one's in control of the SURVEILLANCE SOCIETY? To them I'd say, "You're defined by the company you keep." You think these fascist bastards are going to have any respect for YOUR privacy (I'm saying to "Mr. Bigshot neocon wana be")? GET A CLUE!!

[hollywood926]

16. Ummm, it's way past time

I started the day after the election. It's quite easy. If you're still watching it, don't scratch your head and wonder why they are still pandering to the RW. What reason do they have to stop?

[geomon666]

18. Are you kidding?

It was time to boycott all of them in 2000. I still think massive demonstrations should be held against them and their buildings should be surrounded by us.

[Jack Rabbit]

22. BTW, when I say 'professional job'

When I say professional job, the professional I have in mind is not Edward R. Murrow, but Heidi Fleiss.

[stillcool]

25. It is long overdue.....they provide proof day after day....

that cable news is no longer relevant, informing, or truthful. Why watch it? Filling this head with lies and propaganda will not be tolerated any longer....DU provides more information in 5 min. than an entire day of talking heads, and it has the added benefit of curbing my use of foul language.

[hiley]

29. You are

right on !
When I was searching for info on the protests for my blog I ran into that stupid poll on CNN's web site.
The link is below :

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x1671912



I watch FreeSpeechtv and Linktv and of course C-Span and listen to radio.




http://rantsbyhiley.blogspot.com/

[dweller]

30. cable-less since 12/12/02

when a massive ice storm did me the favor of wreaking havoc thru our state, tearing down everything.

Get all my news now from internet, radio AirAmerica/Jones Network, Indiemedia print editions and local tv newsbroadcast (bought an outdoor antenna) and even that televised broadcast makes me spit and fume since i am able to learn the TRUTH from internet/radio/and Indie at the moment it's happening. They cablewhores just spin . . .

hell, i don't even go to CNN.com/MSM-CON. I don't want my hit on their website to trigger ad revenue.

the TRUTH doesn't just set you free, it will lower your blood pressure too.

dp

[Robeson]

31. I did a long time ago, and like yourself, I get my news "fix" from ...

...foreign sources. There's an unlimited number of newspapers, sources, etc. that can be gotten off the web. What you find out, is that you'll end up learning more about your own country from foreign sources, than sources from your own country...

[Jack Rabbit]

32. It's looking a bit lopsided right now

98% Yes.

Do you think this is a vote of no confidence in the "liberal" media?

[MaryBear]

33. Boycotting what is not wanted can work if

coupled with support of what is wanted. So if CNN shows something I want to see, I watch it. If not, I don't. Most often, I don't.

I did vote "no," Jack, but to my mind it was a qualified negative. I see things as more complicated. For one thing, I wonder if CNN even cares.

Killing is almost never the answer, BTW.

[Jack Rabbit]

39. !!

:loveya:

[ailsagirl]

34. I don't watch TV news

I see a MSM program or magazine and I mentally just cancel it out. They have no more veracity than a supermarket tabloid... except tabloids might be more reliable in terms of telling the truth.

I think the sooner we accept the fact that MSM will never change their tactics, the better. And if, in our process of ignoring them, they come around... great!! If not-- it will come as no surprise.

Sure, I'd love it if they wisened up... but I just don't see that happening.

I think we (i.e., the reality-based community) have done a creditable job for some time now of circulating the real headlines. We have to persevere and, little-by-little, we will prevail.

IMHO

[The Gunslinger]

35. I already have (nt)

[KoKo]

36. Many DU'ers already have, including this one. I only check for protests

and coverage about something I really, really care aboutjust to see how much CNN/MSMBC can Whore and Fuck it all up.

Otherwise...my news is from the Net/International/whatever.

I cannot watch them for anything in real reporting and my little "check in's for spin" make me turn it off and run away.

[Liberty Belle]

37. Boycott their parent companies: Disney, Time-Warner, General Electric,

Viacom, and NewsMax. The first 3 are easy, because they make so many products consumers use. Remember that Fox (Newsmax) also has movie studios.

Disney owns ABC. So you could boycott Disneyland, Disney World, and stop buying all Disney videos and other merchandise.

Forget buying anymore GE appliances or lightbulbs.

No Time Magazine, Time-Life Books, Warner Brothers Movies, etc.

Don't just boycott. Call and write the parent companies to tell them WHY you're not buying their products anymore. Notify investor relations, too. When the stock starts dropping in price, they should get nervous.

[solinvictus]

38. Yes..

MSNBC today ran a headline blurb "Faith in America" and asked "Why do the liberal elites have so much animosity toward religion?". Draft a letter to your cable carrier explaining your position and cancel it. Place the cable fees in the bank and buy something nice or take a vacation. Screw these bastards.

[GreenPoet64]

41. I canceled cable after the election. n/t

[aint_no_life_nowhere]

43. Hell Yes - but that's only half of the job

To have the best effect, we also have to support independent media and slowly work to supplant the corporate media in our homes.

The Free Speech Television Network:
http://www.freespeech.org/fsitv/fscm2/genx.php?name=home

WORLDLINK TV
http://www.worldlinktv.org/

[Lorien]

44. I already do

and all this idiotic Terri Schavio crap makes me glad that I started boycotting two years ago!

[Jack Rabbit]

46. Kick

:bounce:

[wellst0nev0ter]

48. Not Just The War, CNNBCBS Is Poisoning The National Discourse PERIOD

I think even the Pravda under Khruschev had more meaningful headlines than that :eyes:

[Beam Me Up]

49. MOTTO: Whoever controls your perception of reality controls you.

The Corporate Owned News sells a particular reality bubble that we are supposed to BUY. There are SO MANY THINGS they want us to believe that are simply impossible, at this point they have become a farce. TRUE *some people still buy their reality* -- in fact MILLIONS of people do every day. HOW does this happen? THEY GIVE THEM THEIR ATTENTION AS IF IT DIDN'T COST THEM ANYTHING.

Has no one ever heard the expression PAYING ATTENTION? When you "pay attention" -- that is, when you turn your attention toward something that interests you (a whole OTHER subject) you are, in a sense, INVESTING your time and attention as a living being into the thing being observed. The question ALWAYS has to be, what am I getting back? What am I "buying" by paying attention to this?

There may have been a time when Network Television made more of a distinction between ENTERTAINMENT on one hand and NEWS on the other. Whether they were fooling themselves or not, there were at time human beings on TV who saw themselves not as entertainers but as JOURNALISTS whose job it was to convey to us information -- lets call it 'intelligence' for that is actually what it is -- that was in many instances considered vital to the health of the body politic. Now, apparently, even the PRETENSE of journalistic ethics is no longer necessary. So called "journalists" are doing a job that is dictated to them by someone who, ultimately, has authority over their income. In other words, however much some might still WANT to inform the body politic about certain matters, they feel hamstrung by the very evil society they by their acquiescence are supporting.

All I can say is, they'd better wake up. They may think their positions are safe but I rather doubt it. I'm nobody but even I can see that what is going on is a freak show. If we, collectively, don't PULL THE PLUG on the so-called "powers that be" and get some semblance of law and order back in this country, we're all DEAD MEAT.

[Carolab]

50. I've decided I'm going to cancel my Comcast this week.

Also paying my one credit card off and cutting it to shreds. I've had it.

[wellst0nev0ter]

51. If It Weren't For CartoonNetwork

My Comcast subscription would be classified as a symptom of madness.

[Theres-a]

54. YES!Unplug from the matrix!

[Jack Rabbit]

52. Good morning

:bounce:

[Jack Rabbit]

53. The story of the Polish strollers in the waning days of Communism

There is a story how in Poland during the waning days of Communism, the people would protest the propaganda on state/party run television and take a walk during the evening news in order to demonstrate they weren't watching it.

Whole communities would be out walking at 6 pm.

I think I need to stretch my legs.

[Jack Rabbit]

55. !!

Image from Kill Your Television

[salin]

56. have greatly decreased my viewing of CNN.. the poll today

suggesting that folks should cede their first amendment rights is enough to completely pull the plug on that station, for me.

[frustrated_lefty]

57. Yes. Boycott. State why.

Tell them why. They can spew their same drivel. We do NOT have to drown in it.

We can listen when they have something worth saying.

[Doctor_J]

58. Where the fu(k have you been?

I turned it off in early 2000, when they began their unabashed campaign to put the smirking chimp in the WH.

[Jack Rabbit]

59. I canceled cable in October 1999

I moved to an apartment after a divorce and simply didn't have it installed.

Since moving in with a lady whom I have since married, it was put in our new place, but I find that I broke the habit of watching it and prefer to get news from the Net.

We're talking about killing it again. It's high on the list of things that cost money that we just don't need.

We watched the Presidential debates on NBC last year and it reminded me of how pathetic network news has become. I don't think it was helpful to anybody to put Karen Hughes or Mike McCurry on the air afterward. Either one of them could have mailed in their commnents beforehand. Ms. Hughes looked particularly foolish, but she was a victim of circumstances; any fair-minded person would have said that Kerry won all three debates hands down and it isn't Ms. Hughes' job to be fair-minded. Nevertheless, I don't believe for a minute that Mr. McCurry, who is in the same line of work as Ms. Hughes, would have said anything different if the shoe were on the other foot.

It was an insincere attempt by the network to look balanced. It was not good public service.

At least in this case they tried to look balanced. More often, they try to look patriotic and in line with Bush. That means not exposing his lies as lies, which would be their job. As a result, they end up looking like a privatized Pravda.

[Mr_Spock]

60. Damnit - where the "I've BEEN boycotting selection???????"

Damn it - I haven't watched since last November - don't let these "you can't boycott city hall" chickens influence you either. It WILL work - but only if people on our side actually do it - which after reading CRAP here - I realize that we have no balls and are our own worst enemy. Oh, well.

[Jack Rabbit]

61. One last lap

!!