The continuing problem with the media

[Clark2008]

I've seen a few people on this board and others refer to television pundits as "journalists" in regards to their ethical standards of reporting fairly and without bias.
However, part of the problem with today's media is that many - if not most - of the pundits today are NOT journalists and have no ethical training in the field.
CNN fields the most journalists-as-pundits, followed by MSNBC and, finally, of course, Faux (having NO pundit with a reporting background, per se).
Here is the run-down on the people providing Americans with news on cable:

CNN

Lou Dobbs - Graduated from Harvard with a degree in economics, but has worked in the news media for more than 30 years, as an economic pundit.

Paula Zahn - Graduated from Stephens College in Missouri with a degree in journalism. Worked for a variety of television news organizations before becoming a CNN talk show host.

Aaron Brown - Graduated from the University of Minnesota with a degree in journalism. Worked for a variety of television news organizations before becoming a CNN talk show host. Most famous for breaking news coverage of 9/11.

Larry King - no information on college education, but has worked as a talk show host for more than 40 years.

MSNBC

Chris Matthews - Graduated from Holy Cross College (no degree mentioned), but spent 13 of 15 years as the Washington Bureau Chief for the San Francisco Examiner before continuing on into politics as one of President Carter's press liaisons.

Keith Olbermann - Graduated from Cornell University with a degree in Communications (journalism). Worked for a variety of radio and television stations and networks, including (and most famously) as the co-anchor of ESPN's "SportsCenter."

Dan Abrams - Graduated from Duke University in political science and Columbia with a law degree. Spent a few years as reporter for Court TV before becoming a general assignment reporter for NBC in 1997.

Joe Scarborough - Law degree from University of Florida; Republican congressional member until Sept. 6, 2001.

Fox

Bill O'Reilly - Marist College with a degree in history, worked primarily as a teacher before getting own radio talk show.

Sean Hannity - House painter before getting own radio talk show.

Greta van Susteren - Georgetown University Law School. Because a legal consultant in 1991. Was made famous by the O.J. Simpson trial.

And, for good measure:

Rush Limbaugh - Dropped out of Southeastern Missouri State. Graduated from the Elkins Institute of Radio and Technology in Dallas (disk jockey).

So, there you have it.
While there are some impressive degrees floating around in this group (and many of the pundits do keep topics aimed at their backgrounds), many do not have degrees in journalism or haven't worked in the field for most of their lives and don't know the first thing about being "fair and balanced."
Also note that pundits aren't even CHARGED with being fair and balanced, but it would help, particularly in the case of Fox News, if they had some experience in news (and not just talk shows) before being given a chance to mouth off in public.
Most young journalists start off in this field with an average national salary of less than $25,000 a year and rarely make more than $40,000 (as an editor).
The problem with journalism, like teaching, is that the talented people leave for public relations or other fields because the money and hours are horrible.

[Az]

1. Of course

The emphasis of the media has shifted from journalism to celebrity pontification. It is more cost effective to have a few highly paid notable individuals that present a charismatic image.

The focus is no longer one of depth. It has shifted to a continuous stream of scripts and talking points. Rather than provide the people with valid information they present increasing amounts of contentious information. We report you decide. This methodology allows them to throw up uninvestigated inuendo against information presented in good faith. Without an objective investigation in the matter emotions are the only thing people are left with to sift through the info. And if one side decides to play to those emotions they are going to have the upper hand.

[Clark2008]

2. Also (and to be fair)

I don't know much about the personalities on Air America because it's not available in my area and I don't have satellite radio, but I'm sure we all know Al Franken and Janeane Garafelo aren't reporters, either.

[Wright Patman]

3. Now if we can just get rid of the judiciary

the talk show hosts can be the third branch of government. < /sarcasm>

[Clark2008]

4. LOL!!

Most of them DO have law degrees, afterall! :evilgrin:

[LiberalEsto]

5. When I was a young whippersnapper

aspiring to a career in journalism, my English professors at Rutgers University advised me to go for a degree in English, history or political science instead of majoring in journalism. They said it was better to learn how to write well and be well-grounded in something like history or political science. They suggested i just take a few journalism classes and learn on the job.

They were totally right in 1969. I majored in English, took a couple of classes in urban communications, and had a great career as a newspaper journalist for many years. I worked for 11 years at NJ's largest paper, after reporting for several smaller weekly and daily papers.

Now if someone asked me, I would tell them not to bother going into journalism because of the lousy pay, the corporate control and censorship, and the ever-decreasing number of job openings. If you want to write for a living, learn to do tech writing, and start a blog in your spare time.

[Clark2008]

6. I worked for 12 years in small newspapers, too.

I'm now an out-of-work marketing/pr person (have a second, follow-up interview today - wish me luck).
Of course, I'm out of work because I worked in the tech sector, which is shrinking rapidly, and am looking in technical writing and marketing.
Your advice to young would-be journalists is mine, as well. I miss the field, but I doubt I'd like it much now with all the corporate control. When I left six years ago, the paper I worked for was owned by a small corporation out of Kentucky and not by some mega-corp. I think they've been sold out now, as well.

[LiberalEsto]

10. Good luck!

There are many tech writer openings in the Washington, DC area, if you live near here.

Try taking a one-semester community college class in tech writing. It may help you find leads, in addition to bringing you up to date in the field.

I'm a tech/marketing writer myself.

[Evergreen Emerald]

7. I was watching Scarborough...

...for a few minutes anyway (I can barely stand to watch him). And the guest he had on said that Terry Shiavo was being murdered. Another guest called her "disabled."

A also saw Greta Van Sustren (sp) on Fox news actually airing 40 seconds of Terry's voice "answering" her parents when they asked if she was in pain.

I watched ABC news and NBC news allow equal time to the big-fat-liars with no investigation into fact versus fiction.

My point is that there is no journalism anymore--or very little. The media has gone beyond the parameters of responsible journalism.

For me this Shiavo fiasco has soldified my suspicions that the free press is gone. And that we can trust nothing the media feeds us. Their bias--their willingness to highlight the lies and distortions with no regard for the truth was stunning.

[AnnInLa]

8. Another list

Please consider attending the National Conference for Media Reform in St. Louis, May 13-15. (I am going.) My only problem with the following list of speakers/panelists is that it doesn't include enough lefty bloggers....and I believe non-affiliated-non-corporate bloggers are changing the face of news, and will continue to do so.

I don't know their educational or journalist backgrounds/training:

David Brock, Media Matters for America
Laura Flanders, Author, radio host
Bill Fletcher, TransAfrica Forum
Al Franken, Air America Radio
Amy Goodman, Democracy Now!
Juan Gonzalez, NY Daily News
Robert Greenwald, Director, Outfoxed
Jim Hightower, Author, Commentator
Janine Jackson, FAIR
Naomi Klein, Author, Columnist
George Lakoff, Author, Professor
Robert McChesney, Founder, Free Press
John Nichols, The Nation
Diane Watson, U.S. House
Jim Hightower

for more info:

http://www.freepress.net/conference/=spaceshare

[MadHound]

9. A note on Paula Zahn

Since it fits in so well with your premise. Stephens College, where she graduated from in '78, is a college primarily for performing arts majors, theater, dance, music, etc. It is also puts emphasis on fashion and equestrian degrees. Zahn originally attended on a cello scholarship, but got the bug for the broadcasting. Her degree was NOT in journalism per se, but in mass media. Oh, and she participated in many of numerous plays and theatre productions that Stephens put on.