The discerning news consumer
Guitar rocker said:
But we as citizens should be able to rely on good news reporting. For example, the last incident with Dan Rather (who couldnt help himself and had to report inaccurate facts about W's service record) was just to rustle some feathers.
You know what? The mainstream media is as screwed up as the airline industry. They have a lot of problems and one of those problems is Talking Head Syndrome.
THS is when some fat ugly TV producer finds a charming personality to sit in front of the camera and read the words written for them.
I know you don't like Rather but a lot of people do. Be that as it may, the trap Rather fell into (and could happen to any other anchor BTW) is that it's not his job to do research...that's left for fat ugly people *behind* the cameras.
Rather is *only* a personality. Just like Cooper. Just like Jennings, et al.
You don't believe for one minute these guys do any critical work on a story do you? That's why they have that little ear piece stuck in their head, so the fat ugly producer can whisper the next question to them...
...by the way, I read the latest Vanity Fair article by the producer of that Rather piece with the falsified documents. She blew it and deserves to never work in that industry again. I don't care at all for any of her rationalizations.
But I digressed again.
The point I really want to make is this: Gathering your information from the mainstream press is like engaging in water cooler gossip. Everyone does it. It's kind of fun. A good way to pass the time. But if *really* want to know what's going on, you need a good, long time trusted source who'll fill you in over a cup of coffee way back in the warehouse away from the teeming mob.
Good luck.
