We've lost the media...how do we get it back?

[cally]

I think most here agree that the media does not cover the * lies and scandals. Why?

I thought that the coverage of the Clinton scandals would reverse once a Repub was in office. I thought that so many senior, informed folks would flood the talk shows that * would constantly be on the defensive. I was wrong. The same rw pundits were aired for years during the * admin.

We now have the books on bestseller lists but they get little play in the media. We haven't heard from Suskind or O'Neil in months yet he still is on the bestseller list. Jon Stewart is hugely popular. Liberal views sell!

So, if the media is for profit, why don't they include leftist views. I see a small change recently but not much. The cable news networks are losing audience so why continue with the same? They have gotten slightly better with repeating Drudge smears but not much.

I so hope once Dems win that they punish the RW reporters for their distortions. I don't think they will and that might be the problem. We know the repubs will but the Dems are just not willing too often to play hardball.

I believe that the media mostly cares about profits. I think they are lazy, ambitious, and self indulged. Given all that why don't they start protecting themselves since the election is not certain?

[DenverDem]

1. Bust the media trusts, reinstate the fairness doctrine.

Regulate the bastards like the other utilities.

The People OWN the airwaves and bandwith these traitors are using to destroy our country.

[redqueen]

3. Clinton said he'd do this

Had two years of a Dem congress... still screwed us.

DLC'ers are part of the problem, IMHO.

[asjr]

6. If the media had any sense

they would realize reporting GW's dirty little secrets would boost their ratings through the roof.

[redqueen]

7. If *we* (being kind here) had any sense

we'd have figured out by now the problem has NOTHING to do with ratings.

[cally]

10. Explain please?

Forget being 'kind'. If you want to insult me, just do it so I can respond.

[redqueen]

14. Don't want to insult anyone

But people get defensive. I've learned that well.

The thing is, it's amazing to me that anyone (at least anyone that's been on DU for a while) might still somehow believe that the problem is that the media only cares about ratings. It's not. Very not. It's also not advertising dollars.

It's intentional, and it's imperative that we inform everyone we can of that ugly reality ASAP.

[cally]

15. Thanks..I disagree with you

or rather I'm not ready to agree with you. I think some of the media is controlled by the RW and has an agenda. It sets up an atmosphere in the newsroom where honest reporting is dismissed and most reporters are scared of being labelled as leftest. I think we miss the dynamics by saying all are bought and paid for by the right. It's much more subtle than that. Many reporters are trying to do an honest job under extreme pressures. I'm trying to figure out how exactly the pressure occurs.

[redqueen]

18. A suggestion

A book written some 50 odd years ago: The Power Elite by C. Wright Mills. Explains how many in the game don't even know their real roles. People think they know, but they barely know enough to even start forming pieces to link together.

One example of pressure that's well documented: In Atlanta back in the 80's, an editor was hired (can't remember his name just now) who was like the muckrakers of yore -- he wanted to do the big stories, expose big lies, etc. And he charged his reporters accordingly. One journalist uncovered how local banks were not lending to blacks the same way they were whites. Story was published, then the hammer came down. Political pressure from banks was brought to bear and he was told not to do stories like that.

As you might guess, he didn't listen. Another of his reporters did a story on Coca Cola and their outlaw escapades overseas. Unfortunately, this time the right toes were stepped on (one of the billionaire board members at the paper he worked at was also a board member at Coca Cola) and eventually he was fired.

The city protested at his firing, but of course the decision was final. The players are the ones with the power. Money = power. They make the decisions, and the rest of us just have to live with it.

[Warpy]

8. Second, enforce antitrust laws

Break up these media giants, smash them into little pieces. This is the most essential thing we need to do. Monopoly is always bad, but media monopoly will destroy us faster than any other kind.

[redqueen]

2. Can't be done under the present circumstances

click here

[tom_paine]

4. I agree, something Rotten in Denmark.

Laziness, stupidity, & cupidity doesn't account for it.

To rephrase your question: WHY is there Orwellain Silence (not to mention gross Bushevik Lie Laundering) on Bushevik impropriteties, criminalities, frauds, lies, etc. combined with an Orwellian Assault on Dems if they misspeak even in the slightest, are remotely suspected of a crime, etc.?

Whatever the true answer to that question is: It is the Dark Heart of Imperial Amerika that is growing and threatens to consume us all.

[cally]

9. Well. that slightly rephrased my question

;-) However it's phrased, I don't understand what the media is reporting. It makes no sense economically, for helping careers of 'journalists', and in many ways helping the right wing agenda. The media is just mistrusted so much that it doesn't help anyone.

[qb]

5. One radio station at a time.

Once AirAmerica really takes off, which I think it will, the mainstream media will start to hear more and more, "Why aren't you covering this stuff?" They will eventually be shamed into providing some semblance of balance.

I hope a Kerry presidency and a Dem majority in the Senate will give the Fairness Doctrine another chance.

[calimary]

20. DEMAND, NOW: Why Aren't You Covering This Stuff?" Here's how:

(FROM DUer bigtree – 3/2004) Use the responses to strike back at the attacks, here and elsewhere.

“MEET THE PRESS”: [e-mail]

MSNBC-Phone: [phone]

Opinions: mailto:[e-mail]

News: mailto:[e-mail]

Letters to the Editor: mailto:[e-mail]

MSNBC on the Internet
One Microsoft Way
Redmond, WA 98052
________________________________________________________________

CNN- (404) 827 – 1500

CNN TV: http://www.cnn.com/feedback/cnntv /

CNN.com: http://www.cnn.com/feedback/dotcom /
_________________________________________________________________

MORE:
<[e-mail] > Newsweek
<[e-mail] > Keith Olbermann
<mailto:[e-mail] > Washington Post
<[e-mail] > MSNBC Main
<[e-mail] > Chris Matthews

<
[e-mail]

Readers' Representative Office: http://www.latimes.com/services/site/la-comment-readersrep.story

Los Angeles Times
202 W. 1st St.
Los Angeles, CA 90012
[phone]

The Times Orange County
1375 Sunflower Avenue
Costa Mesa, CA 92626-1697
[phone]

Los Angeles Times
Valley Edition
20000 Prairie Street
Chatsworth, CA 91311
[phone]
Los Angeles Times
Ventura County Edition
93 S. Chestnut Street
Ventura, CA 93001
[phone]
_________________________________________________________________

New York Times:

PAUL KRUGMAN! [e-mail]

To Write The Publisher or President: http://www.nytimes.com/ref/membercenter/help/infoservdirectory.html#o

Letters to the Editor: http://www.nytimes.com/ref/membercenter/help/infoservdirectory.html#a

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
E-mail to [e-mail] .

OP-ED/EDITORIAL
For information on Op-Ed submissions, call [phone] or send article to [e-mail]" target="_blank">[e-mail] . To write to the editorial page editor, send to [e-mail] .

NEWS DEPARTMENT
To send comments and suggestions (about news coverage only) or to report errors that call for correction, e-mail [e-mail] or leave a message at 1-888-NYT-NEWS.
The Editors
[e-mail]
[e-mail]

The Newsroom
[e-mail] ; [e-mail]
[e-mail] ; [e-mail]
[e-mail] ; [e-mail]
[e-mail] ; [e-mail]

PUBLIC EDITOR
To reach Daniel Okrent, who represents the readers, e-mail [e-mail] or call [phone].

TO WRITE THE PUBLISHER OR PRESIDENT

Arthur Sulzberger Jr., Chairman & Publisher:
[e-mail] .

Janet L. Robinson, President & General Manager:
[e-mail] .
_________________________________________________________________

USA Today:

Letters to the Editor: http://www.usatoday.com/marketing/feedback/feedback-online.aspx?type=1...

USA TODAY / USATODAY.com
7950 Jones Branch Drive
McLean, VA 22108-0605
_________________________________________________________________

Washington Post:

How can I contact Washington Post writers?: http://washingtonpost.custhelp.com/cgi-bin/washingtonpost.cfg/php/endu... *&p_li=

How do I submit a letter to the editor?: http://washingtonpost.custhelp.com/cgi-bin/washingtonpost.cfg/php/endu... *&p_li=

How do I submit an Op-Ed piece?
http://washingtonpost.custhelp.com/cgi-bin/washingtonpost.cfg/php/endu... *&p_li=

How do I contact the Ombudsman?: http://washingtonpost.custhelp.com/cgi-bin/washingtonpost.cfg/php/endu... *&p_li=

The Washington Post
1150 15th Street Northwest
Washington, DC 20071
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
E-mail: [e-mail]
__________________________________________________________________

More:

National Newspapers: http://newslink.org/--news.html

Television by state: http://newslink.org/stattele.html

Radio by State: http://newslink.org/statradi.html

Networks-

Radio: http://newslink.org/netr.html

Television: http://newslink.org/nett.html

(CBS) 60 Minutes:

ADDRESS:
60 Minutes
524 West 57th St.
New York, NY 10019

PHONE: [phone]

TRANSCRIPTS: 1-800-777-TEXT

VIDEOTAPES: 1-800-848-3256

CBS “60 Minutes” email info:

http://www.cbsnews.com/sections/60minutes/main3415.shtml - go to the bottom of the page and click on "feedback" and you're in.

***********ALSO NOTE: www.takebackthemedia.com – for the most comprehensive, extensive list of media contacts. ****************************************
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States
301 7th Street, SW
Room 5125
Washington, DC 20407

Washington Office*
Tel: [phone]
Fax It is vital to get these criminals under oath.
: [phone]

email: [e-mail]
AL FELZENBERG, DEPUTY FOR COMMUNICATIONS National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States

Office: 202-401-1725 Cell: 202-236-4878 Fax: [phone]"

[e-mail]

And don't forget your reps in Congress:

www.senate.gov

http://www.house.gov/writerep/
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

And finally , PLEASE NOTE MY SIG LINE – TO CALL YOUR REPS, TOLL FREE!!!

[EstimatedProphet]

11. The press in America isn't about fairness or equality

It is owned by some very sick monsters like Scaife and Murdoch. It's not about reporting the news. It's about owning the average American citizen. It's about trying to return to the days of the economic barons, where no one had rights in the workplace.

[Karenina]

25. And how about that Jack Welch, eh?

Surround their trucks and corporate HQs. Make their delivery of the CONSTANT STREAM OF LIES as difficult as possible. The likes of the media barons care not a whit more for America or her myths of democracy than the *cabal.

[wyldwolf]

12. we start by supporting Air America and not tearing it down.

[EV1Ltimm]

16. yeah, no shit.

90% of AA threads here are about how it's boring, whitebread and the link never works.

a little support might be nice.

[wyldwolf]

17. many more complain it isn't "liberal" enough

[oasis]

22. Let's give Air America our vote of confidence.

[grasswire]

13. a start....

...would be to change the way the White House press corps is organized. The fact that the WH controls the issuance of credentials to reporters is flat out wrong and must be changed back to the way it was prior to WW2. An independent press is necessary.

See the first post of this blog for recommendations for an independent press corps.

http://webdems/blogspot.com.

[Mike Niendorff]

19. re: "So, if the media is for profit, why don't they include leftist views"

Short answer: because people might actually listen, and then act.


MDN

[RedEagle]

23. There is no Penalty for the Media

The media includes no views to the left because there is no penalty for doing so.

Bottom Line: $$$$$$

Stop watching/listening. Write to the media companies and to the advertisers. Tell them why you will no longer be watching and then DO IT. Get others to do it.

Get the names of shows producers and tell them you will no longer watch because the news media of that particular network does not have equal coverage and editorializes in all of its reporting.

If you don't hit them where it hurts, NOTHING will change.

Even the really RW types have to make money.

Keep an eye/ear out for good shows though. When Dobbs covers voting, write Dobbs, the network, producers, and sponsors. When 60 Minutes covers something important, do the same drill.

Tell them you're not going to watch and that you will mount a campaign to get others to do the same.

The media may want Bush out by now, but they don't want to lose control, so they'll probably only push for the truth just so far.

Let them know that it's 100% or nothing.

They can't continue to air what they can't make a dime off of.

[shimmergal]

26. And tell them you won't buy the products advertised

on those shows.

Advertiser pressure could work for us too.

[cally]

21. Gratuitous kick

:kick:

[DeepModem Mom]

24. My three main thoughts on the media;

1. It's hard to overestimate the effect of corporate control.

2. The print press sometimes does its job; we should be thankful for it, and provide positive feedback. Cable news is, for the most part, a poisonous wasteland. CBS and ABC sometimes do valuable, even courageous, work, and also merit our praise when they do.

3. Most working reporters are of the generation I call "Reagan babies," Gen X, with apologies to all in that age group who do not fit that description. Conservative doctrine and policy are, I think, the norm to them, and they report from that mindset. I have hope that Gen Y will be different.

As for getting the press back to some degree of fairness, we can use that listing calimari posts so often, and, at the least, let the media, even cable news, know we are out here. We can also support alternate media on the internet, and such enterprises as Air America, and buy the books that are exposing the truth. And we can hope that Bush and his supporters on the extreme right, having damaged our country almost beyond repair, will bring about, at along last, a turn of the wheel.