Is the main stream media starting to come around?

[MadHound]

A phenomenon I've observed over the past six months is that the media is starting to take more, and harder, shots at the BFEE. From Rather's (blundered) release of the TANG memos to more honest reports of the mess in Iraq, the media seems to be creeping out from under their desks and growing a spine. I even saw a very unflattering photo of Bush last night on NBC. It was a headshot of Bush, in front of one of his infernal slogan curtains. All of the slogan was cut off, excepting the last three letters next to Bush's head, the three letters spelling out LIE.

I think what we are observing is the last great struggle between the old school, mostly liberal, journalists such as Rather and Brokaw, and their corporate bosses at Viacom, GE, et al. Instead of just repeating the propaganda talking points like they've done for the past three years, these folks realize what a great peril the Bush gang is and are starting to report the truth. Brokaw and Rather have little to lose, since they are retiring soon, but others are starting to follow. I don't think that we are going to see full fledged liberal television, but I do think that we are going to see more of the truth about the horrors of the Bush misadministration come to light, and that more and more subtle potshots will be taken.

What's your take? Am I being being over optimistic and reading to much into things, are is this a trend that you too are observing?

[Geek_Girl]

1. I've noticed a bit of a shift too

I'm not sure if its because of the progressives pushing the media to be more fair or if the journalist are just fett up with this crap. I noticed it especially after the CBS memos incident. I don't think those old timers like to be played and I wouldn't be surprised if they revolted.

[Old and In the Way]

2. They either "come around" or become irrelevant.

Real news investigationg/gathering and dissemination is migrating to the internet where it can be reported, corrected, evaluated, critiqued, and broadcast quicker and with less "filtering" than provided by the current corporate news network models. If they are not investigating and reporting the truth, they will become irrelevant.

[Cleita]

3. I have seen that submarine called "Truth" surface above

the propaganda muddy mire briefly in the past few months, however, sometimes it's only a slip of the tongue that is quickly pushed under again.

[devinsgram]

4. They had better learn where their bread is buttered.

[greekspeak]

5. Depending on what you are calling mainstream media, I don't think so

-NPR shills for the right wing while hiding behind "liberals" like Garrison Keillor.

-FAUX--why even list them. They will never change.

-CNN-Especially since the Dem convention, CNN has taken a hard turn to the right.

-CBS-Did a couple of brave things, got slapped down, and now are behaving like good little lap dogs.

-NBC, ABC, MSGOP, etc....far more Shrub apologetic than critical.

-Newspapers-Don't read a lot of them. Sounds like papers are pretty well like they always have been...many many whore for Shrub. The Tallahassee Democrat runs whole opinion pages with nothing but RW rants in a liberal county.

-Radio-Broadcast channels without pictures, literally and figuratively, they parrot what is on TV.

I do not see much coming around.

[Snotcicles]

6. They go where the polls take them n/t

[RedEagle]

7. Heard of any media layoffs?

I heard a rumor CBS was laying off a lot of people.

Shrub is hurting the media, too and they may be forced to chose between loyalty and staying alive in the business.

When you see shots like the one described above, with the letters "lie" next to Bush, it could have been a slip up- or not- by an editor or photographer. That person may well pay the price for it.

Then again, if a person is about to be laid off, the media may be hard pressed to get any shots that don't contain a bit of truth in them.

[Carla in Ca]

8. If CBS is laying people off

is it to do with some affiliates not carrying the evening news, or for some other reason. If that is the reason, doesn't that mean the conservative owners shot themselves in the foot?

[Mandate My Ass]

9. No but they know the internet is making them look foolish

and they know that we know that they've been genuflecting before the throne for a long time now.

In response, they take tepid and ineffectual pot shots at the BFEE, designed to miss the mark by miles, but make them appear as though they are actually doing their job and serving the public.

We're on our own.

[sr_pacifica]

10. I see it too---they don't want to be seen as being on the losing side

And I'm thinking they're losing confidence in Bushco pulling it off this time.

[Jade Fox]

11. The media seems a lot more willing to publish negative stuff...

about Bushco lately. One can either see that as them growing a spine or
just them figuring out which way the wind is blowing.

The thing with Rather should have scared whatever true journalists remain in
the employ of mainstream media. Its clear from statements made by Brokaw
and Jennings that they understand the implications of what happened. Wether
that indicates a new resolve on their part, or bowing to the inevitable take-over
of Cable news and independent internet stuff, who knows.

What concerns (and enrages) me is the subtle influx of a "fairness" ideology,
which I believe is the result of the mainstream media being hounded by the
right for liberal bias. The media now seems to feel it must always balance
anything negative said about Conservatives with something negative about
Democrats or liberals, even if they have to blow the sin of the Dems out of
porportion. They are abandoning judgement about the weight of one story
over another. They seem reluctant to print too much of the truth if the truth
makes conservatives look bad.

This phenominon was glaringly obvious after last week's debate. While the
response of most who saw the debate was that Kerry won, both my local
papers bent over backwards to avoid making a call. It was pathetic.