Are people negligent if they don't look beyond the MSM for truthful news?

[cidliz2004]

Is it our responsibility in a "free Democratic" Society to look beyond the MSM, or should we have the right to EXPECT the MSM to give us fair and accurate reporting? When we have to go "underground" to find the truth, haven't we already lost one of our most important freedoms?

Since when is it acceptable for the Government/Corporations to be able to control the free press? There is a real problem here when people just accept that what we hear from the press is not to be believed and that it is "our" responsibility to look beyond for the truth. How long will it take before the "INTERNET" will some how be controlled? Will the answer then be; Well, you can go to another country and get the truth, or you can join real underground groups to get the truth. Are we free because we can breathe? Were Jim Jones' people free to go to the island? Or were they already somewhat brainwashed? THAT is what is happening here, much of the population of this country is effectively being brainwashed

[ultraist]

1. Yes, it's irresponsible to look only to the MSM for news/info

Would you consider using only magazine articles as resources for a college paper?

It's laziness and irresponsible to depend on MSM only for info. Too many Americans just push the remote control button to get their info and would rather not be bothered with reading.

With so much info easily accessed on the net, there is no excuse for such laziness. People don't call Americans fat, dumb, and happy for no reason.

I once saw a list of demographics that showed that 90% of bookstore shoppers are Democrats.

[Liberty Belle]

2. Not everyone has a computer, or can afford one.

In many areas of the country, there is no liberal radio station, all the TV stations are conservative, as well as the newspaper. Often these are areas where most people have low incomes and can't afford to buy a lot of materials themselves, nor should they have to. Of course, many don't even realize they're not getting a lot of the news, because what they do see is 100% biased.

Of course we have a right to demand that the public airways be unbiased, or at least give equal times to liberal and conservative views.

[Clark2008]

5. Like in my hometown

I have no choice but the Internet(s) if I want unbiased news - or at least another viewpoint.

I think people don't realize they're not being told the truth or that they're being told only one side of the truth.

However, not everyone can afford a computer or has the time to look for news if they do. Some people are also afraid of computers or believe everything they read on the Internet is phony, even if it comes from a reputable news source.

This is why media reform is so important. We must continue to write our letters to the media owners and journalists, letters to the editor and demonstrate in boycotts of advertisers until the owners have no choice but to "improve their product."

The reasons given by Bush supporters, for example, for why they continue to support him are, for the most part, bogus because they're simply not based in truth. When people find out that Bush doesn't support even half of what they think he does, they really raise their eyebrows and start wondering what the hell is going on in mediaworld.

[cidliz2004]

6. That doesn't surprise me

I don't think of most of the Republicans as very intelligent, inquisitive and/or independent.

[sundancekid]

3. YES and YES --look beyond msm AND hope/expect that msm does fair reporting

[Greybnk48]

4. I didn't know any of this existed until Nov. 5th!!

I read the times, watched CNN with more and more unease. I did not seek this out until I was convinced something was awry after the election. It took a couple of days to find DU. I found it through BBV. I found BBV through DAily Kos and I found Kos through ABC news web page. If I had not been so upset I would not have spent several days digging around. And believe me, most of the people I know still think I have a screw loose when I repeat some of the things I have learned here. Almost no one's ever heard of PNAC, and most do not question the last election.

[Psephos]

7. They're negligent if they don't realize that every news source is biased

Bias is not a bad thing. Another phrase for it is "point of view." Did you ever see the movie Rashomon?

We choose our truths according to our personal frames of reference. Truth isn't "out there" waiting to be found. It is inside us, part of who we are.

[TheMadHatter]

8. Well then...

...doesn't that make 'their' version of the truth just as valid as ours? And if so, why fight so hard, kicking and screaming when the MSM news doesn't agree with your truth?

[Psephos]

9. Only if you believe in moral relativism

What's that old saying...each person is entitled to their own opinion, but not to their own facts?

Various "truths" have various worths, based upon how well they accommodate the facts, maintain internal consistency, and above all, lead to desirable outcomes. In other words, the value of a "truth" is shown in its results.

By that standard, I don't have a lot of trouble sorting the wheat from the chaff.

[magellan]

10. Bias IS bad when it's used to limit facts

We're free to choose our truths according to our personal frames of reference -- once we have the facts. Otherwise all you have is belief. This is where Corporate Media has failed America. News is not opinion, and belief does not make something fact.

[Psephos]

11. Read my second post - we're in agreement :-) n/t