In the last year, I have stopped watching TV news and the Sunday morning talking-heads shows. I now get my news from various newspapers and magazines online (and Jon Stewart). Of course, like most people, I gravitate to news sources that affirm my core beliefs. We all like to feel like we “get it.” The good news is that I probably spend six hours a week less time getting my “news.” My challenge: to break out of the idea incest so many of us suffer from when we choose our news sources.
A year ago, I had a hunch that there would be more demands on my time than ever, and that the political discussions on TV would be less productive than ever. (How many hours have you dedicated to following the health care “debate” in the last year? And, looking back, what did that earn you?) And I also had a strong feeling that the shapers of public opinion were corrupt — men and women who were selling their souls to get on the air or keep their advertisers happy, or worse, were actually secretly paid consultants of corporations with an agenda. Then, recently, in The Nation (an admittedly very liberal magazine, March 1, 2010 issue), I read Sebastian Jones’ article “The Media-Lobbying Complex.” Here’s an excerpt:
President Obama spent a day touring Allentown, Pennsylvania, meeting with local workers and discussing the economic crisis. A few hours later, Pennsylvania’s former governor, Tom Ridge, was on MSNBC’s Hardball with Chris Matthews, offering up his own recovery plan. He said, “The real answer for the White House is for the president to take his green agenda and blow it out of the box.” The first step, Ridge explained, was to “create nuclear power plants.” This was an “innovation setter” that would “create jobs and create exports.” While Ridge was presented as and sounded like an objective commentator, TV viewers weren’t told that in the last five years he’s received over half a million dollars serving on the board of Exelon, the nation’s largest nuclear power company (or that he owns a quarter million dollars of their stock). I believe marketers at Exelon gave him those talking points.
Moments earlier, on the same show, retired general and “NBC Military Analyst” Barry McCaffrey told viewers that the war in Afghanistan would require an additional “three- to ten-year effort” and “a lot of money.” He’s the perfect on-air package combining the credibility and service history of a US general with the likability of a caring grandpa. I wanted to like him and believe him. And for years I have. But MSNBC neglected to tell viewers that McCaffrey, their “military analyst,” was paid nearly $200,000 this year alone by DynCorp. Our government had just granted DynCorp a five-year $6 billion deal to supply American forces in Afghanistan. The first year is locked in at $644 million, but the additional four options are subject to renewal, contingent on military needs and political realities. And a man who served his country with such nobility is now selling his soul by using his credibility to get in on the easy money lavished on our military by promoting his benefactor on air in the guise of news analysis. DynCorp gives McCaffrey his talking points and, encouraged by a fawning “news anchor,” a naïve populace believes him. People die, debt grows, and some get wealthy.
In a single hour, two men with blatant, undisclosed conflicts of interest had appeared on MSNBC.
For years, like most of the American public, I let consultants like these shape my opinion about important issues like war and energy. All news in America (even PBS news) is a mix of news, entertainment, and propaganda. We can’t hope for CNN, MSNBC, or Fox News to provide serious journalism. But we can hope that Americans understand how corporate interests shape the political discourse in our nation these days.
By simply no longer watching, I find there’s less political noise in my world and more time to simply live. And I don’t even miss the talking heads I once thought were a plus in my life. (My practical time-saving tip: I get my news at stray, otherwise wasted moments throughout the day from my iPhone apps.)
How does a conservative or liberal get news that challenges rather than affirms their beliefs? As a traveler, I went to El Salvador three times — both during and after their civil war — to get a handle on that complicated struggle. I went to Iran to understand the mindset of the people who elected their president. I toured the medical marijuana dispensaries in Oakland to understand that situation; I followed up that trip by spending a day at a (drug company-sponsored) convention of doctors and pharmacists learning about the addictive qualities of cannabis; and then I took Seattle’s top narcotics cop out for dinner. I went to Tijuana when headlines told of beheadings there in the drug wars. And I went to Shanghai to feel the energy of the new Chinese economic power. I even went to Papua New Guinea to see if modern Christian mission work had progressed beyond “bras and Bibles.” Sure, you can learn lots by going on “field trips.” But trips like these are both time- and money-consuming.
Way back in 1973, I took a high school elective class called “Understanding the Media.” Today, understanding the media would be considered subversive and certainly not worthy of public school curriculum. But we can share insights and tips with each other. How can we use the media to better understand what the heck’s going on? After all…that’s what the news media is for.
I am glad you brought this up Rick. I also feel that this is a huge problem in America. I feel that the people of this country is brainwashed and bumbed down by the media. It is different kind of brainwashing from the old Soviet Union but just as powerful and creepy. The fact is that a typical American does not know very much what is going on in the world. Is it because she/he doesn’t care or is it because it is beneficial to some interests that she/he doesn’t know very much. I think it is the latter.
Rick has great intentions – but U.S. media, as well as small windows into issues (such as visiting a clinic), or traveling to a country are simply inadequate. Of course in any land of the blind, the one eyed man is omnipotent. And any person with broad-based insights is ahead of the game. That means reading not just newspapers and magazines representing all geographic areas and political and socio-economic beliefs, traveling beyond just popular tourist destinations, and above all NOT listening to those who tell you what they think you want to hear can enlighten us. I suggest a polite, curious, courteous, attentive but skeptical and jaundiced view of anybody who you intuit is trying to SELL you something (a product, an idea, a religion etc)is a great stimulus for further research. Then you can speak with passion.
All I can say to this post is, good grief, enough already. I am so thoroughly disgusted with anything political at this time. I believe it’s time for me to become apolitical…works for the athiests I guess. Can’t we just ‘play pretty’ as our parents once encouraged us to do and stop all of this stupidity?
I think it is very unhealthy to choose news outlets that fit an individuals pre conceived comfortable world view. The Nation on the left and The National Review on the right are equally toxic. My recommendations: NPR PBS Newshour The least biased for profit news sources: The New York Times Time Magazine
I agree with the above. You have to just ferret out the imporant tidbits and then maybe do some additional research on your own. Tonight I just read that the European Economy is collapsing under the debt of PIIGS (Portugal, Ireland, Italy,Greece and Spain) then you read somewhere else it is robust under the care of the German helm. So I guess if it was something that impacted me today this minute I would be more concerned and do more reserach but life goes on. Right now I am just interested in meeting my mortgage not the needs of a third world county
Uh….I was looking for a blog about travel in Europe…?
News from Jon Stewart……seriously? The guy is on Comedy Central. It is for entertainment purposes…he even says that himself. Good grief.
I like to remember that the business of TV is to “attract eyeballs,” doing whatever they must do to get you to watch, and then have you watch the commercials and boost ratings which translate into big bucks. I agree with Rick. You have to be a wise media consumer. I think most other nations require media education classes in schools, and sadly, of course, we don’t.
Your blog is a timely personal reminder, Mr. Steves. The fitness instructor at my job challenged me and others recently to go the entire workweek without watching television or getting on the ‘net, at least in the evening after work. This was his perscription for the lack of sleep I had been complaning about. Of course, I got to bed earlier–and I got to sleep faster. People don’t realize, long after we shut off the computer or T.V., the brain is still processing all those images. The more stressful we get watching T.V. the harder it is to relax and therefore get restorative sleep (7-8 hrs) that delivers us REM cycles. I got so caught up with the week’s big news these lessons got away from me. Frankly, most everything on the news channels are stress-inducing–I mean, I feel a difference when I at the very least tamp down the T.V. watching (obviously, I’m at my computer now). My next challenge is to read (even) more, attend more public forms, and really research the subjects that matter to me. Maybe if more of that was done, we’d have less incendiary and irresponsible rhetoric, threats on legislator’s lives, racial and homophobic epithets and bricks through windows. Time to shut off again…au revoir.
Rick.. have you lost your mind? Jon Stewart is NOT news! If you think it IS, then you have become a slave to liberal propaganda…. so sad!
Bill please take the time to read what you just wrote and then think about it!
Thanks for putting into words what I’ve been feeling for a long time about our country and its media! As a journalism major, I am disappointed in the direction the media has taken in the last 40 years.
Love these people that think because you watch John Stewart that you regard it as real news. Come on people, lighten up. Everyone, including Rick, knows it’s a comedy show. Maybe you should watch it once in a while. It might loosen you up. Sheesh!
No doubt RS is preaching to many in our choir but he may also be persuading some readers, including Europeans, that the U.S. is irretrievably broken. Yet we know that when Americans are finally informed, they usually do what is right for them as individuals and often what is best for the majority of other citizens (Social Security, GI Bill, interstate highway system, integrating the military, civil rights legislation, Medicare, Medicaid, prescription drug funding etc). Those things take lots of money and for better or for worse our free enterprise system generates wealth which pays. Our system is about self-interest and the golden rule (he who has the most gold rules) so it is flawed and must be scrutinized and closely regulated. But it has permitted many to live well and help others. As citizens, we may need to be better informed before we hold tea parties and run off at the pen or mouth but expressing our discontent more and being passionate is what it takes to hold institutions’ toes to the fire. It’s understandable for us to be afraid of the dark. But none of us should be afraid of the light.
Colbert is waaaaaaaay funnier than Stewart
Agree with Dan above. Poor Rick can never say anything the least bit tongue-in-cheek without somebody ragging on him.
This is why for the past decade, my homepage has been set to: http://news.bbc.co.uk and my primary source of written news is The Economist. My biggest complaint with the American news media isn’t politcal bias (which is fairly transparent) or even conflicts of interest. It’s the excessive use of talking heads (who, as Rick points out, often have conflicts of interest) and entertainment fluff as filler in place of real reporting on real issues. For example, when the first large scale demonstration against the Iranian election broke out last year, it took CNN 2 days to offer a report (the BBC had the breaking story within hours). What vitalally imporant story was CNN following at the time? A pre-produced restrospective on the career of Michael Jackson and Larry King interviews with his brothers. Bravo, CNN! Finally- unlike Barry McCaffrey, I have no financial interest in any military contractor, but actually having served in Afghanistan, I would find it very hard to disagree with his assessment.
Rick — If you want to find out what’s really going on in this country and the world, watch Bill Moyer’s Journal on PBS. When he retires, (this year, unfortunately) American journalism will lose its sole guiding light. Reza
I agree with your points, Rick. I can’t stand how much entertainment is in my “news”, and while my husband likes to watch political talk shows, I have to leave the room if he puts one on. I was a political science major! I just can’t stand how they characterize the issues in a biased manner instead of having a real discussion that actually goes somewhere. Most of all, I can’t stand the extremely argumentative tones of voice and lack of respect used on those political shows. No, thank you!
TV political programs have become shouting heads. I blame it on rapp music.
As a member of broadcast news media for the last 20 years, I must agree with you, Rick. I left the newsroom and have switched to feature writing instead of covering hard news. An additional source of American political consternation for me is the unlimited range of access that lobbyists have in U.S. politics. They need to be summarily held in check, if not completely tossed out of the halls of Congress and elsewhere. Their powerful influence with our American leaders is shameful.
I tend to watch Fox News. Now, I know that they are anything but “fair and balanced” but I’ve fallen in the trap of gravitating to those news sources who tend to speak for me. Not proud of that, but it’s the truth. The stance I’ve taken lately, and I think RS’ posting addresses that, is that I assume when someone argues for a cause or takes a stance on something in the press/media, they have some unseen agenda. I sincerely believe that in the health care debate almost everyone who spoke on NBC, Fox, CNN, etc., had a vested interest in the outcome of the proposed legislation. For folks like me who have a political leaning (desire for small government) but who still sincerely are open to the truth, I find the whole thing energy sapping. Who to believe? Can facts ever be reported, without bias? Do I form my opinions based on emotional reflex? Unfortunately, this biased reporting may be an old issue. Look at the Bayeux Tapestry. The “authors” of that piece certainly portrayed the Saxons as the bad guys. The press in John Adams’ time had to problem in printing scandalous lies about both him and Thomas Jefferson. Perhaps it has always been that way. No wonder so many people drop out of the process and either have no opinions or base them on nonsense. Admittedly, I may be one of those.
I had to come home the other day and admit to my husband, the day that President Obama was signing the Health Care Bill, that I just had to turn on Rush Limbaugh for a minute to see if he was giving himself a heart attack over the whole thing. And I think he was an inch away! I think we need to get our news from Jon Stewart because things have gone so crazy that you can only laugh about it all. I know that this is a travel blog, but I get a big kick how everyone goes crazy on you and the other bloggers when anything controversial is discussed. Rick I think you bring up these topics on purpose to get a response! Keep people thinking.
Rick, only you would complain that MSNBC is too conservative. LOL
I got rid of cable cause I could not stand the talking heads. Its horrific to watch and a tragedy to believe everything they say. Left or Right. Speak with your vote in November.
I noted Judy’s comment about Rush Limbaugh and was reminded that he had sworn to move to Costa Rica if health care reform was enacted. A neighbor who lived in Costa Rica most of her life informs me that Costa Rica has national health care.
I just read that Costa Rica ranks higher in health care than the United States.
Hey Stimpy, Rick is actually saying something more sophisticated than you’re giving him credit for. He never said MSNBC was “too conservative.” Quite the contrary; he’s conceding that even a liberally oriented mainstream news outlet, like MSNBC, does a rotten job of providing “news.” He’s not saying dump Fox News in favor of MSNBC; he’s saying skip them both and seek out legitimate sources of journalism.
Bill, please check your facts before attesting to what some people have sworn to have said. Limbaugh never said he would move to Costa Rica, he did say he would go there for his health care but only in a joking manner. The entire Costa Rican thing related to a caller in the insurance industry. Go to the website and find out the facts. My brother lives in San Jose C.R. and the health care there is national but there is a large private industry also. He comes back to the USA for his care, but maybe not for much longer.
Rick, I really thought your headline was referring to the Fox News anchorwomen. I was going to say: well, maybe you should be blaming the wardrobe department. But personally, I wouldn’t make any changes.
He’s not saying dump Fox News in favor of MSNBC; he’s saying skip them both and seek out legitimate sources of journalism……..Like John Stewart?
I find BBC America (7 and 10 in the CTZ) gives a good overall story of the days happenings in the world. Slanted neither by politics or nationality.
Rich, Bless you for speaking out and doing the research. I am sure you knew all along that “it” is all about money. Capitalism at its worst. It seems like you have followed my path, albeit a little later than me. I have not read a newspaper or watched network TV for 7 years (with rare exceptions) If I watch TV it is John Stewart, and the Colbert Report, also watch Rachuel Maddow and Keith Oberman because of their intellect. But,in the case of Rachel and Keith, if I miss a month of programming and tune back in, nothing is new. For credibility, I am a retired veteran officer and served during three wars and travel extensively. You inspired me to be a world traveller back in the mid 90’s. My method of travel is solo on a motorcycle while sleeping in pensions at $3 per night (inc brkft) and in the bush, and enjoy living on the economy. So far all done of North, Central and South America and most of Europe. I just joined your blog and look forward to more. Safe travels. Mike
One more comment, I just reading some of the comments about news versus comedy. Those who criticise John Stewart appear to be unable to understand subtle intellect hidden behind humor. When even the dumbest of humans can’t see madness of the extreme right and idiocy of self serving politicians it is time to speak out for common sense versus remaining a conformist (love it or leave it) philosophy. After my tour in Vietnam I chose not to re-enlist and protested along with other veterans. When Pres Bush invaded Iraq I discussed with my General Officer friends and spoke out against this act of war. For those in the “know” the majority of the smart officers knew the latest war was all about money. However, the “military code” chose not to speak out publicly. One commenter criticized Mr Steves as a traveller with no “real” knowledge of world events. Unfortunetely there are enough Americas who sit on their couch, watch TV, blame everyone else but themselves, and believe might is right and policitians are akin to God. Following is non thinking and lazy. Voicing an opposing opnion is courageous and difficult. How should we catagorize the founding fathers and the American independence who chose not to follow the British government. Oh well, what did we gain?
Every statement made by a person, i.e. all statements, are subjective. This includes news on NY Times, NPR, BBC, or FOX. It is not just what is reported, but also what is not said or written Travel and understanding the point of view of the speaker is the best way I know of to maximize truth. One will never know the whole truth. We all filter information and speak and act through the lens of our own beliefs.
I gave up news for Lent and I’ve never been happier. It’s all gone except for a quick (less than 20 seconds) glance at my local newspaper’s top headlines and blog posts from my favorite tech blogs. Anything short of “Healthcare overhaul passed” or “Planes fly into buildings” don’t even get remembered. And those articles get skimmed for a “gist” understanding and then immediately closed. I’ve never been less stressed in my life. I have no idea what’s going on in the world, and I’ve found out that when relying on “news” I didn’t know what was going on in the world before I gave up the “news” anyway. I was ignorant before when relying on the “news” but at least now that I’m not relying on the “news” I know I’m ignorant.
Rick, I agree completely with your comments. In fact, my better-half and I have been referring to the so-called journalists as “news prostitutes” for several years now, (actually, we use another word, but it still means prostitutes). Recent earthquake in Turkey? Killed dozens? Did you see that on the news? How about the landslides in Africa that buried 3 villages–also killing dozens? No? But I’ll bet you know whenever some two-bit starlet tosses out her boyfriend or gets busted for a DUI. Not trying to put you on the spot here, Rick, but how about starting *your* own news service? I would love something that reported legitimate, untainted, non-agenda-ized news. I’ll even give you a hand, if you like.
Fall of Rome? Someday soon, everyone will be talking about the fall of the USA. Greed, sex, corruption…people never learn… we just keep making the same mistakes, millenium after millenium.
Rick, I’ve always been disappointed that I can’t “follow” your blog via Blogspot. I don’t want another email message in my inbox as an RSS feed. But here is another technical failing of your blog template. This is an outstanding, simply outstanding post. I’d love to share it with about 400 friends, but how? I can’t isolate this one post and twitter it or email it or facebook it. Upgrade, please.
Charlotte said “…we just keep making the same mistakes, millenium after millenium” That’s because our educational system is politically–rather than reality–based. George Santayana: Those who cannot learn from history are doomed to repeat it. George Wilhelm Hegel: What experience and history teach is this — that people and governments never have learned anything from history, or acted on principles.
Thanks Rick! think for yourself–check check facts–check add humor–check add a lot of compassion to the mix and things could only get better
Rick this is a great, provocative piece, though I think you are throwing out the fact that most folks understand the powerful (but conflicting) commercial and political biases in the media. One of the beauties and ironies of the American experience is that we have *strongly competing* views powerfully represented at all times. We’re still pretty narrowly focuses as a nation, but online sources allow any open minded person to find many perspectives. I don’t think the news is the problem as much as our tendency to only listen to those with whom we agree or like.