Are 24-Hour News Networks Basically Pointless?

[elperromagico]

[ithacan]

1. their point: Propaganda

they are creating false realities, and that is their point.

Remember all the Bush voters who are so clueless about the realities of Iraq, WMDs, the world's perceptions of Bush, etc.

That is exactly the point of cable "news".

[DODI]

2. Ted Turner's vision was good -- reality is bad.

I found that out after the 24/7 coverage of OJ

[FeelinGarfunkelly]

3. CNN Headline News: what's the point?

But I'd rather be watching the news than half the crap they show on tv these days. Good background noise for those rare times when I do housework.

[Shopaholic]

4. If you ever get the chance to see CNN International--

the difference between CNNi and our CNN is quite remarkable. But it pisses me off everytime I do because I can see what they could be and know what they chose to be instead and it just about breaks my heart.

[BelleCarolinaPeridot]

9. I adored CNN International while I was living in Europe ...

When I am lucky I am able to watch CNN International on CNNFn on the weekends . I wish I could trade CNN USA in for CNN International .

[democracy eh]

5. anchors are pointless, they can replace them with computer generated

and no one would notice or care
bland, completely void of personality or soul

[Mojambo]

6. They're just so so when there is actual news to report

but they are GREAT when there isn't

OJ, Jacko, Lacy Peterson etc...

It's a 24 hour freakshow. And I love it!

[underseasurveyor]

7. We dropped our cable 3 years ago

Seems pointless to pay for un-news.

[Synnical]

8. They've become 24 hour talk radio shows

i.e., entertainment

[idiosyncratic]

10. No. Their point is to frame the discussion = Propaganda

See "Outfoxed" if you think they are pointless.

There is an agenda and the 24-hour news show message is leaking over to the so-called "liberal" media of ABC, NBC, and CBS.

EDIT: for typo. Duh!

[TahitiNut]

11. CNN's Headline News is really the only 24-hour "news"

The others (CNN, MSNBC, Pox, CNBC) are purely the posturing of egos on a video stage. They aren't "news" - in fact, they get INTERRUPTED for "news" - they're a mob of video columnists and People Magazine drop-outs. The prance and preen in front of the camera, not behind it. It's not about who, when, what, where, why, and how - it's all about them. For example, "Wolf Blitzer Reports" is really "Wolf Blitzer Reports". "Paula Zahn Now" is more about her capped and bleached TEETH (which is appropriate, given what 'Zahn' means in English) than about anything else. (Her nose-job is the supporting cast.)

These networks are like a bunch of drunks in a bar - it's the excuse for their prancing and posturing. It's not the news that's presented, it's second-hand opinions and spin.

[knight_of_the_star]

12. Yes

We have to do it for AT LEAST a week for them to notice it, and get a lot of people involved and letting them know what we are doing.

[bemildred]

13. TV News is pointless.

They long since gave up on being informative.
It's all blather and propaganda now.
When they started interviewing each other, you knew it was over.