Please correct my memory.

[JackintheGreen]

I seem to remember, in my younger days, that the 'news' actually used to cover stuff outside of tales of man's personal depravity. Things like elections in south American nations, economic upheavals in Europe, healthcare in Africa, Apartheid...you know, like the BBC still seems to do. One could watch the evening news and get a sense of what was going on in the world at large and average adults might know where Pakistan is and, even if they don't remember the name, can recall having heard the name of the leader of the Philippines. I mean, I remember when Corazon Aquino was elected there after Marcos called for elections sometime in the middle of the Regan presidency. ANd his wife's shoes.

This isn't meant as a gripe against the current media fixation on bollocks (Duke rape case hearings on all three networks? effing L!!!), but isn't something else of import going on somewhere in the world, and didn't we used to hear about it.

Or am I crazy? I really want to know.

[unblock]

1. that was before the media became fair and balanced

the media used to show reality.

and we all know, reality has an inherent liberal bias.

:evilgrin:

[OldLeftieLawyer]

2. You mean,

like when people actually REPORTED the news - the stuff that other people did out there in the world, and the only commentary they offered was the direct knowledge they had of those people and events?

You must be as old as I am, to remember those days.

Now, the "reporters" seem to be the news, and, for reasons I still don't understand, they're getting paid handsomely to stick around and pontificate about events to which they're not remotely connected. When they're wrong about everything - as they usually are, there are no penalties, no mea culpas, not even any explanations, and they simply go on to the next thing.

You're not crazy.

The world, though, is coarsed and cheapened by what these people do.

The news is still there, and it's still being brilliantly reported. Just not by anyone in the USA. Check out BBC online.

[donco6]

3. No, you're not crazy.

When I'm in Europe, I'm always amazed at the news. It's not the latest grotesque murder or horrific accident or missing blonde - it's about world politics, the economy, wars (with graphics). We might as well be watching the Enquirer every day for what they call news here.

[JackintheGreen]

4. OK, I'm not crazy. This is good.

Then this is what astounds me:

It's us, the American people, who allow this. When I was last in India I had to rely on CNN-world for bits of news, and they actually had news. CNN and news. What a concept. But they won't do it here.

I get more world news from ESPN these days.

Thanks, my newsy peeps. I like to know my memory hasn't completely failed.

[donco6]

9. It's classic, "give them what they want."

The typical American - sad to say - finds world news boring. They want blood. They want fire. They want sex. They want explosions. News about some president of Italy who won't give up his seat? Boring. New about war dead? Unpatriotic! News about the European Union putting pressure on Poland not to limit gay rights? Sacrilegious!

[neoblues]

5. It Still Does... but you have to tune into the BBC to see it.

And even they aren't what they used to be.

[riona]

6. Are you referring to the days

when junk food, processed food, and sugary drinks didn't dominate the grocery stores? Maybe there's a correlation.

[JackintheGreen]

7. I shop at generic MegaMart X

and I can get as much or as little fresh, unprocessed food as I want. I bake my own bread about half the time, cook all the family meals with fresh or non-heavily-processed ingredients (dried pasta, frozen vegetables). It's not what's available (free markets and all that crap), but what people buy and the importance they place on what they consume.

"But I don't have time to cook everynight." BULLSHIT. You're just too lazy. Seriously. That's all it is. And sometimes being lazy and heating up a frozen dinner is OK. But to feed your kids that crap every night is just lazy. And irresponsible.

Just my two cents.

[Arkansas Granny]

8. You must be referring to the days when the news was meant to

be informative instead of entertaining. I watch the News Hours with Jim Lehrer, BBC when I can stay up that late, and get the rest of my news from the internet. The rest of network news is nothing but a popularity contest anymore.

[ComerPerro]

10. Im 24, so I honestly don't ever remember anything like that

sad, huh?

[lyonn]

11. Instead of showing more of the hearing on Heyden

That was unbelievable. Have they no shame.

[Toots]

12. The dollar

both in the savings they get by not actually traveling abroad to record events and in the sensationalism for ratings that spurs attraction.