Do you ever get the impression that TV news programs/bulletins dictate to us what the news should be rather?
930041
Absolutely, this is the crux of the problem in the United States today. Sensationalized news for the sake of ratings has deteriorated the truth of how the world actually operates and interacts economically The impacts of different policies from all countries effects eveyone one of us globally. The shame is we in America have the most capacity to educate via the mass media. The conundrum arises because our current capacity to educate has stemmed from greed perpetuating the sensationalization of "Real News". Personally I don't care about the Scott Peterson case or O.j. Simpson. Real news is happening and people are dieing because the misinformed public prefers to be distracted with Paternity tests on The Maury show and an "MTV" culture of who's dating, marrying, and or divorcing who.\nCapitalism is a breeding ground for greed and the result is ignorance on a mass scale. I love my country and what it truly stands for. I just don't think our founding fathers would be too pleased with our outcome at this time. God Bless.
395807
I do. I subscribe to a bunch of RSS news feeds, and I check the local and CNN online news, as well as the online New York Times, but I still like to READ a newspaper. I like to read the comics, and the letters to the editor, and the classifieds, plus I just think it's a different way to assimilate the news.
1023377
its not news.\nit is entertainment.\nit is easier to convince people of your side when you limit debate, information and interpret the world to fit a particular world view. \non the left but especially on the right are guilty.\n\nThats why you hear something and you check out the facts. in the end you are not a silent partner but should be a active member in debate and discourse. like yahoo answers...even.
1182124
Local news shows are frustrating because you just want to get the traffic, weather, local breaking news while you get ready to go in the morning, but mostly they just give you a bunch of self-promotional BS about what they are going to give you "coming up" (you just have to wait through commercials and more BS about other stuff "coming up").  That said, I watch Fox most because they show local news longer than the others.  The others are pretty evenly split ... looking for the real stories, not the "coming up" teasers.
702650
Yes we hear everything that is said. We do have Internet and news papers. Just like you all hear what the media says about what is going on over here. The media only tells the story that sells, not the whole truth.\n\nWe also hear our supporters and thank you for your support.
123958
I actually think the media has much more of a conservative slant.  Considering that most main-stream media is owned by giant corporations, this is not surprising.\n\nMay I ask how you manage to fit so much information into your questions without going into the additional details?
732761
news like to take a story and run with it.  then they go out and hunt down similar stories to air them as well as long as the competition news channels so they seem like they broke a new story too.\n\nits all in competition and ignorance.\n\nnews should cover soup kitchens, homeless, kids that don't eat at least 3 meals a day, etc....that is what the public should be aware of.  Not some murder or what not where its like 1 out of 1.8 million yet we know there are at least 100,000 starving in the same city.\n\nNews isn't news....its a soap opera.
367315
the media runs the show.
975930
yeah...happens all the time...just has to be enough truth to make it a story...\n\nmost of the stories are not 100% accurate, if you have ever been part of a news story...you definitely know what i mean.
1056777
To answer a part of your quesiton, the media plays to the flavor of the week crowd.  They care not the validity or weight of a story.  The only relevant thing to news media is telling the news that sells subscriptions/viewers/readers.
625640
I would tend to believe that people should be informed before exercising democratic rights, but given the multiple forms of media available, literacy does not necessarily determine information.\n\nHowever, requiring basic media literacy would be nice.  But then public officials would have a harder time spinning information and may actually have to start being honest.
920686
No they just show a lot of press releases disguised as news. I think most people are smart enough to realize this. I'm sure there are a few dummies who don't catch on to this but most do.\n\nlove and blessings Don
356779
it just seems that way; its just the overall democratic / liberal media
969265
My take is that you cannot take anything reported on TV as fact.\n\nTo learn the real truth regarding anything you have to search it out.  You are more likely to find the truth on the internet than the news media.
97789
There is always news going on, but for days there are a little less than expected, newspapers tend to have a backup supply of what they call feature stories -- usually dealing with a larger subject or a personality profile, basically not something tied to a specific event -- that they can use to fill up the extra space.
640838
Unfortunately television is the way most people get their news...there are all sorts of issues that we Americans went forever without hearing turmoil in Sri Lanka...mass genocide in Africa just be glad that TV still gives some issues a voice otherwise everyone in this country that didn't read would be clueless...
697334
In my country (United States), television rules as the premier medium for disseminating news. News Channels like CNN, MSNBC, Fox news have created a nonstop 24 hour news cycle.\n\nTaking an Asian country like India, TV channels are emulating the American model and are creating 24 hour news cycles.  Their reach is not as much as the American channels but they are getting there.\n\ncc