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Most Americans Believe Media is Assaulting Morals, Study Shows
CNS News ^ | 06.07.07 | Katherine Poythress

Posted on 06/16/2007 9:57:35 PM PDT by Coleus

Sixty-eight percent of Americans say the media have damaged moral values in America, according to a report released Wednesday by the Culture and Media Institute (CMI).   The report also concludes that the more a person watches television, the less likely he or she is to believe that the media are influencing the nation's morals. CMI is a division of the Media Research Center, which is also the parent organization of Cybercast News Service.

Michael Medved, syndicated radio talk-show host, delivered the keynote address at a Wednesday conference held in conjunction with the report’s release. "This is one of the most important studies of its kind in years," he said, "because it is one of the first to examine the amount instead of the quality of television Americans are watching."  Robert Knight, director of CMI, pointed to television's "seductive effect," which makes a person less likely to believe his or her moral values are being affected.

Other findings in the report include:

Brent Bozell, founder and president of the Media Research Center, said "[Liberalism] is seeping into the culture and it's having its corrosive effect."  David Walsh, president of the National Institute on Media and the Family, said he was not surprised by the results of the study. "The real impact that's a little bit more subtle, but very, very pervasive, is the ability of media to shape norms and values. That's why advertisers like their messages in the media, because they know that they can influence us. "I think it's circular," Walsh said about the media's influence. "I think that media is both a mirror of society and an influencer of society. I don't think it's one or the other. I think it's both."

But Walsh said it is important to realize that the correlation between watching a lot of television and being less suspicious of the media do not necessarily go hand in hand.  "You can certainly say that those two things go together, but you can't say that one causes the other, and they did imply that [in the study], and so that would be, I think, a weakness in their interpretation of the CMI study," Walsh said. "I think it's an interesting study, to show those connections, but when they make the leap from correlation to cause-effect, they're making a leap that they shouldn't be making," Walsh added. Medved closed his keynote address by stipulating that he was "not trying to suggest that television causes all these problems." But, he added, "it certainly exacerbates them."


TOPICS: Culture/Society
KEYWORDS: culturewars; liberalmedia; msm
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1 posted on 06/16/2007 9:57:36 PM PDT by Coleus
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To: 2ndMostConservativeBrdMember; afraidfortherepublic; Alas; al_c; american colleen; annalex; ...

.


2 posted on 06/16/2007 9:57:58 PM PDT by Coleus (Roe v. Wade and Endangered Species Act both passed in 1973, Murder Babies/save trees, birds, insects)
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To: Coleus
The best thing I've ever done in my life is stopped following the liberal media. So far, I haven't missed it and I'm happier.

"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus

3 posted on 06/16/2007 10:01:32 PM PDT by goldstategop (In Memory Of A Dearly Beloved Friend Who Lives In My Heart Forever)
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To: Coleus

a significant percent of the media are fags.


4 posted on 06/16/2007 10:02:12 PM PDT by Mad_Tom_Rackham (Elections have consequences.)
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To: Coleus

90% of TV is trash. The producers make it because they know a lot people will watch anything.


5 posted on 06/16/2007 10:03:13 PM PDT by Rennes Templar ("The future ain't what it used to be".........Yogi Berra)
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To: Coleus

“Robert Knight, director of CMI, pointed to television’s “seductive effect,” which makes a person less likely to believe his or her moral values are being affected.”

When one’s sensibilities are incessantly attacked channel after channel after channel upon a touch of “Power On”, one should if nothing else react logically with a touch of “Power Off”.

How in this World can anyone NOT discern the blatant degeneracy of moral values emminating from the screen?


6 posted on 06/16/2007 10:12:20 PM PDT by rockinqsranch (Dems, Libs, Socialists...call 'em what you will...They ALL have fairies livin' in their trees.)
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To: Coleus

Good post. I use the mute button, or change the channel when it becomes offensive, even on commercials. It would probably help to let your local station know that you change the channel, for program content or offensive commercials. They’re sensitive when it comes to their pocketbook, and may pass it on to the source.


7 posted on 06/16/2007 10:17:29 PM PDT by Tangaray
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To: Coleus; All
i believe it. it de-sensitizes the viewer....if you see murders and robberies on TV often, then it isn't a shock to your system when you see the real thing. it also effects how you will or will not respond to seeing the real thing, then.

this might be a stupid question, but... have you seen Kyle XY?!! it suddenly dawned on me that this character, having been incubated in a "chamber" and kept there for years... I am wondering if we are being set up by this show to accept cloning issues... any thoughts, anyone?

8 posted on 06/16/2007 10:18:01 PM PDT by MountainFlower (There but by the grace of God go I.)
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To: Rennes Templar
90% of TV is trash.

Your point being?

9 posted on 06/16/2007 10:48:23 PM PDT by Oztrich Boy (90% of everything is trash - Theodore Sturgeon)
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To: Coleus

bookmark


10 posted on 06/16/2007 11:15:43 PM PDT by GOP Poet
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To: Coleus

I don’t believe it. I KNOW it.


11 posted on 06/16/2007 11:29:03 PM PDT by rdl6989
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To: Coleus; All
Dropping out of Lurk & Link Mode...

I have said, "The television is like a garbage disposal in reverse- you turn it on, and the contents of the sewer beneath your house comes pouring forth into your living room..."

The basic problem with virtually all the media is that it is a vehicle used to sell you something- it's driven by advertising, so it needs to get and hold your attention long enough that you will sit still for the ads that follow.

And what is the quickest way to do that?

Cheap sleaze.

Bright colors.

Tits, teeth, and asses.

Explosions and fire.

Lots of white noise.

Everybody on the screen moving around like they have Saint Vitus' Dance.

12 posted on 06/17/2007 1:19:47 AM PDT by backhoe (-30-)
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To: Coleus
Most Americans Believe Media is Assaulting Morals, Study Shows

Ya think?
13 posted on 06/17/2007 4:45:04 AM PDT by WorkingClassFilth (Fighting Morlocks and educating the Eloi since 1976.)
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To: Coleus

14 posted on 06/17/2007 4:59:02 AM PDT by NativeNewYorker (Freepin' Jew Boy)
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To: Oztrich Boy

You must be a Simpsons fan.


15 posted on 06/17/2007 6:53:58 AM PDT by Rennes Templar ("The future ain't what it used to be".........Yogi Berra)
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To: backhoe

Teeth?


16 posted on 06/17/2007 7:00:42 AM PDT by durasell (!)
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To: Coleus

I highly recommend scuttling the TV altogether. We now have a TV-free home, and we hardly miss it.


17 posted on 06/17/2007 9:43:27 AM PDT by ViLaLuz (2 Chronicles 7:14)
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To: durasell
Teeth?

Yeah- ever notice how all the women have shark smiles? Lots of teeth...

18 posted on 06/17/2007 9:59:24 AM PDT by backhoe (-30-)
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To: backhoe

Sorry, has to be done...

Oh, the shark, has pretty teeth, dear....and he shows them pearly white
Just a jackknife has MacHeath, babe.....and he keeps it, out of sight
When that shark bites with his teeth, dear....scarlet billows start to spread
Just a gloved hand, has MacHeath, babe..and he never shows a single drop of red

On the sidewalk...Sunday morning, commin’ down...lies a body oozin’ life
Someone’s sneakin’ ‘round the corner...could that someone be Mack the Knife?

(instrumental break)

There’s a tugboat....down by the river.....with a cement bag, hangin’ down
Oh, the cement’s just for weight, dear...five’ll get ya ten old Macky’s back in town
Ole Louie Miller disappeared, babe...after he withdrew all his cash
Now MacHeath spends like a sailor...could it be our boy’s...done somethin’ rash?

There’s Jenny Diver, and Sukey Tawdry..Miss Lotte Lenya, and ole Lucy Brown
Oh, the line forms on the right, babe.....now that Macky’s back in town

I said that line forms on the right, babe.....now that Macky’s back in town.


19 posted on 06/17/2007 3:48:39 PM PDT by durasell (!)
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To: durasell

Thanks- I have not actually read those lyrics in years.


20 posted on 06/17/2007 4:22:03 PM PDT by backhoe (-30-)
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