Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Trust in TV News is Waning
College News.org ^ | August 4, 2012 | by Jeffrey M. McCall

Posted on 08/05/2012 7:00:40 AM PDT by Oldeconomybuyer

A recent Gallup survey reports Americans are increasingly frustrated with the quality of television news. Only 21 percent of Americans now express “a great deal” of confidence in television news. That is the lowest score ever, dropping from the 46 percent level when Gallup started asking this question in 1993. Declines in confidence are found across all age groups and political affiliations. Given the recent performance of TV news, further deterioration in confidence is inevitable.

ABC’s Brian Ross jumped to conclusions and suggested a link between the Aurora movie shooter and the tea party. NBC’s unprofessional editing of the George Zimmerman 911 audio led to a false impression. Then NBC made misleading edits of a Mitt Romney campaign speech that seemed to make the GOP nominee appear shocked by the technology at convenience stores.

These are not accidents. They are egregious errors in judgment that could be avoided if the professional culture were more committed to accuracy and fairness, and less preoccupied with being first, showing off and sensationalizing the news.

Television is still the source from which most citizens get their news. A free press was established to provide the information needs of a democracy. Television news, as the citizenry’s prime surrogate, assumes a heavy responsibility. The nation needs and deserves a television news industry that enlightens and empowers citizens.

(Excerpt) Read more at collegenews.org ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: bias; journalism; journalists; media
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-32 next last
by Jeffrey M. McCall, professor of communication at DePauw University and author of Viewer Discretion Advised: Taking Control of Mass Media Influences
1 posted on 08/05/2012 7:00:46 AM PDT by Oldeconomybuyer
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: Oldeconomybuyer

I turned it off fifteen years ago.


2 posted on 08/05/2012 7:05:44 AM PDT by 4buttons
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Oldeconomybuyer

I haven’t watched TV or Cable news in years. I read a lot, and I’ll watch the occasional clip on the Net, but ALL of it is, generally, crap. They each preach to their choir while in a quest for ratings. From MSNBC to Fox and everything in between they are all useless. People need to stop listening to pundits saying what they (listeners) HOPE is true and get the facts for themselves.


3 posted on 08/05/2012 7:06:15 AM PDT by RIghtwardHo
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Oldeconomybuyer
I get more information from this site than I do from radio, tv or newspapers.

Only reason I buy a newspaper nowadays is coupons and the comics. Even those are available online. I rarely watch tv news, not even Fox (”fair and balanced” my arse).

4 posted on 08/05/2012 7:09:47 AM PDT by fatnotlazy
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Oldeconomybuyer

As far as news goes...

...This ain’t it


5 posted on 08/05/2012 7:10:16 AM PDT by Vaquero (Don't pick a fight with an old guy. If he is too old to fight, he'll just kill you.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Oldeconomybuyer

Ya think?

I haven’t watched the Leftist POS news in decades.


6 posted on 08/05/2012 7:14:01 AM PDT by alice_in_bubbaland (When injustice becomes law, resistance becomes mandatory- Thomas Jefferson)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: RIghtwardHo

Only to point this out...as the number declines...the networks will eventually reach a point where they discuss the cost of production and maintaining a news network staff. My guess is that one of the big three (ABC, CBS, or NBC)...will come up by 2020 and dump their news team. They might maintain a Hollywood or entertainment team...but that’s mostly because people still watch that.

The writing will be on the wall, and folks will began to ask stupid questions at that point. Why bother having a news team in Europe or Asia? Why bother with a full-time White House reporter? Why run a Sunday morning chat show when it’s less than 500k people that watch it nationwide?


7 posted on 08/05/2012 7:18:33 AM PDT by pepsionice
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: Vaquero

Americans recognize (and are appalled by) “advocacy journalism” when they see it.

The press used to be regarded as honest brokers of the facts. No longer.


8 posted on 08/05/2012 7:19:11 AM PDT by Walrus (Restoring America starts today! Let's roll!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: 4buttons
Amen brother. I have not watched any CNN since the first gulf war. I have not ever watched CNBC, MSNBC at all. ABC, NBC, and CBS left my house a couple of decades ago. I don't even watch Fox anymore. I am sick of the liberals they have added to get what they term “fair and balanced.” There has been no fair and balanced in news reporting in 30 years or more.
9 posted on 08/05/2012 7:22:25 AM PDT by RetiredArmy (You can almost hear the footsteps of Jesus. He is right at the door!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: Oldeconomybuyer

The MSM long ago ceased making any effort to report any semblance of real news. They clearly support the leftist agenda and are ‘shaping’ the news to convey that point of view in the most favorable way. Conversely, the MSM (PBS included) attacks all things conservative. Most people are pretty much aware by now that the MSM are purveyors of propaganda dressed up as ‘news’. The alphabet news organizations have completely lost what little credibility they ever had and are no better than their erstwhile Russian counterparts Tass or Isvestia.

Yahoo! and its recent alliance with new soulmate CNBC are a virtual political attack machine that makes the rest of the MSM look fair minded by comparison.


10 posted on 08/05/2012 7:26:28 AM PDT by Starboard
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Oldeconomybuyer

What’s that other ABC twit named Brian? No mention of “Gun Walker” for what, 18 months, give or take?


11 posted on 08/05/2012 7:29:19 AM PDT by Calvin Locke
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Oldeconomybuyer
Trust in TV News is Waning

DUH. Tell us something we didn't already figure out about 10 years ago.

12 posted on 08/05/2012 7:31:43 AM PDT by rockabyebaby (We are sooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo screwed!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: RIghtwardHo
...get the facts for themselves.

How, exactly, do you do that?

13 posted on 08/05/2012 7:34:34 AM PDT by lonestar (It takes a village of idiots to elect a village idiot.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: Walrus
Americans recognize (and are appalled by) “advocacy journalism” when they see it.

The press used to be regarded as honest brokers of the facts. No longer.

I fear tthis is only true for the 48% that didn't vote for the POSOTUS in 08

14 posted on 08/05/2012 7:34:34 AM PDT by Vaquero (Don't pick a fight with an old guy. If he is too old to fight, he'll just kill you.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: Oldeconomybuyer

I thought we had a little hope with Fox. But it now appears after a few years they too are falling into the category of entertainment. Fox & Friends has turned into the Today show.

And to think that at one time they actually ran commercials mocking the lamestream media about the crap they spewed.


15 posted on 08/05/2012 7:35:11 AM PDT by unixfox (Abolish Slavery, Repeal The 16th Amendment!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: lonestar

Absolutely love the tagline!


16 posted on 08/05/2012 7:36:06 AM PDT by rockabyebaby (We are sooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo screwed!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 13 | View Replies]

To: Oldeconomybuyer
Hey, TV news. I have a suggestion.

How about no longer SHAMELESSLY shilling for Obama and the Communist left? How about no longer pushing the gay agenda? How about no longer lying outright?

Naw. That would never work.

As you were.

17 posted on 08/05/2012 7:36:26 AM PDT by Lazamataz (I love the Universe, and it loves me.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Oldeconomybuyer

It’s long past “is waning.”


18 posted on 08/05/2012 7:46:46 AM PDT by bgill
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Oldeconomybuyer

Personally, I trust the Newsers just as much today as I always have!

19 posted on 08/05/2012 7:54:32 AM PDT by Zakeet (Liberalism - Ideas so good that you have to be forced to accept them)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: 4buttons

“I turned it off fifteen years ago.”

I threw my TV away during the OJ trial. I’ve been reading only since.


20 posted on 08/05/2012 7:57:59 AM PDT by Gen.Blather
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-32 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson