[conservatism_IS_compassion]

The opinion of the press corps tends toward consensus because of an astonishing uniformity of viewpoint. Certain types of people want to become journalists, and they carry certain political and cultural opinions. This self-selection is hardened by peer group pressure. No conspiracy is necessary; journalists quite spontaneously think alike. The problem comes because this group-think is by now divorced from the thoughts and attitudes of readers. To take politics as a test, in 1992, a sample of top Washington reporters and editors voted 89% to 7% for Bill Clinton over George H.W. Bush.

This is a Deux ex Machina argument--all journalists have the same politics, because they were born that way. Sorry, but more explanation is needed. And forthcoming from your interpid commentator, as follows:

The businesses which make money in journalism do so by following the rules of the business. People who don't want to follow those rules don't decide to become journalists--or go to work for newspapers which fail because they do not attract enough attention. The ones that attract enough attention to be able to charge enough advertising rate to be able to survive, do so by following the rules.

The joker is that the rules:

No news is good news, because good news isn't news, and

Man Bites Dog makes a better story than Dog Bites Man

mean that the news is atypical of reality in general, and is predominantly about things which call into question the institutions upon which we depend. The news as defined by commercial viability is inherently slanted to the idea of the need for change. People who like the job of writing such stories are--surprise!--opposed to conservatism.

Why Broadcast Journalism is Unnecessary and Illegitimate

[Helms]

Nice stuff, personally getting into the heads of Postmodernists is probably scary but trying to figure them out seems to be getting easier.

Media in the US probably is way too big and powerful. I insist that the Ivy League and wannabees teach this as part of a Postmodern, Anti-Enlightenment curriculum. Is its European- I think so. Capitalism is being abused.

PS: My poster boy, Keith Doberman is a Cornell grad. with an in your face attitude and its sounding like his Countdown is more a countdown to cultural Armageddon.

[DPB101]

The New York Times used to be a crusading Christian newspaper--made a name for itself uncovering the abortion industry in NYC.