CNN, Fox, any media outlet you care to mention, only one thing matters- profits; ratings.
Journos were/are *so* conflicted because as much as most of them hate Trump, he is *entertaining* and gets good ratings.
“CNN, Fox, any media outlet you care to mention, only one thing matters- profits; ratings.”
If that were true in today’s world, where the electorate is split about 50/50, you would see balanced reporting on all networks. Instead you see:
1). Fox News fires the host of its most popular show with no backup plan. Ratings crater. Completely predictable. Makes no sense from either a profits or rating perspective.
2). CNN was the #1 news network. Competition came in (Fox and MSNBC). The network’s strategy in response to competition was to move hard left, aligning itself with MSNBC. Adopting a “me too” positioning resulted in CNN moving to third place. Imitators rarely usurp the top brand holding a distinct position in a marketplace. Unless the top brand makes a mistake, it requires innovation, not “me too” imitation to dethrone the top brand.
3). Fox became #1 by carving out a “fair and balanced” positioning, in which conservative and liberal issues were raised and debated during a period when MSNBC and CNN were moving left. Ultimately Fox became the “conservative” network as MSNBC and CNN moved hard left. The “fair and balanced” positioning is no longer. “Fair and balanced” is the market opportunity for CNN (or possibly Fox) to grab. Deliver straight up factual news in when reporting. Clearly differentiate “news” from commentary. Be completely objective in news reporting, covering all sides and providing the facts. Allow the viewer to decide. Then in commentary have real debates between conservatives and leftists which are more than political soundbites. Have commentators who can discuss issues and events with authority present points of view with facts, not emotion. Eliminate the false outrage in reporting and commentary. Challenge power in all forms (corporations, politicians of all stripes, academia, unions, law enforcement, big government, the military). Build a network for thoughtful people who may be on the right or the left. Bring reason back to the public arena.
Russell Brand, Joe Rogan, Ben Shapiro, Jimmy Dare and others are killing the cable news networks in viewership because they are bringing civilized, factual commentary back to the public arena. Tucker Carlson will do the same and almost certainly have more viewers than he did on Fox News. Cable news has given up on thoughtful viewers who want to dig below the surface of issues and hear reasoned debate on the issues we face today. Streaming is filling the huge void created by the three cable news networks focusing on emotional soundbites.
Why doesn’t CNN see the opportunity? Why is Fox content to lose its number one show to streaming? If viewers and profits were what matter, all three major news networks would be changing their formats and personalities to appeal to the much bigger streaming audience. One explanation is the three news networks are essentially propaganda outlets for the corporatist state and that mission is more important than profits. In the late 20th century, and early 21st century, we have transitioned from a free market economy with many competitors, to a system of large managed markets controlled by a few mega corporations and government operating in tandem.
Go on the “Chronicling America”, the Library of Congress website on which you can access digitalized newspapers from every state going back to the founding of the republic. Read the news and commentary in small town newspapers in the 18th, 19th, and early 20th century. You will find the depth and quality of both reporting and editorial far exceeds anything available in the mainstream media. As a result, the electorate of that period was much more literate and informed than voters today. There are still millions of Americans seeking facts and applying reason to the issues of our day. Fox News is abandoning them while MSNBC and CNN do not speak to them. Tucker Carlson did and will continue to do so with an even greater audience than he had at Fox. The entrepreneurial spirit, that has powered innovation in the American economy since the nation’s founding can be found in the internet streaming market, not print media and not cable TV. Certainly not a CNN, MSNBC or Fox.
Link to Chronicling America: https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov
I use to think that and it would make sense but I now believe that to most big corporations their news media divisions are just vanity projects.
Its a way for the corporations to spin the narratives that they want. This is useful when it comes to pending legislation that can effect their other divisions. Its also helpful to get the people most helpful to the company elected.
Its more effective than direct campaign contributions which have limits. The fact that the news division looses money every quarter is just the cost of doing business. Its just a write off loss to the corporation against their other profits. That's why the can operate at a loss indefinitely.