Danah Boyd has had enough of the MSM. And I’m right there with her. She’s obviously different from me in terms of political ideologies but we completely see eye to eye on this issue. I refuse to watch the News and I never pick up a newspaper. Neither of them make me more informed, all they do is sell entertainment. The sell fear, misinformation and dredge to turn a buck. It’s capitalism, folks. It’s about incentives. It’s about ratings. It’s about money. Danah (who gets interviewed regularly) is spot on with this quote:
“I’ve been avoiding reporters a lot lately. They always tell me that I should talk to them “to tell the other side.” But we both know that’s not what really happens. They use me to tell the story that they need to tell but they have to at least give nods to “the other side” for appearances. There’s no story in reality. Reality is boring. It’s not made for 24/7 news. Fear sells. Conflict sells. Making someone else’s life miserable sells. Reality doesn’t. The incentives are all screwed up and it’s just downright disgusting.People always ask me what it will take to get teens to listen to news. Why should they? What do they gain by being sent on an information roller-coaster for the news industry to turn a buck? Does consuming news really make you more informed or ready to engage? Have you watched MSM on TV lately?”
My mind is spinning trying to come up with ideas for wresting control from the MSM. But I don’t think it can be done. At one point people looked to blogging to break the back of MSM but it’s not happening. Though interestingly I rely on blogs and news blogs more than MSM for my world and local events.
2 Comments
I don’t necessarily avoid the MSM or the newspaper, but I do find that my consumption is far, far less than it used to be. For example, I’m much more apt to listen to a broadcast in the background or scan the headlines than I am to actually engage. If a story stirs interest, then I usually hit the web later for more research. I think that a huge factor in this is, as you point out, is that the MSM is a ‘business’ first. It might not even be a ‘public service’ second, but rather a ‘propaganda tool’ as many allege. As with anything we consume, discernment is so important.
I agree, obviously. There are times when I do tune in to MSM or the news but I’ve started to filter it highly. I don’t take it at face value.