Sunday, November 6, 2016

Is the News Media Honourable!?



I often wonder at the senselessness of the whole news media scenario. I mean, what does it mean when the news media advocate the hosting of truthful and transparent public debates or, it is the public interest? According to whose truth? Define transparent? Public Interest?

Yet, as they are part of the whole capitalist for-profit business amalgam, I can fully understand why they say what they say – having a curious voyeuristic and engaging public ensures a steady flow of income.

But, do we, as the paying public, not deserve proper news, devoid of sensationalism, covert editorial agendas and journalistic vitriol?

I guess that the above questions answer themselves but that does not change the realities at hand viz. of the way the news media paints a picture or expands on a story line by using innuendo, by associative insinuation and by the use of flowery adjectives? 

The problem as I perceive it stems from the power base that the news media have guaranteed for themselves by making freedom of the media and expression part of a country’s constitution and thus, a reality that cannot be touched or done away with ease.., and ensuring them of a long fiduciary future.

What other private institution can claim that they have institutionalized protection as part of the Countries constitution?

I guess when all is said and done, especially in a democracy; it all comes down to the exercise of one’s choice: that is to say to form one’s educated (hopefully) opinion or to reject what is being published as just another ho-hum viewpoint?

In the end, neither option brings anyone closer to the actual truth behind the public narrative.

It is said that we the public deserve what we get for fickleness and general distrust rules human nature - Instead of seeing a political narrative for what it is and questioning it thoroughly, we the public rely on others, whom we perceive to have honourable clout, to do the dissemination of information on our behalf.

Maybe the solution lies by the public insisting on the news being proclaimed without the use of adjectives!?

hashtagmustfall#