I am increasingly disappointed with CNN and MSNBC, who in the past have been reasonably reliable sources of news. When once they provided an overview of what was going on in our nation and the world, they now repeat themselves ad nauseam with a limited menu of political speculations spiced with whatever can be made salacious. We are presented with repetitive political stories by panelists spending minimal time reporting facts and maximum time speculating about what might soon happen and what it might mean if it does happen. Add magic wall and smart whiteboards as technological symbols of verification and you have the props for a good sitcom.
To be sure, what’s happening on campaign trails or in legislative sessions is important. The public deserves to be kept well informed by the news media. But there is a point when so much inconsequential bloviating turns into intellectual mush for some and alienating tripe for others. In the meantime, important and interesting events are happening all over the country and throughout the world rating scant mention at best.
Pew Research recently published a study on voting age members of the public who have dropped out of the political world, depriving democracy of votes from informed citizens. I would not be surprised to learn that cable news channels are a significant cause of the dropouts’ disaffection. Respondents leaned Republican and Democratic and were consistent in being driven away from politics by:
- The never ending flood of news and fund raising emails
- Constant attacks on opponents
- Constant fear mongering
- Loud angry voices from the right and the left
- Lack of clear, simple articulation about issues
- Campaign costs and funding
- Lack of bi-partisan legislative progress
I wasn’t among those surveyed but found myself in substantial agreement. Could it be different? I think it might be if the major cable news outfits didn’t wallow in these very points with talking heads each going on and on about “Isn’t it awful, oh so awful.” As I write the channels are filled with commentators focused on New Hampshire and Trump trials as if they were the only things anyone wants or needs to know about. Are they reporting on what is happening? No. They are reporting on what might happen aided by panels of talking heads adding their own speculations.
I suspect two things. First, non-stop speculations flooding the airwaves may influence the process to become a self-fulfilling prophecy. Second, flooding the airways with panels of talking heads adding even more speculation may drive too many people away from fulfilling the important role of informed citizen.
Political ads, talk radio and fringe internet news channels provide all the disinformation, hostility and confusion the nation can stand. We need the major news sources to provide articulate fact based reporting about what is happening, not what might happen. If they must editorialize, it should be kept short in separate program segments. But if they only do that, how are they to fill all their time? Report on what is going on in fifty states, all of our territories, Canada, Mexico, and the rest of the world.
There are, of course, other broadcast media to which the public can turn, but none have the reach of CNN and MSNBC. As for me, I find NPR, BBC, The Guardian and Reuters to be trustworthy sources of news about world wide events.
© Steven E. Woolley