NationStates Jolt Archive


An Idea re: Independent media

Tongass
09-02-2008, 10:09
Problem: Media executives pressure journalist and opinion writers/talkers based on ratings and the bottom line. Because of this, a feedback system is created that prioritizes and distorts news coverage to maximize profits, thus arbitrarily shaping, distorting, defining, and framing public opinion. This undermines a lucid democracy by hijacking or drowning out rational public discussion, deliberation, and prioritization.

Possible solution: Introduce the concept of tenure for journalists and opinion people as a prerequisite for media legitimacy. Is there something like this already in effect? If not, BBC or somebody should take the lead. It would take a lot of people putting pressure on media to do it though.
Laerod
09-02-2008, 10:18
Problem: Media executives pressure journalist and opinion writers/talkers based on ratings and the bottom line. Because of this, a feedback system is created that prioritizes and distorts news coverage to maximize profits, thus arbitrarily shaping, distorting, defining, and framing public opinion. This undermines a lucid democracy by hijacking or drowning out rational public discussion, deliberation, and prioritization.

Possible solution: Introduce the concept of tenure for journalists and opinion people as a prerequisite for media legitimacy. Is there something like this already in effect? If not, BBC or somebody should take the lead. It would take a lot of people putting pressure on media to do it though.
How about making PBS into an American BBC to achieve the independence from ratings?
Cannot think of a name
09-02-2008, 10:25
A friend of mine had an idea of a 'news collective,' where you get enough people together to 'hire' a reporter or small team of reporters to report for you. Sort of like a private investigator for news.

While obviously flawed, it'd still be cool.
Straughn
10-02-2008, 09:09
Ayup.
*sobs uncontrollably*
Ryadn
10-02-2008, 11:19
Tenure for journalists would probably require them to be paid a living wage... and be OSHA compliant. Not likely.

Personally, I love independent media, particularly the famed IndyMedia. They were the ones who proclaimed the newspaper I worked for to be a "noxious weed of intellectual laziness." That's proper insulting, right there.
Cameroi
10-02-2008, 12:45
how would you do the tenure thing and how would it help.

you know their IS an organization called fairness and accuracy in reporting.

kind of an antidefimation league of indipendent journalists.

i think those who arn't awaire of this have too much been having their brains addled by cnn and fox.

i don't the op suggestion really understands the structure and dynamics of the problem.

=^^=
.../\...
Laerod
10-02-2008, 12:57
Tenure for journalists would probably require them to be paid a living wage... and be OSHA compliant. Not likely.

Personally, I love independent media, particularly the famed IndyMedia. They were the ones who proclaimed the newspaper I worked for to be a "noxious weed of intellectual laziness." That's proper insulting, right there.The same Indymedia that claims that NationStates is a Nazi breeding ground? Not all Independent Media is the same. Good independent media adheres to standards.