The Demise of Journalism

CAL THOMAS COMMENTARY OCTOBER 28, 2019

         ALMOST SINCE I WAS 18 YEARS-OLD AND A COPYBOY AT THE NBC NEWS BUREAU IN WASHINGTON I WANTED TO BE A JOURNALIST. I WORKED WITH REAL REPORTERS WITH NEWSPAPER OR WIRE SERVICE BACKGROUNDS, WATCHING THEM NOT ONLY COVER NEWS, BUT DIG OUT INFORMATION OF USE TO THE PUBLIC. I SAW IT NOT ONLY AS A PROFESSION, BUT A HIGH CALLING.

         TODAY’S SO-CALLED “JOURNALISM” IS NOTHING LIKE THAT. IT PLAYS OFF TWITTER FEEDS, RUMOR, LEAKS, INNUENDO, UNSUBSTANTIATED ALLEGATIONS AND EVEN MADE-UP STORIES THAT SUIT THE POLITICAL AGENDA OF THE MEDIA. IT OUGHT TO BE AN EMBARASSMENT, BUT LIKE SO MUCH IN OUR CULTURE, EMBARASSMENT HAS GONE THE WAY OF THE RECORD PLAYER.

         DON’T THEY REALIZE THEY ARE CONTRIBUTING TO THE DEMISE OF JOURNALISM? LOOK AT THE RATINGS. LOOK AT NEWSPAPER SUBSCRIPTIONS. THEY MAKE EXCUSES ABOUT THE INTERNET, BUT POLL AFTER POLL SHOWS A LARGE MAJORITY OF AMERICANS NO LONGER TRUST THE MEDIA. THAT INCLUDES HOLLYWOOD, WHOSE PEOPLE REGULARLY CALL FOR MORE GUN CONTROL LAWS AND THEN LOAD-UP THEIR PICTURES WITH MULTIPLE SHOOTINGS. MEDIA HYPOCRISY LIVES BUT THEY DON’T SEEM TO CARE. I’M CAL THOMAS.

Posted in

Cal Thomas