Flag waving

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

. . . but the main day to day problem as I see it (is actually not political bias) but poor reporting standards and ethical codes of journalistic. . . .so the editor weighs up what he has and simply cuts what he considers to be of lesser interest. . . .In other words - its only news if the TV says so?

Problem is Fishdude there is not any actual News--what you see and read is produced for entertainment. That's why commentary creeps into the "factual" reporting, because its more entertaining with a spin. The media corporations are interested in making a profit--they don't really have a journalistic standard--though they claim to have one--more and more the rumor, entertainment, tabloid, and editorials have seeped into the mainstream news. You already see where stories are sensationalized or watered down depending, usually based on ratings or advertisement sponsorships.

Well to be fair that is a generalisation. There is factual reporting out there (if you look for it) - but every network (specifically every corporate network - to make the distinction) is driven by audience figures and advertiser pressures. For example, giving you a headline before going to a commercial break is clearly intended to keep the viewer watching through the commercials (which obviously they are being paid to air).

Another example, how many times per week do you see ads for some sort of 'mystery scare' on Fox - "Something in your house may give you cancer" or "you car could burst into flames" or "Pedophiles are after your children".

I wonder if anyone has been watching Dateline (I think its called) - they've been doing this pedophile 'expose' the last few weeks - fishing for perverts on chatrooms and encouraging them to "meet up". There is very strong evidence that news reporting of violent crime increases peoples fear of it, and its no coincidence that surveys have shown that if you ask someone about crime - they are often of the opinion that there is more of it than there is. The same is true with this pedophile thing - from the coverage it gets (to I think, the detriment of other, more important stories) - you would think its some sort of national epidemic. In fact sexual crime (specifically sexual violent) crime has a very low national incidence.

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

Scared parents = awesome ratings.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Scared parents = awesome ratings.

Fear and sex sells.

[Fuzzness 2]

Freedom of speech means all speech. Or it is at least supposed to.

Not really. There have always been common-sense restrictions on free speech. The most popular example is yelling fire in a movie theatre..that speech is not protected by the 1st.

That said, in our current environment we've moved well beyond the simple common-sense restrictions. Why can't I joke about bombs at the airport again? That is awfully bad taste but I put no one in any danger by doing it.. and yet, that sh!t can get me in jail for a night.

I stand to be corrected

[Artegal 1]

Dateline was the great factual reporting program that could not simulate the rare occurrence of gas tanks exploding on certain GM trucks, for the sensational simulations that they had hoped to prove their case--they put Dynamite in the gas tanks and detonated it. Um hello any freaking car will explode with Dynamite in it.

[Chuckles 0]

Scared parents = awesome ratings.

Fear and sex sells.

and sometimes smells !

[Laura_and_IanM 0]

I think agent smith proved my point but i just want to clearify what i meant by freedom of speech. Like all things, when laws and what have you are made...they are made to fit in the time period that they are made in if you get what i am saying. Everyday, laws are being changed. Old laws are being conformed to fit in with todays society and way of life, as well as new laws being made. When we were granted freedom of speech, I am sure that our fore fathers, were not anticapting so much change in the world over time. They weren't expecting computers, the interenet, television, mass media, playboy and any other adult magazine. Yes we have the right to free speech, nut like agent smith said, it comes down to common sense. I for one, don't like people coming into America asking for immigration when they are making negative comments out our country as a whole. It's amazing how many ppl look at America and only go with the medias perception and take on things without actually living there or at least staying there for a period of time. Going on holiday and going to disneyland is not a fair assesment of our nation as a whole. Don't go by what others tell you, find out for yourself. Ian's family were amazed at how I think and what perception of America I have been able to give them. It proves that we should not be generalised or put under the same umbrella.

Laura Mitchell

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

Laura Mitchell,

Yeah, you don't quite grasp the American way of life before you've spent a few months paying bills and taking part in at least one zero-interest zero-downpayment deal for something you really can't afford.

[Artegal 1]

Agent Smith you never read the fine print: $2,499 due at signing. Doh!

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

Agent Smith you never read the fine print: $2,499 due at signing. Doh!

And when you realize that... is when you've finally lived the life of an American. Boo yah!

[Laura_and_IanM 0]

Agent Smith you never read the fine print: $2,499 due at signing. Doh!

And when you realize that... is when you've finally lived the life of an American. Boo yah!

Jesus!!! thank you agent smith for pointing that out to me?? how can i be so blonde and forget that part? But didnt the fine print say that they want your first born, second born, and third born in lui of payment??? guess that means all of mine then...too late to start over lol...

I'm not worthy...I'm not worthy...

[Sister Fracas 5]

I loves VJ

[almaty 19]

I loves VJ

aw, i see i missed nothing ...vj sheesh

[Sister Fracas 5]

aw, i see i missed nothing ...vj sheesh

nup!

[yabasta 0]

SHOUTING fire in a movie theatre would not be classified as "free speech". The reason you would get in trouble would be the actual SHOUTING part. There is no reason why you can not say the word fire in a movie theatre. The bomb joke at the airport is however an example of the degradation of free speech. Most speech is suppressed using financial methods. You can say what you like but as soon as you try and get it in a newspaper then you see how censorship really works.