Wipe your News!
Bon Giorno!
So I was on the toilet the other day and thought to myself: "You know, energy transference is pretty cool." For example: let's say there's an object falling into a pool of water; energy from a falling object is transferred from the object to the water resulting in relative degrees of turbulence; at times producing a "kerplunk." The degree of turbulence is linearly related to the mass and velocity of the object entering the water. Technically, I would argue that it's more appropriate to think of the energy transference described above as a manifestation of gravitational energy... For without gravity, there would be no "falling object" nor would there be a cohesive collective of water to observe turbulence and make that cool "kerplunk" sound. Physics is an amazing discipline.
Anyway, it's awareness that is the issue today. I'm not talking about Freud, formal education, or the fact that the fucking Pistons have let LeBron James even the Eastern Conference Series to 2-2!!! No sir or madam, I'm talking about being aware and informed of the current events in our towns, states, country, and world.
"Extra, Extra!" - A Dying Breed
Traditionally, the newspapers that have held the torch and payrolls of those responsible for investigating and reporting the news that's fit to print. However, newspapers are also a business. Yes folks, ask any CEO why they're in business, and if they don't tell you it's to make money, they probably aren't going to be CEO for very long. The problem here is that it's pretty damn pricey to pay some chump's travel expenses to investigate and write up a story, then you got to have another person edit, format, print, distribute, and sell the damn paper for $0.25. Advertising Space? Sure it pays; but not that much...
Mergers, acquisitions & RIFs; oh my!
The advent of the internet and television, coupled with impatient and short attention-spanned generations, has devastated newspapers.
Now I love the internet as much as the next porn-hungry, price-savvy, bored civil servant, but regardless of the sources of news you read on the internet, it's all pretty much recycled and repackaged from a newspaper. If you've ever watched the evening news on your local TV. station and vomited, don't worry it's a common reaction to newscasters. (hey, if you can't act or write, but you're moderately good looking and can read out loud well; you should be a local newscaster!) Regardless, the majority of news comes from newspapers.
CNN & MSNBC are starting to take matters into their own hands by having reporters out in the field, but they also still rely on the associated press for information. Your local paper probably has a few "local" writers; however, your local paper is probably owned by a large paper that takes care of the national and international news.
My point here is that although we all love the immediacy and diversity of the news we access online or on TV., newspaper companies are the big dawgs of news reporting. Unfortunately, newspapers are going bankrupt and are consuming each other to maintain profitability.
"Yo man, my paper broke down, can I get a dollar?"
For very obvious reasons the government can't subsidize the newspapers; so that's out! (if you're nodding your head, yet have no idea what I'm talking about; I want you to turn towards the nearest wall and pound your thick Neanderthal head against it...)
This begs the questions for the peoples:
Should we be concerned that there are fewer reporters and investigators bringing us the news? Wouldn't that lead to a fewer perspectives? Anyone see a problem with having a central "Wallmart" of news?
We've worked so hard for freedom of press, but what about the potential for abusing the power that the media has over the mindless lemmings of American society? How do we enforce a code of un-biased reporting? Is "un-biased" reporting even possible?
What's next? How can the newspaper companies evolve their business plans to not only adapt to new technology and attention spans, but still bring high quality information to the people?
Read, think, respond, and enjoy! Do it....no seriously, do it...
All right, click the "comments" link below to read the responses of others, as well as share your own responses. "NO" you don't have to be a member of Blogger to put in your $0.02; Just select "Other" for your identity, type in your name, and post your comments... that's it.... it's as easy as pooping!
So I was on the toilet the other day and thought to myself: "You know, energy transference is pretty cool." For example: let's say there's an object falling into a pool of water; energy from a falling object is transferred from the object to the water resulting in relative degrees of turbulence; at times producing a "kerplunk." The degree of turbulence is linearly related to the mass and velocity of the object entering the water. Technically, I would argue that it's more appropriate to think of the energy transference described above as a manifestation of gravitational energy... For without gravity, there would be no "falling object" nor would there be a cohesive collective of water to observe turbulence and make that cool "kerplunk" sound. Physics is an amazing discipline.
Anyway, it's awareness that is the issue today. I'm not talking about Freud, formal education, or the fact that the fucking Pistons have let LeBron James even the Eastern Conference Series to 2-2!!! No sir or madam, I'm talking about being aware and informed of the current events in our towns, states, country, and world.
"Extra, Extra!" - A Dying Breed
Traditionally, the newspapers that have held the torch and payrolls of those responsible for investigating and reporting the news that's fit to print. However, newspapers are also a business. Yes folks, ask any CEO why they're in business, and if they don't tell you it's to make money, they probably aren't going to be CEO for very long. The problem here is that it's pretty damn pricey to pay some chump's travel expenses to investigate and write up a story, then you got to have another person edit, format, print, distribute, and sell the damn paper for $0.25. Advertising Space? Sure it pays; but not that much...
Mergers, acquisitions & RIFs; oh my!
The advent of the internet and television, coupled with impatient and short attention-spanned generations, has devastated newspapers.
Now I love the internet as much as the next porn-hungry, price-savvy, bored civil servant, but regardless of the sources of news you read on the internet, it's all pretty much recycled and repackaged from a newspaper. If you've ever watched the evening news on your local TV. station and vomited, don't worry it's a common reaction to newscasters. (hey, if you can't act or write, but you're moderately good looking and can read out loud well; you should be a local newscaster!) Regardless, the majority of news comes from newspapers.
CNN & MSNBC are starting to take matters into their own hands by having reporters out in the field, but they also still rely on the associated press for information. Your local paper probably has a few "local" writers; however, your local paper is probably owned by a large paper that takes care of the national and international news.
My point here is that although we all love the immediacy and diversity of the news we access online or on TV., newspaper companies are the big dawgs of news reporting. Unfortunately, newspapers are going bankrupt and are consuming each other to maintain profitability.
"Yo man, my paper broke down, can I get a dollar?"
For very obvious reasons the government can't subsidize the newspapers; so that's out! (if you're nodding your head, yet have no idea what I'm talking about; I want you to turn towards the nearest wall and pound your thick Neanderthal head against it...)
This begs the questions for the peoples:
Should we be concerned that there are fewer reporters and investigators bringing us the news? Wouldn't that lead to a fewer perspectives? Anyone see a problem with having a central "Wallmart" of news?
We've worked so hard for freedom of press, but what about the potential for abusing the power that the media has over the mindless lemmings of American society? How do we enforce a code of un-biased reporting? Is "un-biased" reporting even possible?
What's next? How can the newspaper companies evolve their business plans to not only adapt to new technology and attention spans, but still bring high quality information to the people?
Read, think, respond, and enjoy! Do it....no seriously, do it...
All right, click the "comments" link below to read the responses of others, as well as share your own responses. "NO" you don't have to be a member of Blogger to put in your $0.02; Just select "Other" for your identity, type in your name, and post your comments... that's it.... it's as easy as pooping!
posted by Don the "Head Chimp" at
10:49 AM
3 Comments:
Sure it would lead to fewer perspectives. But the bigger picture (at least right now) is that there are "only two perspectives". Democrat and Republican. In discussing news bits 'n' pieces with your friends, people are always going to assume to flock to one persuasion or the other. Like sexuality - only bi is not allowed. With a central (I hate Wal-Mart, my written perspective) "Target" of news, people wouldn't be able to think for themselves. at least not without getting in some argument, and deciding for themselves what it means. Look at the fucking news there is: There are very few news channels, and they're all biased. As for the papers, there is no such thing as reporting impartially. Every news bit has something, "A tragedy struck." Mkay...someone died. What we didn't know is the deceased used to rape his daughter every night. A tragedy, really? Can't form opinions without anything, and privacy will always be an issue with this.
Besides, people are MUCH more interested in Paula Abdul's drug problem and Jessica Alba's ass and titties. I can see you, nodding your heads.
Undercover is the only way. Otherwise, people will lie. Videos. People can decide for themselves. No one cares about the war in Iraq, not even Cindy Sheehan anymore. You can never get impartiality. It will never be possible for a human to be totally unbiased. What if they are having a bad day?
The printed word is almost gone, due to technology. Most people don't even get the paper anymore. We get our news from the Associated Press and the Internet. News only becomes skewed by the eyes of the reader. They agree or disagree. That's it.
By
Anonymous, at 11:41 AM
So wise are your titties Jessica Alba.....
Yet you offer no ideas or solutions...
How about newer approaches to reporting for the newspapers? Perhaps teaming up with multi-media companies rather than just consuming other newspapers?
If you want to become more profitable, just consume a competitor in a more lucrative medium!
By
Don the "Head Chimp", at 4:56 PM
You'd need advertisement, to pay someone to get that advertisement for you. Either way, people want the feel of different sources. Wouldn't work.
There are not many solutions to add, Mr. Cubicle. You have the newspaper, the internet, and the TV news.
And people wonder why 16 year old can't read good. heh.
By
Anonymous, at 11:34 PM
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