I can't believe how dumb American TV News has become.

[lxlxlxl]

Every second wasted on Palin, kid's clothes, puppies, Dow Jones Up/Down...

I just dont understand what is going on anymore. Anyone with a basic
core liberal arts undergrad degree knows more than 80% of the people
we have on TV, and I am convinced this is intentional now.

How do you really get progress when the models we have for understanding
ourselves is so deeply flawed? Why would we elect a decent president when
it is clear that the media will easily sacrifice him at the very first
chance they get?

[Taverner]

1. Newspapers are written for a sixth grade education

TV news is for an even lower demographic

[dflprincess]

3. Everything is geared toward a 6th grade education or less

I recently went through a medical procedure and was given a brochure explaining the process. Trust me when I tell you that this is a procedure only an adult would have to have.

The whole thing was written very simply but the line that really sounded dumbed down to me was "The doctor will give you medicine so it doesn't hurt." I remember saying the exact same thing to my niece when she was going to have her tonsils out. She was 4 at the time.

[Democrats_win]

2. Don't forget, the media's purpose is to please advertisers, not viewers.

That's not the way it should be, but that is an essential fact of the way it is.

[lxlxlxl]

4. I know...also being outrageous/dumb is a key way to engage people...but

i swear someone needs to pull their card more often.

I feel like Keith Olbermann is successful beause he bucked the common trends, and any smart news director should have noticed how far towards the dumb/tabloid axis the pendulum has swung -- where is the shift in tone then? It seems like they are entrenching instead of trying to embrace the new opportunities for more serious journalism...

[Berry Cool]

5. Agreed.

I can't watch local TV news anymore. It's like it's aimed at people with no brains at all.

[JohnWxy]

6. that's what the internet is for - to find out what is really going on.

You might find the book The Republican Noise Machine by David Brock interesting. Goes into the history of the Republican reshaping of the M$M for their propaganda purposes.

You will find numerous posts on DU pointing out M$M's efforts to help spread the gospel according to the Republican Party(e.g.).