Peter Kann: At its best news informs and enlightens the citizens of a free society and thereby safeguards and strengthens our democracy. At its worst–dishonest, unfair, irresponsible–the media has potential to erode the public trust on which its own success depends and to corrode the democratic system of which it is so indispensably a part. So, let me touch on 10 current trends in the mass media that ought to disturb us.
- The blurring of the lines between journalism and entertainment.
- The blurring of lines between news and opinion.
- The blending of news and advertising, sponsorships or other commercial relationships.
- The problems and pitfalls inherent in pack journalism.
- The issue of conflict and context.
- The exaggerated tendency toward pessimism.
- The growing media fascination with the bizarre, the perverse and the pathological–John Mark Karr journalism.
- Social orthodoxy, or political correctness.
- The media’’s short attention span.
- The matter of power.
2006.12.22 at 10:04 am
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