Reprehensible

I spent nearly half my life working in TV and radio newsrooms. Much of that time was spent working as a weatherman, but often I was tasked with double duty. Over the years I worked as a producer, news anchor, news reporter and news director in addition to weather responsibilities. This shows you I’m qualified to evaluate and comment about news broadcasting in America.

My journalism professor at the University of Minnesota taught us as the last of a dying breed. He defined the role of a journalist literally – to chronicle the events of the day and tell an audience what happened. He taught that everyone has personal biases and opinions, but a good journalist leaves those at the door when coming to work. Excellence was defined as accuracy in reporting that left news consumers clueless as to a journalist’s personal beliefs and political preferences.

The professor warned about and lamented what he saw as cancer in the profession of journalism, the rising number of colleges releasing activists into the profession with degrees. Sensing some of us were destined for management positions, he told us never to hire anyone to work in a newsroom who states they chose the field because they “want to make a difference,” a phrase that is arguably one of the most arrogant and self-centered in the English language.

Being politically independent, I scrutinize news I consume for bias and alternative motives. This results in my disdain for most networks, cable and broadcast, as well as so-called public broadcasting. My disgust has increased as I’ve watched, read and listened to what is put forward as news over the last decade. Bias is no longer hidden. And few Americans have the time to analyze news from multiple outlets, which is essential for getting even a semblance of truth.

News outlets today are driven by money. Money comes from ratings, ads, clicks, likes and comments. Those come from content that triggers emotions and knowing which buttons to push to get content to go viral on social media. In short, media conglomerates profit handsomely when people are emotional and upset.

So-called good news and happy stories don’t get people riled up. Negative and threatening stories do. America needs to wake up fast and realize the extent to which the very few people who set the day’s “talking points” and “narrative” are playing us. I know because I was taught how to do it. One of my class assignments in college was to interview someone on tape and then edit it to make them appear the opposite of who they really were. Yes, that’s true. Yes, I got an A. Yes, that’s evil. No, I’ve NEVER used that skill.

What can we do? I cut the cable long ago and have no satellite or cable TV programming. My news comes from internet outlets I’ve vetted and foreign news services blessed to have retained an objective outlook on American affairs lest they back the wrong side in an election year. Bottom line – don’t take anything you see calling itself news at face value, especially if it gets you upset or emotional.