[NU Sports] The Media (was: CFB Postseason...Survey Says...)

[SjT (Stephen J. Truog)]

> <Here's the bottom line: There will always be a
> market for solid, hard, investigative news - the kind
> currently offered by the NYT, WashPost, WSJ, NPR, etc.

> Would that the NYT, NPR, etc. actually did investigative
> news instead of pumping out liberal propaganda.  No one has

A cheap shot, but we'll move on for now.:) I think what Ben meant was the in-depth reporting that only a few news organizations have the staff resources to do these days. But some people can't resist, I guess.

> reports.  Allow me one other observation:  I don't
> believe there are many journalists who are all that
> knowledgeable. 

OK, now I'll jump in ...

You guys are giving reporters waaaaaaay too much credit. Sure, a few columnists at the Times or WSJ may get to choose their topics and hence show their bias (it's called an opinion column for a reason)

But the majority of newspaper stories are not chosen by the reporters, nor do they have time to set any agenda with all the extra stories they have to write because of staff cutbacks.

As far as knowledgeable, I would put my coworkers at the newspapers where I spent seven years against anyone anyday. Few people have as broad a base of knowledge as journalists because they cover such a variety of topics during the work week as a reporter, editor, designer, etc. Of course a reader will usually be more expert on a story in their field, but they'll be clueless in other areas.

Much to reporters' dismay, what you see in the paper is actually much more driven by you, the reader. So if we're pointing fingers at the quality of stories seen in newspapers these days, with short snippet articles, loads of gossip and fluffy pieces that ignore serious details going on, just remember that the other four are back at you.

It would be nice if the people who owned newspapers still felt a need to lift the discussion, set the agenda and tell people what they need to know as part of a public trust, but those people have been replaced by shareholders and corporations who demand dollars and want to satisfy the public - give 'em what they want, not what they need.

So let's not harp too much on my former profession here. Much like the B(C)S, there are plenty of smart, sensible people who yearn for a change in the megasystem ... but they're not the ones in power.:)

GO CATS!!!
-SjT
Medill '97