Blame the Media
Zach highlighted this post by Matthew Yglesias in his recommended items to the right, but I wanted to further highlight it here in a post. You really should take a couple of minutes to read it. The point behind it is simple and will seem obvious to many, but clearly not enough understand that or we wouldn’t see the media psychology that we do.
To further the thinking of Yglesias, I would (non-scientifically) estimate that 90% of election coverage in the media concerns political tactics and strategy, and not discussion of the underlying policy issues. Why do television producers consider it appropriate during a discussion of health care policies to have political strategists as guests instead of actual policy experts? The media’s obsession with politics and not policy is truly a scourge on America.
I am utterly convinced that one of the main reasons that we are where we are today is because our system of news-gathering and reporting is in a state of near collapse.
I’d blame it on the fact that while YOU may care about policy, the vast majority of people have little time or concern for it. Let’s not presume that what we’re interested in would be something that can sell enough commercials to keep networks on the air.
I’d blame it on the fact that while YOU may care about policy, the vast majority of people have little time or concern for it. Let’s not presume that what we’re interested in would be something that can sell enough commercials to keep networks on the air.
CJ, I’m not presuming anything. I have no doubt that many people - and perhaps most - would prefer the current topics that are discussed. But you see, I am an elitist, and regardless of what the masses choose to consume, I believe that the media should be serving something more elite.
It’s great to meet another self professed elitist. We should reclaim the dignity of the term.
Amen.