Money. They are only responsible to their stock holders. They air what we (as in all US TV watchers) want to see. Not their fault. If we didn't watch it, they wouldn't care about it.
Well, I don't watch it. I suppose it's a sad commentary on the state of the electorate, but to be sure, the media could raise the bar a little bit. As far as money is concerned, you're right - although news, in and of itself, was not really viewed as
that much of a moneymaker. For the major networks, the entertainment and sports divisions were the big moneymakers.
I grew up with Walter Cronkite, who was once called the "most trusted man in America." I think that's the important thing: Trust. Especially when there's so much raised these days about "fake news."
Trump pushed himself into the limelight. He's a textbook narcissist, so he craves being the story. I really think he thinks he is the most interesting person in the world. And, sadly enough, I think he honesty feels like everybody likes him.
Yes, but that didn't mean the press had to cover him and his antics. That was their choice.
I disagree. They aren't perfect, but they are responsible to their stockholders. Again, they air what the American audience wants. It's our fault, not theirs.
That seems too pat an answer. I don't really believe it's as simple as that.
But what I meant was that there are criticisms as to what it's done to our democracy and whether or not the press can actually be trusted. Project Censored puts out lists of news stories which are apparently ignored by the mainstream media. As for their stockholders, consider where the media actually get their money from. They have sponsors from corporations which are also responsible to their stockholders.
What do American audiences really want? That's the age old question, and the competition out there is stiff. Audiences are fickle, too, so the people on the stage have to keep finding new ways to keep them entertained. We have a population with a short attention-span which can get distracted and easily bored. But I don't think we have to accept that. I'm not even entirely convinced that the movers and shakers in media really know what the audiences want. Although this might be a topic for another thread.
Well, he certainly is making his bad situation a whole lot worse. If he just kept his mouth shut on the investigation and the whining about mistreatment, the press wouldn't have nearly as much ammunition.
Well, yeah. As I mentioned above, he reminds me of Jack Nicholson as Col. Jessup in
A Few Good Men. Trump may be getting played at this point, since those who know which of his buttons to push can get the reaction they're looking for.
