Thread: CNN & MSNBC are a joke

Originally Posted by Bruno

One could also argue that FOX is pandering to the opinions of their viewers.
One thing that still amazes me is that the US does not have simple news broadcasts like we do. Whether you watch the news on the national state sponsored channel or the commercial channels, they bring the news in a fairly consistent manner, devoid of emotion or opinion.

News broadcasts in the US otoh seem to be a show.

Then they shape opinion by what they choose to report. It is inevitable that anyone will paint their viewpoint in the most positive light and paint their opponents in a negative one.

For example I listen to National Public radio, something many view as a very liberal news source. I find that they cover stories well and much more thoroughly and thoughtfully than any other source in a very facts only sort of way. However there are many things they quite simply fail to report and this is where you find their slant they show you only a skewed view of the world. Rather than looking at the whole world through colored glasses they use blinders to keep you from seeing things they don't like.

Originally Posted by Wildtim

Then they shape opinion by what they choose to report. It is inevitable that anyone will paint their viewpoint in the most positive light and paint their opponents in a negative one.

For example I listen to National Public radio, something many view as a very liberal news source. I find that they cover stories well and much more thoroughly and thoughtfully than any other source in a very facts only sort of way. However there are many things they quite simply fail to report and this is where you find their slant they show you only a skewed view of the world. Rather than looking at the whole world through colored glasses they use blinders to keep you from seeing things they don't like.

For example?

what is the viewership of 6:00 and 11:00 news versus Cartoon Network and Nickelodeon?

Probably 10:1 or better. Not to mention internet, radio and newspaper as sources of news. Kids have far fewer outlets to watch than A25-54/A18-49

The fact is, each of these is a vertical network. each reaches a specific demo/psycho/sociographic.

Ratings don't mean as much as you would think.

Higher ratings equals watered down audience equals less targeting for advertisers. With a watered-down audience comes a lower cost-per-thousand the advertiser will pay.

MSNBC get a higher CPM than the kids networks do.


Think of this site. Do you think Lynn and Don's advertisers want a whole lot of Gilette and Schick users viewing? No they don't because those people will never buy the product. So a high audience figure here doesn't mean much.

The restauranteur with the largest number of outlets in France is, McDonalds. So much for French cuisine.

Originally Posted by northpaw

America's most-bought beers:

1. Bud Light
2. Budweiser
3. Miller Lite
4. Coors Light
5. Natural Light
6. Corona Extra
7. Busch
8. Busch Light
9. Heineken
10. Miller High Life


Next up: America's most-used shaving products...

Originally Posted by AlanII

The restauranteur with the largest number of outlets in France is, McDonalds. So much for French cuisine.

comparing these to the news is apples and oranges. in both of these scenarios, there is more than just desire to consume written into the equation of consumption. Price is a key determining factor (especially in this economy). However, when it comes to news, you can just as easily decide to watch CNN, MSNBC, Headline News, or Fox, without any price issues. If you have cable tv, you have these channels, and can freely make a choice on what to watch.

If a fillet mignon was the same price as a double cheese burger from McD's, then I am sure that the double cheese burger will cease to exist, unless changes are made to the double cheese burger. CNN, MSNBC, and headline news are not learning this lesson, and are simply trying to throw mud at Fox, calling Fox biased, while ignoring their own utterly liberally slanted reporting of the news.

Don't even get me started on National Propaganda Radio (NPR).

I'd be curious to see the relationship between news network preference and hours of TV watched per week.

Originally Posted by northpaw

I'd be curious to see the relationship between news network preference and hours of TV watched per week.

news network viewing increases as total TV hours decreases. Regardless of left or right political view.

Originally Posted by mhailey

Don't even get me started on National Propaganda Radio (NPR).

So Fox News is fair and balanced and NPR is propaganda? Is that what you're saying?

Originally Posted by NYCshaver

So Fox News is fair and balanced and NPR is propaganda? Is that what you're saying?

I'm saying that Fox News is the Filet Mignon of cable news networks, while CNN, MSNBC and Headline News are the $1 menu double cheeseburgers.

National Propaganda Radio is the WIC/food stamps of News. Only listen to what the government wants you to hear. (what a great watch dog of government NPR is. Like they are really going to report on the corruption in the very entity that gives them their money.) How did they cover ACORN? Oh yeah, they wondered why conservatives were attacking this great organization. How did they cover Van Jones? go to NPR web site and look. according to NPR he's a great guy. (their latest one is "The Rightful Return of Van Jones") ARE YOU KIDDING ME????

Originally Posted by Wildtim

Then they shape opinion by what they choose to report. It is inevitable that anyone will paint their viewpoint in the most positive light and paint their opponents in a negative one.

Actually, you'd think so, but that is very rarely the case (not talking about magazines etc). This may seem uncommon to an American, but companies and news agencies don't have a specific political agenda.

The reason is that we have a multi party system, and there is a significant amount of overlap between parties regarding most topics (otherwise it would be impossible to form a government). People don't mind other people having different opinions. Among my colleagues and friends there are people from all sides of the spectrum.

I know that in the US, there are companies and news agencies with an outspoken political meaning. Such a concept is truly bizarre to me as a Belgian. The cultural scene is so diverse that it is virtually impossible to put any slant to the news once the facts are out.

Of course, for socio-political magazines, party newspapers, etc, the story is different. Granted. But when it comes to mainstream news, reporting is fairly equivalent when comparing news sources. The only differences you will find are in the specialization. for example, it stands to reason that the 'financial economic times' will have a detailed analysis of various financial topics every single day, while the 'Antwerp gazette' will focus on topics relevant to antwerp, and the 'current news' will focus on current affairs, sports, etc.