PAF494 - Nixon's Vixen and The State of the News Media

Nixon and His Vixen

After listening to Mark Feldstein's author interview on National Pubic Radio covering Nixon's Failed Attempts At 'Poisoning the Press', I began to think of the news media as Nixon's Vixen. For President Nixon the news media was like a quarrelsome woman, and as a Quaker I'm sure he knew that hell hath no fury like a woman scorned. While Nixon's paranoia was substantiated by false stories that were published about him, his extreme actions towards journalists were largely unjustifiable. Considering having a journalist assassinated is absolutely absurd, however I will not deny that the media was out to get Nixon and get him good.  In present day times I can see the same type of battle emerging between presidents and political candidates and the news media. Journalists should rightfully and boldly dig into every nook and cranny that will expose corruption associated with political leaders and candidates as long as they themselves are not acting in a corrupt manner. As long as journalist don't break the law and practice good ethical journalism, I stand by their side proclaiming, "Extra! Extra! Read all about it!" The news media is still the public's political police and arm of "checks and balances". 

There could be many potential Watergate type scandals that surface in the future of American politics and the news media must sound an alarm loud enough for those dead to integrity to hear it. The news media must not stoop to a level of illegality like the ones they expose so that the stories they report will be published "check mates" in a game of chess that no popular public relations imitation "Checkers" speech will be able to compete in the overall game of truth. Chess is much more challenging, strategic, and thought-provoking than checkers. It is an entirely different game all together. The bottom line is that no president, politician, or presidential candidate should be able to justify their power-hungry measures by stating with charisma that they are only for the good of the people. The news media should turn every political popularity contest into a test of truth utterly and forcefully removing the "con" from contest. Presidents that receive a fortune from holding office should gain that fortune from things like their salary, paid speaking events, and the sales of books they publish, but not from being paid-off which displays that they have sold-out. Hush money will not stay quiet forever. When I think of the word corrupt, I visualize the core of a scandal erupting. It is absolutely amazing to me that Irish play Oliver Goldsmith said, "Ask me no questions and I'll tell you no lies" as opposed to an American president or presidential candidate. 

Audience vs. Economics:

The amount of viewers of cable news seems to be deceasing but that hasn't necessarily had as much as an impact on revenue as it would seem. Cable news networks have seemed to be able to retain large advertising contracts and they also receive subscriber rates. According to an annual report on American journalism for 2011 put out by the Pew Research Center, cost conscious Americans don't seem to be cancelling their cable subscriptions, they are just watching things other than news on cable. With the ever increasing use of the Internet I personally think a lot of people view their news online. While the strategy of some cable news outlets to lock in prime talent may help retain certain audiences, I think the future could remain bleak in regards to increasing viewership. However, as technology continues to progress cable news may be able to capture an online audience to watch cable news programs on the Internet. They could live stream shows on facebook like so many other programs are doing now. In the future we will probably even see many people watching cable news through mobile apps on their smart phones.

Key Questions Facing Digital News:

1. "How much progress has been made trying to monetize the Web, particularly when it comes to producing news and information about current events?" A lot of news is now communicated on the Web, but the challenge to monetize this content is ongoing. As news outlets continue to learn how to leverage their online news media they will become more effective in increasing revenues through it. One step forward would be to alter their current advertising packages for television broadcast to automatically include online advertising. As they draw in larger audiences to the Web they should in turn be able to achieve more successful results in monetizing the Web. 
2. " If the mobile revolution has begun, how big is it, and how large will it become?  And what do the early data suggest about whether tablets will create new revenue potential for news?" The mobile revolution has definitely begun and it's big. It is estimated that 65% of the U.S. population will own a smartphone or tablet by 2015. The early data shows signs that new revenue streams will flow progressively as a result of the use of tablets and mobile devices to view news. Hold on news buffs, we are in a mobile revolution!
3. " Is the shift to digital accelerating?" This is a simple question with an obvious answer. Yes. A lot of people's computers is now their mobile phone (smartphone) or mobile device. 
4. " What is occurring in online newsrooms? How much progress has been made, and in what ways? And to what extent can we generalize about this diverse and rapidly changing space?" For one thing, online newsrooms are innovating and creating richer content than before. The news is not only being reported, it is becoming interactive through viewer comments. News can be more static online. Instant updates can be posted and now we are seeing more live streams. We can generalize that the presence of the news on the Net will continue to grow and the way it is delivered will be enhanced. 

Does reality and tabloid media corrupt our politics and frame the message?

I believe that reality and tabloid media does corrupt our politics. This out of the norm, gossipy, and highly opinionated form of media can frame messages that are broadcast in such a way that truth is distorted and people's minds are negatively influenced.  I often ask myself, How real is reality TV? Tabloids make money by producing drama, making insinuations, and by publishing stories that are mutated. "The thrill of the kill through tainted messages fuels the capitalism of corruption." - Deneene A. Collins 

Since I always seem to have something to say I hope to bring you more interesting content soon on Deneene Says...