GEYER: Undermining newspapers

GEYER: Undermining Newspapers 12/20/08 The real question that the journalists who discuss the decline of newspapers tiptoe around so carefully is this: why are the readers moving over to the Internet? There are several reasons, but probably the key factor is that the American public has lost its long-held belief in and loyalty to the newspapers, and now wants to distance itself from them. This is reflected in the extremely-low approval ratings of those newspapers by the public. Why those disastrous ratings? First, the J schools were taken captive by militant liberals in the 1960s, and the Roper polls routinely reflect that 85% - 87% of journalists vote Democrat in each election. The all-out campaigning by most of the media for Sen. Obama in the last election leaves no doubt about that. The Washington Times is one of the few Republican newspapers, and it is slanted toward the Blue-State Republicans--which probably reflects accurately the views of Washingtonians, but not of the conservative heartland, which is considered contemptible or invisible by all of the print and TV media. Second, the editorial policies of almost all of the newspapers are alarmingly alike: they brook no real discussion of most of the national issues affecting the average citizen today, including the real costs of: illegal immigration; and shipping our manufacturing jobs overseas; and maintaining artificial restrictions on drilling for oil where it can be had the cheapest; and permitting the greedheads running the lending institutions and the stock market to get away with ruining the economy; and consistently putting the interests of Israel ahead of those of our own country in our Middle East policy; and converting our airports and federal buildings into the beginnings of a lockstep-totalitarian state, while ignoring the critically-important defenses of our country (our borders, our import cargoes, and lots of air marshals on our planes); the steady growth of our federal government into a socialist regime; the fact that Americans are among the most-heavily-regulated peoples in the world; etc. Because almost none of our newspapers require or permit their journalists to address these vital issues openly and fully, the constant political-campaigning in this country has to be covered in the most trivial way, as simplistic horse-races: i.e., he who gets bribed the most with campaign money by the special interests wins the media's game. The Founding Fathers warned us that this country could survive as a federal republic only if it maintained an informed electorate. The news media have failed us badly at that, which is unforgivable.

Hey Georgie, I "read news only on the Internet", so I guess you "want to slug me too." That is a typical statement made from the media. Let me tell you the real reason papers are going broke. I live in Dallas and the Dallas Morning News is the worst paper ever. These clowns want open borders so anyone can just walk to our country and get free health care and education. I responded and told them they should pay for all of this stuff for the illegals, not me, and they emailed me back and called me stupid and a racist. That very same day I got a bill in the mail informing me that my subscription was due and please send them more money. I called and cancelled. Lets not forget the DMN made the illegal alien their man of the year. When the newspaper's die, I will be reading all about it online.

I used to read the St Louis Post Dispatch - I stopped my subscription because of the unbelievable bias of the newspaper... I wanted the FACTS of the story not some editors private and highly biased opinion of the story. I got tired of reading one thing and when I researched the FACTS finding out something totally different and I got real tired of newspapers manufacturing 'news' to push their private agendas. I want the news and only the news presented equally and without bias. Until the main stream press gets that through their thick skulls I will not buy their papers or watch their news programs or support their advertisers. And if they go under - so be it, maybe the next crop of papers will go back to fair, factual and honest reporting of the news..

“…civic conscience. Only newspapers can provide this, with their multitalented staffs and with the scope of their reporting.” Geyer is certainly both self-righteous and self-important here. Who could doubt that the “newspaper world” is failing because “the great unwashed” have been permitted to invest in their stocks. Imagine! “Newspapers”, with the notable exception of “The Old Gray Hag”, have degenerated into “viewspapers”. “Reporters” have given way to “journalists”, for whom mere reporting of facts is unfulfilling, even above the fold on Page 1. “The Old Gray Hag”, on the other hand, has transcended “viewspaper” status in its unending quest to become the “policy shop” for the Democrat left. She has even descended to “nagging” on Page 1 when her policy recommendations are ignored, perceiving that to constitute “news”. We live in a world of growing complexity. Journalists prove every day that they do not have even a basic understanding of the topics on which they “journalize”. Science and economics “journalization” stand out to me in this regard. If there is a future for newspapers, it is for papers which employ many reporters for whom “reporting” is their passion; and, many fewer journalists who actually understand the topics on which they go beyond “reporting” to “analysis”. However, to cut papers just a little slack, they have become overly dependent on politicized newswire services, such as “al Reuters” and “AP-O(bama)”, which deliver them pre-packaged “journalism” disguised as “reporting”. I will not hold my breath in anticiption of the return of the “newspaper”.

Newspapers are failing because they are not providing the news in the fashion that people want. They are failing because: 1. They allow their reporters to delude themselves into thinking that they are "fair" and that they alone know the truth. Many reporters are just political hacks masquerading as journalists. 2. They editorialize in the “news” portion by their selection news articles, the placement of news and the wording of the headlines. 3. The information is not presented in an easy to digest manner. People are busy and often do not want nor have the time to read the full articles. 4. The information, most importantly governmental finances, is not presented in a proper context. They are guilty of providing information but not understanding. If a newspaper wants to differentiate and thrive in the 21st. Century they need to make these changes: 1. Both sides of controversial issues need to be fairly summarized in Powerpoint type presentations. Each side of the presentations should be made by someone who holds the position they are presenting. More detailed companion articles can follow the summary. In the legal system, we do not allow the District Attorney to present both the prosecution and defense cases. Newspapers are the courtroom for judging public policy. 2. Governmental financial data should be presented not in terms of millions, billions or trillions of dollars but instead (or in addition) the apportioned cost to an average family. People think in terms of their family finances and presenting governmental financial data in that context helps provide them with a better understanding. When government information is presented in terms of millions and billions, they think it must be someone else’s money. 3. Government cost and tax information should be presented in a manner that helps in comparisons. For example, it is useful in evaluating public officials if we know how their city expenses compare to a neighboring city on a per family basis. It would also be useful to compare the same city’s inflation adjusted per family expenses from 10, 20 or 30 years earlier. Newspapers that adapt this approach will be serving their communities and will prosper. I have examples of how I think news should be presented on my website: www.clearpictureonline.com.