News media examines itself during live show

“FIRED ACROSS THE BOW” – WE TAKE AIM AT OUR OWN INDUSTRY

WASHINGTON, DC (Herald de Paris) - A very interesting, organic, and impromptu discussion arose, this morning, on our very own morning program, Le Morning Show, as we, as members of the news media, took an objective look at our industry.  The results were not exactly pretty.  Nevertheless, the results of this unplanned self-analysis were so interesting and poignant, we were compelled to share the transcript with you here.

The genesis of this discussion was yesterday’s news that 24-hour cable news giant CNN has fallen to the bottom of the cable news ratings.  We pick up the discussion, below, as it occurred in the last hour of the East Coast Edition of Le Morning Show, which is twitcast weekday mornings, from 6-9am.  The panelists are Herald de Paris publisher and Le Morning Show host Jes Alexander (Jes), Le Morning Show news anchor Fi Brownrigg (Fi), and Le Morning Show contributing editor-at-large and noted wildlife expert Dr. Mireya Mayor (Mi).  The format of Le Morning Show permits listeners to be an active part of the conversation, and their interjections are also noted.

(Jes) Look at CNN, they’ve fallen to the bottom of the cable news ratings share with their “Breaking News” about inane topics. Perhaps people are finally waking up to the sensationalism that has run over the news media, and how toxic it is … but I doubt it

(Fi) CNN has been struggling to revamp its image. They could start by calling certain news anchors what they are – commentators! Meanwhile, NBC hired Bush’s daughter Jenna as an “education correspondent,” no doubt attempting to combat accusations of liberal bias. And FOX seems to have whole-heartedly embraced accusations of its bias. They may reason their audience loves it, so why change?

(Jes) When Access Hollywood and CNN are chasing the same headlines yes, we have problems in the news media.

(Fi) Right. There’s enough fluff and sugar in today’s top headlines to make cotton candy. Practically gives me a toothache.

(Listener Timothy Chase): I used to keep CNN turned on nonstop so I could feel plugged in. Now, I keep my TV off and my radio tuned to NPR.

(Fi) Exactly! Thanks for the input, TC.  I feel the same way. But I think a lot of “us” need to take some responsibility for what the news has become. And by us, I mean we the news audience. The news is now purely a profit machine – they will only report on the subject matter that they think will bring in the most viewers. We say we don’t want sensationalism, but then we tune in, in throngs, when it’s reported. Sometimes we can’t help ourselves. I know there are plenty of us who are exceptions to that rule, and so I hope no one will be offended if this doesn’t describe you.

(Jes) Dear CNN, let Fi and me transform your news image. We sure can’t do worse than last place.

(Fi) Haha, *exactly*, Jes.

(Fi) I have a theory that we as a species survived because of our strong reaction to negative stimulus – such as, you know, mortal peril. Now we’re safe from sabretooth tigers, we’ve transferred our heightened reaction to negativity – to “Jon & Kate Plus 8.” Sorry – I know, I know … I mentioned “They Who Must Not Be Named.” Please forgive me.

(Jes) Define “we” please, because I most certainly do not tune in for garbage media.

(Fi) I know there are plenty of us who are not drawn to “if it bleeds, it leads” or gaudy, empty headlines – but we’re not in the majority. If we were, the news companies would not keep doing what they’re doing. They WANT to give us what they think we want to hear about.

(Jes) On the one hand, it is a ray of hope that people are not watching the crap bubble up on CNN anymore .. maybe the general populous is waking up to garbage they’ve been fed in-place of altruistic news. Conversely, they’re still watching the shouting heads of the other cable news shows.

(Fi) Exactly, Jes. So what I think it comes down to, is this: do we give the public what it WANTS to hear, or what it NEEDS to hear … even if it hurts the “ratings?”

(Jes) I have described this as the “Maury Povich’ing” of the news media – that sad and disturbing point where ad revenue and ratings share suddenly become more important than the public trust to fairly report the news as it happens.

(Fi) Right. So what’s the solution? Find a cheaper way to report, so that we’re not beholden to ratings and advertisements, perhaps?

(Jes) I think there’s a clear division between NEWS and entertainment, Fi, and I do not consider a fair and honest delivery of the news to be a responsible place to compromise your integrity for increased revenue. At the same time, many people unconsciously want to be told what to do – our society is comprised of far more followers than leaders

(Fi) I really have to hand it to the Christian Science Monitor for some of its reporting. At least they’re trying to avoid hyperbole and puffery. And of course, the Herald de Paris, for being devoted to the same cause – avoiding tabloid journalism!

(Mi) Good Morning!

(Fi) Morning, Mi!

(Jes) But what we have allowed to happen is a cheapening of the news down to entertainment levels – more people could spot Oprah on the street than Ann Curry or Brian Williams. Can you imagine Edward R. Murrow doing a story about Anna Nicole Smith’s baby having a first birthday party the way CNN did? No.

(Fi) Totally agreed, Jes. People often *do* want to be told what to do. Even what news they should care about.

(Mi) Love the discussion taking place. OK if I jump in?

(Fi) Yes, please do!

(Mi) Fox News is a like a bad car accident & people love to rubberneck.

(jes) Hi Mireya .. absolutely.

(Fi) Hahah, Mi, FOX can be like a car accident. Perfectly plays into my theory – attraction to negativity! Public becomes rubberneckers.

(Mi) I don’t necessarily blame the news media.

(Jes) The problem is, and this goes back to why the Herald de Paris was born in the first place, biased news dissemination is irresponsible. Too many people believe that if it’s in-print or it’s on the air, it must be true. It’s a misuse of the public trust. All the networks are guilty of selling out, to some degree – will you ever see a negative report about Viagra? NEVER, because the drug manufacturers pay too much to underwrite the news media with advertising. Need proof? The censors allow things to be mentioned in those ads that prime-time network broadcasting can’t venture into.

(Mi) We live in a society who thrives on instant gratification. BIGGER, BETTER, FASTER. The media plays into it by offering dumbed-down news that causes an instant WOW factor.

(Jes) agreed, Mi – and we’ve discussed the dumbing down of the society at-large on previous shows.

(Jes) If CNN is smart, they’ll ignore the ratings for 6 months and get back to straight-forward news, because that’s the void in the cable news marketplace.

(Mi) But they CAN’T ignore ratings, Jes.

(Jes) I didn’t say forever, I said for 6 months – while they re-tool from entertainment-based back to information-based. The problem is, there’s a public trust barrier with the news media – and it’s been violated.

(Mi) And after 6 months people would pour in. Doubtful.

(Jes) Look, they’re going to lose ratings share (see: REVENUE) by being in last place anyway. What better time to return to what made them the ratings king before? Personally, I think it’s a no-brainer.

(Fi) It’s a tough question – how to balance funding with effective, hard news reporting – even NPR/PBS struggles with that balance.

(Mi) Believe me Jes, I think it would be great if they did it, I agree.

(Jes) But again, the dissemination of the news SHOULD NOT be a profit center on par with entertainment programming. Period.

(Fi) Agreed. And we need to be reminding news networks and newspapers of just that.

(Mi) But I don’t think they would be ratings kings after that because people LOVE tabloid.

(Jes) Remember the first Gulf War, when Bernard Shaw was atop a Baghdad building with rockets hailing down? That was CNN’s heyday – and they had all the ratings share because people really do want actual news.

(Fi) I regret to head out, but it’s been a really stimulating discussion, thank you! And thanks to everyone else for their input.

(Mi) Bye, Fi!

(Jes) Once upon a time it was enough for a news division to be heralded for its integrity. Not anymore.

(Mi) I face the same problem making wildlife programs.. If it doesn’t have big teeth, and a high chance of killing you, they don’t want it.

(Jes) I just find it sad that doing something because it’s the right thing to do isn’t good enough, anymore.

(Mi) Amen to that, Jes.

(Jes) Yes, I know, and I’m really glad some silverback hasn’t knocked the life out of you.

(Mi) Me too. Came close.

(Mi) And it is THAT particular moment that will get the most media coverage, I guarantee it.

(Jes) Look at Darfur and the other humanitarian problems on the African continent – other countries report on this nightly. Here? Barely. Even if you don’t report it, it’s happening. There’s no reason to fill airtime on the Today Show with Jon & Kate and ignore Darfur, unless you’re not running a news program, but instead an entertainment profit center.

(Mi) I’ve pitched an endless number of stories on conservation topics. Their response? Conservation doesn’t rate well.

(Mi) I agree with you, Jes. But sadly, there are a lot of people who don’t care what’s happening outside their neighborhood. They don’t about care because it doesn’t affect them.

(Jes) The great irony in CNN’s case is that they made a name for themselves by offering honest news, and they’ve forgotten how to do that. But here’s a question I wish someone could answer – how is it that US networks can’t duplicate what the BBC does? It *is* possible.

(Mi) UK is a very different audience & they are much more critical & high brow that Americans. Sorry, but I blame us. Survivor is the perfect example of audience expectation differences between UK & American audiences. Survivor is a ratings phenomenon here. In the UK it bombed. Why? Because the viewers in the UK did not buy its “sincerity” the way we gobble it up.

(Jes) Ahh, you hit the nail on the head, Mi – what the news SHOULD be doing is expanding knowledge through information, not pandering to it. But this goes back to the conversation we had in the summer, when you were in the Congo – the root problem may well be that the level of education in this country has been dumbed down so much that many people don’t know enough to care, anymore. And I know that will not be something most people want to hear.  An ignorant population will not challenge authority.

(Mi) Exactly.

(Mi) I agree, Jes. I’ve been told repeatedly that people don’t care about gorilla murders or elephant poaching because it doesn’t affect them.

(Mi) But it DOES!

(Listener George Spink) What does that tell you? Survivor bombed in the U.K. because Brits are smarter!

(Mi) No, George. It’s because they have come to expect sincerity.

(Jes) The rainforests are a perfect example – most people here are not paying attention to the deforestation that affects the air they breathe. Instead, our society is glorifying loggers with their own television series.

(Mi) People need to realize that when a tree is cut in Africa it DOES affect us.

(Listener Al Boss) Elephant poaching affects me a whole lot more than does Tom Delay’s ability to Foxtrot.

(Jes) In all sincerity, I believe that there has been a decided lowering of the general education level in this country since the late 60s. Why? In many ways, the Hippie uprising at major universities almost allowed intelligent people to take over our government. How do you prevent that from happening again? Lower the general education level. Now, we teach memorization of revisionist history, and graduate students with 2nd grade reading levels, instead of teaching and fostering cognitive learning skills. But I need not ramble on – it’s time for the West coast edition.

(West Coast Edition Host Mel) Jes, your “rambles” are more interesting than MANY of the things I have to read throughout the day! YOU know

(Jes) But I don’t need to get my own blood boiling like that.

(Mel) Deep breath Jes…must be tough w/ you & Mireya trying to save the world!

END TRANSCRIPT

As to our mention of other programs and other networks, our apologies.  We were not intending to cast stones, but instead tossed out familiar situations as a means to support our arguments.

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