Sirotablog
David Sirota is a political journalist and nationally syndicated newspaper columnist at Creators Syndicate. David writes about political corruption, globalization and working-class economic issues often ignored by both of America's political parties.
-
June 2, 2007 6:51 AM
Gore's Media Criticism Hits the Mark
Some pundits are all hot and bothered about Al Gore's new book, and how it slams the media for focusing on infotainment rather than, you know, real issues. But here's a pretty funny example of how right Gore is:
Until then, he's got his hands full trying to reform the media that he said is beholden to "trivialities" over substance. He experienced it first hand Tuesday night during his appearance on "Larry King."
After an hour of deconstructing the Bush presidency, the climate crisis and the media's shortcomings, CNN, unbeknownst to Gore, flashed a promotional teaser for King's next show: "Joey Buttafuoco and Amy Fisher: Back together?"
Here's another example: The New York Times' story on Barack Obama liking basketball is about 40 percent longer than the story the paper wrote about Barack Obama's health care plan for America.
-
TAKE ACTION
-
About David Sirota
David Sirota is a political journalist and nationally syndicated newspaper columnist at Creators Syndicate. He is the New York Times bestselling author of Hostile Takeover. He lives in Denver, Colorado. His daily blog can be found at CREDO Action. He contributes regularly to the Denver Post's Web site, is a senior editor at In These Times magazine and is working on his second book. He has been profiled in Newsweek and the Rocky Mountain News and is widely known for his reporting on political corruption, globalization and working-class economic issues often ignored by both of America's political parties. Sirota serves as co-chair of the Progressive States Network, a 501(c)3 organization that supports state legislators and that is a partner of CREDO.
You can subscribe to Sirota's e-mail newsletter by going to davidsirota.com and signing up in the lefthand corner. To find out more about Sirota, download his official biography or see his recent media appearances. You can e-mail him at sirota@credoaction.com.
The views expressed on this blog are his own, and do not necessarily represent the views of Working Assets (publisher of CREDO Action) or the institutions Sirota works for.
-
Recent Sirotablog entries
- "Center-Right Nation" Meme On Tape
- "Center-Right Nation" - Election Day Watch
- Promoting the Guy Whose Lies Boosted Ratings & Killed Thousands
- "Center-Right Nation" Watch - Mark Penn Edition
- Mandate Watch - Bellwether Races/Initiatives To Watch Below the Presidential Contest
- "Center-Right Nation" Watch - Doug Schoen Edition
- "Center-Right Nation" Watch
- Writing Lessons
- Court Says Colorado's Katherine Harris Is Violating Federal Law With Voter Purges
- NEWSFLASH: America Doesn't Like Its Jobs Shipped Overseas
-
More David Sirota
-
This Modern World
-
October 27, 2008 -
October 20, 2008 -
October 15, 2008 -
October 13, 2008 -
October 2, 2008
-
-
Donations Recipients
-
RSS feeds
Discussion
Its called Dwelling on Trivia(DOT), a fine and proven method of distracting/entertaining the viewership.
Think of it as a variation of "bread and circuses".
That said, what Al Gore attack on the media's dwelling on infortainment isn't anything new. He's just the latest guy to say it. Andy Rooney and Dan Rather have also said as much on King's show.
Whats is unique though is that a ex vice-president saying this instead of relatively unknown psychologists and social-critics. And this gives the criticism a much wider desimination than it would recieve otherwise IMO.
Personally I see "infotainment" as a assault on our citizenry by big business who prefer that the masses be sedate and uniformed cow like "consumers". Kept in the dark and fed bullshit as we use to say in the DoD.
Is it the media? Or the viewers/readers? Seriously, how many "ordinary citizens" would read an in-depth article about health care delivery? But would about any kind of sports?
Even a lot of political wonks MEGO when the details of policy are presented/discussed. No one really cares until they are personally affected then demand they be asked for input. Even when they were but went on a recreational trip (or whatever) instead. My favorite example are zoning changes which only garner input when the bulldozers show up.
All the big Media wonks are at The Bilderberger meetings where everything is decided..!
Who will be supported for elected office whether to bomb Iran which they approved it's all up to these dirt bag bankers and David Rockefeller you know that and so do I..!
The every fact that not one media type will even dare mention The Bilderbergers or the Tri-Lateral Commission both founded by David Rockefeller proves how powerful and dangerous and vile these pernicious groups are..!
Take Hillary it's all been decided by Wolf Blitzer and the rest of the anal butt suckers.. so why even pretend we're a democracy or a Republic any longer..?
The very fact that even here none has dare mentioned NSPD-51 or HSPD-20 which makes Bush the Supreme Dictator again proves just how unified and homogenized the Media has become..!
They are nothing any longer but the enablers of Tyranny and waste, corruption and corporate oligarchy..!
That's all we are anymore a Corporate Oligarchy masquerading as a Nation..!
Join the Discussion