KP Media Watch (7/3/2010): Always Interesting
Link: yourfreedom.hmg.gov.uk/
It has been a very busy few days on the Media Front. I'll begin the latest edition of KP's Media watch with MSNBC's Rachel Maddow. I found this clip to be just hillarious, yet sad:Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy
Ever since my early days as a News Intern, I was felt that there was a solemn obligation to bring a sense of truth to bear in the analysis being done. I have always regarded the media as a way to learn and enhance the vision. Despite MSNBC's mission to be the anti-Fox, it seems to me that MSNBC goes out of its' way to showcase the hypocracy that seems to be dominating the conservative press today. What is especially troublesome is how the Republicans are basically working to blow away the Social Safety net--although they are quite deft to subtly manage the message differently.
Dealing with facts and fantasy is the key difference between some of the work being done at Rachel Maddow vs. the entire Fox Network. After this clip, she then featured Barney Frank reminding the House that Republicans were in charge from 1995 thru 2006 and basically did nothing. There is of course MSNBC's Countdown. I enjoy watching it because I regard it as a glorified "Daily Show". It has been such shows that have insured that at least a semblance of debate was maintained especially during the Bush years. I get a bit irritiated, though, when he introduces some of his guests. For instance, he constantly reminds the audience that Richard Wolffe is the author of Renegade. I don't care anymore. Everyone knows that Gene Robinson has won the Pulitzer. Let's avoid the platitudes and focus on the substance.
Fox News, as always, is quite busy and always fun to observe. Mr. Beck continues to be quite busy. Mr. Beck's latest venture is Beck University. As someone who has the privilege and honor to teach, I am especially blown away by his newest venture. The Fox "All Stars" are making great money pushing their agenda and they have an army of followers that seems to believe anything they say as gospel. Media Matters, FactCheck and other organizations do try and debunk some of the myths. Whether that continues remains to be seen.
As I continue to study this and write about it, I think the need for alternative media becomes ever more. There is a vast underground of the alternative media that is out there today. This is just one example of some rather keen observations that seems to dissipate as the debate in the so-called mainstream media focuses on the not-so important:
I am a regular read of Tom's Dispatch and have yet to see any coverage of this. Think about the facts:
400 bases in Afghanistan, alone?
An estimated 1200 bases around the World?
At least seven wedding parties being hit?
The startling facts behind the actual surge...
...And this is just a preview of what he has written about in his new book!!!
Why is this not being talked about? This is the kind of debate that needs to happen, but is not. I think Tom Engelehart is absolutely right in noting that America is in a permanent state of war without the people knowing it. The 30 Billion in new funding was passed, yet the unemployment extension was denied to "save money".
The question, to me, is where does truth lie? How do we really understand truth, speak truth to power and make them understand the realities? These are some of the challenges I continue to face as I build "Outsiders" and assess our World. Whether this will create a roadmap remains to be seen. What is clear is that a true dialogue seems to be missing and everyone seems to be talking past each other. That has to change for us to emerge from this malaise.
As Afghans, Americans, British, Dutch and Canadians continue to fight and die for the cause in Afghanistan, there is of course Michael Steele:
First of, he seems to forget there is something called "YouTube". He seems to think that his nonsense will not be reported out. He either does not understand, does not care or does not want to care. It was so refreshing to see no less a personality like Bill Kristol called for Michael Steele's head. This truly shows the power of the Media and how it can truly be possible to hold people accountable.
There is one more refreshing example of how "New Media" can make a difference. The White House has tried it with the initiatives. Now, the new UK Government has done the same. The link I have noted here is an initiative to reach out to the UK population about what needs to be done differently and to "think different". This is the kind of stuff that excites me to see and write about. According to the site, "....We've had an excellent response so far, with over 2,205 ideas, 7,419 comments and 18,000 votes in our first day...." Of course, I continue to marvel at the Prime Minister's Question Time. I regularly attend the session regularly and am quite amazed as to the debate and the interaction. I would love to see U.S. Media took on such a role. I am of the view that if Media truly did its' job, the civil discourse required to take us beyond the polarized environment we're currently in will be refreshing. Here at KP, the goal is to bring such ideas to bear and continue to truly "Go Beyond the Now".
The Journey and the Quest for that Virtual "Utopia" will go on.......
Mike Pouraryan
