Cable News More and More Annoying

Excerpt from This Week In Stupid News – Breaking News or Broken News

"he Chillean Miner story was certainly the feel good story of the year. Cable news was given the gift of a watchable, interesting, and upbeat 24 hour news day. Then all three cable news networks graphics’ departments seemed to lose their mind, as they filled the television screen with graphic clutter announcing every minute element of this story. CNN posted the breaking news alert near the bottom of their pages, ‘Families await miners’ rescue.’ Really that’s breaking news? The families have been waiting for months.

Fox News ran two scrolls across their screen at once helping make their viewers cross-eyed. One scroll bringing such useful info to people such as, ‘capsule brings miners up from mine.’ I suppose if you’re somehow impaired that might be mildly helpful, as possibly someone would have thought the capsule was going to be set off like a rocket as part of Chile’s bicentennial celebration? MSNBC had the title of their show in the corner of their screen even after the show was no longer airing, and split the screen in two to show two different views. Unfortunately, they often showed the same view in those two separate panels.

Now, it must be challenging writing a myriad of informative short headlines for an event that is unfolding on live television, so here’s a tip – Stop Writing Them.
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Finish reading This Week In Stupid News – Breaking News or Broken News

Why Do I Know That Barack Obama Lost His American Flag Lapel Pin?

Reprint from BroadSideoftheBarn.com - http://broadsideofthebarn.blogspot.com/2007/11/why-do-i-know-that-barack-obama-lost.html

This is my question to the media. Why do I know that Barack Obama lost his American flag lapel pin? What could possibly be the reason for airing this piece of trivia? I’ve seen seven candidates speak in New Hampshire. Every one of them has discussed health care, but I have seen no reporting on the content of the candidate’s health care plans on the major news networks. Yet at least twice Senator Obama’s lapel pin has been discussed. What in the world are news organizations thinking?

The three cable news networks are terribly disappointing. They love espousing their slogans, ‘The most trusted name in news,’ or ‘Fair and balanced’ and then run they one commentary show after the next. Certainly there is a place for shows like these hosted by Lou Dobbs, Bill O’Rielly, and Chris Matthews. All I ask is that they call a spade a spade. These aren’t news shows these are opinion shows that use news clips and selective reporting to prove their points. Where has objective reporting gone? I’m certain there are good reporters out there; where are they and why aren’t they allowed to report on issues and content? I know that if I go to a campaign event up here in New Hampshire and a candidate trips, fumbles their words, or is confronted by a demonstrator it will likely make the news. I also know that no matter how brilliant a speech, how thoughtful a plan, or how insightful a candidate is, that content will never air nationally.

There are numerous important issues to report on in this race, and the only thing that consistently gets airtime is the race itself and daily poll numbers. The press is acting as an odds maker and forgotten that their job is to report. Please media, deliver your viewers some substance. I don’t care if retired men prefer one candidate, and soccer moms prefer another. Try telling us about the candidate’s record and platform. Don’t leave us with only C-SPAN as a reliable news source. Last I checked we’re preparing to vote in 2008, not gamble on a horserace.