In the news:
CNN Jan 25, 2024
No, the questions about the future of journalism started years ago when newspeople stopped asking questions related to public policy.
Been blogging about it for a few years now:
4 Stories The Puget Sound Press Will Not Question Or Report On
Today, the mainstream media will function like paid actors reading a script:
Private citizens are stepping in and going out with a camera to see and document what is going on.
Instead of waiting for school teachers to teach about individual rights and limited government authority, waiting on the press to ask questions, or courts to handle cases, these guys go out and update us with a quick reality check.
Also not waiting on the overthrow of Saddam Hussein or the take down of the next bad guy in distant lands, as DOD defends the constitution, etc.
Videos recorded at or outside of sites that are funded by the public seem to be best for documenting these issues.
Any TV newsperson could go out and educate the public on their rights/public official’s obligation to provide info, etc. That does not happen.
An American press delivers the story below, that press avoids asking questions related to public policy.
Biden honors Americans who ‘stood on the front lines of freedom’ in Veterans Day remarks
CNN Nov 11, 2023
Would any newsperson ever ask:
Mr President,
Going back to the 1990 Operation Desert Shield,
How would American freedoms today be any different if US troops were never sent to Iraq?
Real newspeople and some Americans might ask:
Did the advantage of US air power allow the undeclared wars in Iraq or Afghanistan to be prevented, won or shut down?
US jet aircraft have been able to strike targets in what wars won by the US?
Currently serving four-star officers and high level DOD civilians have been associated with what wars won by the US?
Has dressing women to look like men had any positive or negative impact on recruiting?
Newspeople not asking questions
Today, sports culture is where the free and independent press is alive and well.
Think of an NFL game. Coaches and quarterbacks face the press after every game and answer questions, win or lose.
No press secretary. No public relations spokesperson. No freedom of information act requests. No classified documents.
Instant replays, commentary in the broadcast booth, analysis from network studios, sports talk radio, etc. Fans get tons of info all of the time. No chance for conspiracy theories to develop. Missed calls by NFL officials may be discussed for weeks on end. No such thing as: “We can’t comment on an ongoing investigation.” Instant replay is for all to see. Sports writers are OK with being critical of coaches, teams, players, the rule book, the league, referees, team owners, when the season starts and ends, etc. This is what a free and independent press looks like. Go ahead and have sports writers cover public policy, Homeland Security and US Dept. of Defense news and I’m good with that.
In recent years, the press tends to support government agencies, departments and policies rather than question them.
Small Town Papers – Two Examples
In the news- example number one:
August 11, 2023 Whidbey News-Times
Whidbey sewer plants win state awards
“The Oak Harbor Clean Water Facility was recognized as outstanding by the Department of Ecology.”
“The Coupeville treatment plant received the outstanding performance award for the 13th consecutive year, and the Holmes Harbor plant was awarded for the 17th year in a row. The Penn Cove wastewater treatment plant was also a recipient this year.”
Beach adjacent to Award Winning Sewage Treatment Plant:
Coupeville
“Clams, mussels and oysters CLOSED year-round.”
“This beach is within the closure area for a sewage treatment plant outfall and is unsafe for recreational shellfish harvesting.”
Source: WDFW
Love to see newspeople ask:
When is the last time all of Penn Cove was safe for recreational shellfish harvest?
Zero questions from small or large newspapers. Zero questions from TV newspeople.
In the news- example number two:
$6.3 million in federal cash for a used Ocean Shores hotel.
Any questions from newspeople?
December 8, 2022 The Daily World
Dept. of Ag invests $6.3M to purchase Ocean Shores hotel
$6.3 million “to fund the acquisition of an existing hotel. Marathon Enterprises Inc. is located in Ocean Shores, Grays Harbor County, Washington. The project is expected to result in saving eight jobs and creating one full time job.”
Zero questions from small or large newspapers. Zero questions from TV newspeople.
The small papers will say they need more support from subscribers and advertising dollars or cash from the federal government to stay alive. All this because COVID or the internet or lack of newspaper sales, or a free and independent press that needs taxpayer support.
People who take no public funds, private donations or advertising dollars are free to ask questions at any time. Why not the press? Call for unpaid volunteers and you’d get better news coverage than what we have now.
I’d be more interested in paying (again) for a local paper subscription if there was more in the way of newspeople asking questions.
No sense in subscribing to newspapers that do not ask public policy-related questions.
JFK speaks about the role of the press in a free society:
USA – 2023/2024
A society where honest and meaningful ideas stand up to questioning and discussion, but the questioning and discussion rarely takes place. Well done newspeople.
January 6th
Seems like a post 911 Washington DC would be one of the very most prepared cities in the world to host gatherings and events of a friendly or unfriendly nature. Sort of like the Super Bowl, but every day, not just one day each year. Sort of like SWAT teams ready to show up on Puget Sound ferry boats an hour after a bad person attempts to do a bad thing by surprise.
Don’t worry-The Super Bowl and public affairs will be safe:
Blogged about it back then: What Failed On Wednesday at the United States Capitol?