by Tom Brennan,
Once upon an America, the crusading newspaper editor was a hero. He (usually a male) was often a curmudgeonly, cranky, and disheveled but honest –as- the- day- is- long professional. The truth and nothing but the truth was his motto. The growth of radio enlarged this world of journalism and the name Edward R. Murrow still demands respect. Reporters wrote notes, did interviews, sought truth, and developed reliable sources, stood behind their stories at risk of their career, employment or jail to tell the facts about their story. Corruption in high places, injustice, corporate scandals all saw intense scrutiny from investigative reporters who showed integrity and courage. These were heroes I respected as a mass communications major in college. No more.
Today news on television, internet social media and reality TV is a fraud. “Infotainment”, happy news, male and female models who act rather than report dominate the corporate-owned networks. The dumbing-down our Western culture is a fait accompli. Jay Leno the last survivor of NBC’s quality days used to have a segment called “Jay Walking” .An interviewer would camp out at a cross walk on a city street or college campus and ask questions a 5th grader in the 1960’s could have answered correctly. Usually the questions were about US history or current events. The answers that came from undergrads, 20-somethings and others were astounding. The frightening sense of “are these people in responsible positions anywhere?” made stomachs churn and cold sweats in the middle of the night occur. Marie Harf, Jen Psaki and Josh Earnest seem to be cast members of this segment of the show.
Today you don’t have to wear a tinfoil hat to believe that something insidious is going on in the controlled media. Even Meet the Press and other former authoritative interview shows are mostly op-ed (talking heads, former university professors, self-promoting politicians etc.) who issue statements that are made in “I said so” tone that viewers who do not take the time to verify. Anything short of the latest football scores or what the current celebrity of the hour is doing is accepted verbatim. The BBC itself is honest enough to call its on air staff “news readers” not reporters.
The news media today is no longer a separate estate as once was, but a part of a corporate structure with its own agenda. This corporate structure is closely allied with a socio-political cabal that is anti-Israel, anti-Semitic and anti-Christian. In the former legitimate press a “gate-keeper” decided what was included in the day’s editions or broadcasts. This individual set the tone for what was considered important to the publication’s mission statement and readers and listeners received the results of this person’s decision. Today, Corporate and government interests dominate this decision making process. Stories that are important to decision making and national interest are omitted if they do not adhere to policy from high places. The authoritative tone and delivery of the “news readers” and anchors influence and do so unjustly, the recipients of the news. The mental state of much of the audience and their refusal to question sources has had a numbing and dumbing effect. Lies have become truth.
In military terms the best defense is a good offense. Time is wasted confronting every twisted report or lie. The public needs to be urged and educated to seek facts, truth and verification not entertainment. What has been termed “alternate media” is now the true heir to journalism. This newsblog you are reading is one of the sources where you can find out what is really happening in Israel. Other that should be consulted are: Jerusalem Post, Times of Israel, Kehila News, Drudge Report, Breitbart and WND. Each of these has links to other dependable and verifiable sources. Start your own BDS of the liars and tools and “useful idiots” of the media. We are at war and no time can be lost following paths that lead to folly. Israel is being libeled. The truth shall make us free. Stand with Israel and truth.
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