Do you miss the days before we had so much "news"?

Question

Back when you had the daily paper and the evening news and that was it? Back when journalists still upheld a code of ethics and reported objectively? When analyzing the news was done at the local diner instead of by the journalists who just reported on it? Before we had all these 24 hour news channels, hours and and hours of news on network stations every day, talk shows analyzing everything to death? They don't even show cartoons on Saturday morning anymore, instead it's just more "news."

Answer 1

I miss the ethics of journalism, but that has little to do with the availability of the news.

Answer 2

I don't have cable so it's cartoons on Saturday and Sunday and every morning. We got to talking the other day about the crimes that happen today and my thought is that it isn't that they didn't happen in the past, we just didn't get them reported. I remember when it was a big thing when police departments started cooperating with each other. And then came the Viet Nam war and the supposed reporting...although we got lied to pretty good. My sister had two boys in Desert Storm and she watched everything out there while praying for them. I miss just getting the news...the facts without all the yellow journalism and all the people that think they need to tell me what to think about what I've just heard. I turn that all off. I even miss Rush Limbaugh and how he used to report the news and then tell you what to think about it. At least the news got reported impartially. That doesn't happen anymore and I resent that everyone in media must think I'm an idiot and I believe everything I read. And remember when people would tell you what you were reading was just their opinion.. .Yes, I guess I do. And I'd like to add...can't we have some intelligent TV?

Answer 3

News is much better now than it used to be back in the "good old days." The world has become much more honest and well informed as a result of wall-to-wall news coverage, even though a lot of it is ratings-driven and sensationalistic.



Back when people like Walter Cronkite and Eric Sevareid would spend thirty minutes telling you what was going on in the world, they seemed very authoritative and ethical, but really everything they were telling you was hogwash.



The only things you heard from them were a very small number of canned stories fed to them by the government or other establishment sources, which they were simply repeating with unquestioning obedience. Typically you would hear that the president had made a speech, the pope had made a visit to an orphanage, the railroad workers were threatening to go on strike, a satellite had been launched into orbit, and a couple of Hollywood celebrities were getting married.



But none of that was really a very good indication of the important changes that were actually taking place in the world at that time. The only thing that was accomplished by broadcasting that kind of "news" was the reinforcement of the enormous ignorance of the American people.

Answer 4

Well you don't have to listen to it. There's always the 'off' switch.

And you don't have to buy newspapers.



I did stop listening to Radio 4 in the late evenings when Radio 7 came along (now called Radio 4 Extra). Radio 4 Extra doesn't have any news on it, it has mainly commedies & plays.

This makes it ideal for listening to last thing at night in bed.



Radio 4's Today programme is good in the morning, especially while driving to work, because it's good being aware what's going on in the world.



It sounds like you need to explore the TV channels, & be prepared to 'channel hop' to find the sort of programmes you want. That's what I do during the adverts. I find it's not so much news but so many adverts that is the problem for me. So during the adverts I flick round all the other channels to see if there's something better to watch. Or make a drink, go to the toilet, get a snack, play a penny whistle I keep by the chair for when they're on. Anything that distracts me from them.

Answer 5

Yeah, I miss those days when we got our news twice a day instead of every frigging minute like we do now. There are so many news outlets in the media nowadays that they feel the need to report everything. On my local news a few weeks ago I was informed that a couple of runners in the Philadelphia Marathon had collapsed and had to have medical attention. Two things here: People collapsing at the end of a marathon is not news, and, I live 2800 freaking miles from Philly! How does this event have any relevance to my life? And this from a recent "Arlo and Janis" comic strip -- "Coming up, our regular panel of analysts to explain everything." "Take our viewer poll: Do you think the economy is worth the trouble?" "If you see something, send us a tweet." I have sworn off television news FOREVER!. When I want to be informed I will go the internet and get a dozen different perspectives on any number of events and don't have to put up with the cute little antics among the two news anchors, the weather lady, and the sports guy.

Answer 6

About the earliest days I can remember were the early 1940s. News? I remember being told about Pearl Harbor, by the news. I remember the horrible news from the European and Pacific theaters of war. I remember the news covering the destruction, mass of deaths, and suffering after Nagasaki, and Hiroshima. I haven't forgot the news about the Nazi death camps. How much less news do you want? I think the news the last few days was a helluva lot better than when I was a little kid. I don't miss WWII or the Korean "conflict" one damned bit. Or the news about them.



Those that yearn for the days of "yesteryear", have short/selective memories or were to damned stupid to know what was going on around them.



Your best solution is the on-off switch. Use it.

Answer 7

Trixie,

I like the availability of the news when I want it and from where I want it. But I don't watch non-stop. I usually catch some news on the radio when I drive, then if I want more information, I will look on the internet.

I would rather hear objective reporting instead of opinions and people worried about ratings as Daisymae said.

Answer 8

All of my complaints are caused by the need for them to sell advertising in order to pay many millions of dollars out in contracts.

And most all of my channels on t.v are infomercial stations. And how many times can a person see Shaw-shank redemption and the Bourne ...whatever they are rerunning?

And the news gets to be one long rerun too.

The ads are needed to keep the station on air but seems they could come up with something new now and then. I do not like the so called news on a loop.

Answer 9

Yes, there are Saturday morning cartoons.



You are right about "so much news." I miss journalism. Even back in the day there was news analysis. Programs like Meet the Press have been on the air for many years.



Rush Limbaughs and others of that ilk weren't around. Right wing analysts like William Buckley could think. They did think. I respected them even though I often disagreed with their views.

Answer 10

Yes. I started just looking at my local news only and reading my neighborhood gazette to stay on top of things. I really wish the journalist would have more ethics and stop worrying about the ratings. Maybe all we need is one cable TV news station showing CNN, CNBC, etc. Then who ever wants to watch nonstop has that privilege.

Answer 11

I agree with Glenda. We need another Walter Cronkite. I have to turn the channel when I see "news" about the Kadashians, and Hollywood breakups, other silliness. Then when a real story breaks, the media go in the other direction, telling every bit of minutiae possible, for days on end, over and over.

Answer 12

Yes,i preferred the days before 24 hour news,i just watch the bbc news at 10 in the evening,and the lunchtime news on sky,i have missed nothing!

Answer 13

I miss the days when the news WAS news and not a show. I can just imagine Walter Cronkite having a chef in to cook the latest in snack foods for the holidays or the trendiest fashions during his broadcast.

Answer 14

If I really want to get the drift of what is going on I read the business section and the stock market.

The so called "news" is anything but.

Answer 15

Yes. I miss the days of decent journalism and reporting. I do not need nor want someone else interpreting the "news" for me or putting their own biased spin on it. I don't even buy our local newspaper anymore. They are so biased and report partial truths. Are there any investigative reporters left anymore?

Answer 16

No I don't miss those days before all the news. I like being informed & it keeps my mind a little sharper.

Answer 17

I hate any news. I dont watch it anymore and happier because of that. My Tv is never turned on. If I am not on computer then I am reading a great book.

Answer 18

No because I usually don't watch it. I read the newspaper every day instead.

Answer 19

Yes I do. It seems to me that the more we hear of the so called news, the less we actually know. Where are the facts?

Answer 20

Yes and especially so since our Supreme Court ruled that the media can legally lie to us.

Answer 21

I don't have a TV, so I miss a lot of it. From what you say, that could be a good thing.

Answer 22

Yes TV and radio, Its not news, All they do is push there political party

Answer 23

My best defense is my remote control!

Answer 24

That's why we should get rid of the tv. We really don't need it.