I agree with Obama on this, do you?

Question

Divided Media...

nightdrot · Accepted Answer

Voted that it is not. This is not because Mr. Obama's observation is not relevant, but rather because it mixes cause and effect.

The media is not divided because of divisions within the media. Rather, the media is divided by the effects of a technology that magnifies the divisions in the culture. These divisions the media must appeal to in order to get ratings and "clicks," and thus a divided media follows.

To be sure, such divisions have always existed in society. Not for nothing, after all, did Americans fight a civil war in which more lives were lost than the USA lost in both world wars and the Korean War combined.

However, with the advent of mass circulation newspapers and magazines, then movies (and the newsreels that came with them) and then radio and television, a certain homogenizing effect took over. These media reached mass audiences and therefore, in order to get readers/listeners/viewers, they had to appeal to a generalized audience.

This is not to say that there were not biases in the media, but these tended to be muted so as not to alienate the wider general audience. The result, of course, was, in the broader culture, a somewhat mellowing effect.

With the advent of the Internet, however, and I-phones and all the rest, media can now target specific audiences and build ratings with those audiences. A reader/viewer/listener can open his phone and go to sources that he/she trusts or prefers and a sort of feedback loop develop.

The media appeals to a certain audience segment, and that audience segment has its' views reinforced - and in some cases hardened and radicalized. The point being that the media is divided because the technology makes possible a micro-appeal to an audience.

In a hypothetical world, were there no divides in the audience, there would be no divides in the media. The media then being an effect that reinforces its' own cause.

Former President Obama, based on his comments, seems to get this, but by defining the problem as a media problem he precludes any appeal to moderation. In the age of the Internet, the media that ignored the biases and sensibilities of its' audience would not be around for very long.

Not every problem has a solution. Some problems are just difficulties that must be managed as best they can be. This is one of those.

What is needed is not a united media, but a better educated and self-aware culture. This would be the beginning of wisdom and it requires better schools and a more profound sense of history.

The pendulum will swing back and forth. People will grow weary of the divisions and the shouting and that will lead to a period of relative cultural peace. (See, for recent historical examples, the 1950s, the 1980s and 90s.) However, nothing lasts, and the media will as the pendulum swings more reflect, than cause, the cultural mood.

Lliam · Accepted Answer

I agree with Waters. "Barack Obama can't sleep at night because he doesn't control every single media outlet? He's mad the CIA can't spoon-feed lies to the three big networks anymore? Obama's not getting his beauty rest because the American voters actually have access to more information?"

If I say more about Obama, some liberal mod will remove my answer because they don't believe in freedom of speech. They agree with Obama.

BCA6010 · Answer

He says this because he wants pure propaganda promoting his view unopposed, and masks this behind pandering to a popular complaint about the media. His intentions, in context of his views, policies, and past rhetoric, are far from benevolent or philanthropic.

RealMarek · Answer

Actually, the lockstep unity of mainstream media on most issues is what keeps me awake at night. There are far fewer owners of mainstream media outlets today than there were 25 years ago. If they abridge free speech to crack down on “disinformation” online, there will be no independent reporting left in the US.

exitseven · Answer

Democrats have been trying to take down Fox News for years. They were the biggest news outlet in the country and they were more conservative and libertarian. I think the Murdochs have messed with it by firing Tucker Carlson and Dan Bongino It will be interesting to see what direction it goes in the future

ObscuredBeyond · Answer

He had two sailors taken out for ruining his plan to blow up Charleston. I couldn't care less what he loses sleep over.

BeMuse · Answer

Sounds like a CIA agent. Mockingbird all day every day... He's definitely true to character. Maybe that's why both of Obama's parents are fluent in Russian...

riverrat3 · Answer

Thank Reagan for allowing opinions to be reported as facts, prior to him only facts could be reported

OddBeMe · Answer

Well…yes. But also stupid Americans. Seriously. Only a third have higher ed degrees. Vast majority of people think Facebook is a good place for news. Are you fcking kidding me?

gorydetails · Answer

I'm sure he would like a unified media run by the state. He's a fucking commie.

Pterodon · Answer

Fuck him he wants everyone to agree with CNN

Rockstarrrrr · Answer

Obama has always been so gay...

I agree with Obama on this, do you?

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