Media Criticism

If I need to know what’s going on in the world (or just need another idea for a post), I generally head over to Google News. It’s one of my favorite sources for online news, and there are a number of reasons why (please forgive the shameless plug):

First, like a newspaper, Google News gives me two important stories right at the top of the page. However, unlike a newspaper, these stories are from various sources. This morning, the top article was actually from a foreign source and dealt with a foreign issue. This is something I could not get from a single source.

Two, Google News shows me categories of stories so I can browse quickly. I know that I can brush over the “Entertainment” section for the most part. One of the infuriating aspects of news media is the celebrity obsession; Google News lets me filter this instantly.

Three, I get to pick my source. If I know what ABC and CNN will be saying about Israel, I can read what the Jerusalem Post, the BBC, or Ha’aretz have to say about the same issue.

What are you waiting for? Visit now!

Google News, Media

As the new author of Media Criticism, I thought it would be appropriate to give a quick background on my theory of the media and why critical analysis of the media is necessary. There are three facts about the media which define the way I will analyze it:

1. The media in our country is free. This means that media is not controlled by the government, and that the government does not have the absolute power to suppress stories. This does not mean, however, that the government does not influence the media.

2. The media is biased. Regardless of where one falls on the political spectrum, it is impossible for one to ignore bias in the media. Remember that journalists are human beings, and therefore, the news reported comes through a human filter. There are conservative news sources and liberal news sources; I hope to bash both frequently.

3. The media is business. When discussing the media, many often throw around the phrase “journalistic integrity” which is defined by the so-called “duty of journalists.” This is misleading; in a perfect society, the journalist’s job would be to inform objectively. However, we must remember that a journalist’s first job (in a capitalist country with the a free press) is to sell newspapers.

With that in mind, let’s begin. Thanks for stopping by Media Criticism.