When Entertainment Trumps News

Yesterday I read about this survey, which found that nearly 70 percent of
Americans believe traditional journalism is out of touch, and nearly half are
turning to the Internet to get their news. Then I got to wonder why people
see traditional journalism is out of touch. I think I found part of the reason.


Picture source

This article by David Bauder describes what has been happening in the morning
"news" shows. Bauder writes:

What's going on here? Since when did a willingness to perform
death-defying acts join glib interviewing skills and an ability
to appear empathetic on demand as requirements for a job
in morning television?

Cuomo, ABC's "Good Morning America" newsman, looked like
he'd rather have been anywhere else as he waited to jump off
the Trump Taj Mahal casino in Atlantic City last week. Afghanistan
in the winter? Sure. Anything!

But it's not just the more lifestyle and chat-fest morning shows engaging in
silly stunts. Let's see what's on the investigative news program 60 Minutes:



Well, I guess that's the reason I haven't been able to find a job in news reporting.
I need to put it somewhere in my resume I'm willing to be tasered, bungee jump,
and jump in freezing water. I'll get on that.