Quote:
Originally posted by Coramoor
Look at the type of people in journalism today. They don't exactly inspire confidence in their reporting ability or integrity of their word.
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I find that kind of blanket statement patently offensive.
I ask the question I have asked some in the past. Have you ever met a professional reporter? I've never been one, but I've worked with and beside them for most of my career. By far, most of them are just that -- professional. They struggle with what is not an easy task -- attempting to find some semblence of truth through all of the PR and spin.
Here's an opinion. Reporters started losing their reputation when government and big corporations started learning how to use negative publicity against them. Kill the messenger. It's become a science on how to discredit any story that has a negative feel toward them. I'll put a time frame on it -- the Nixon Administration. You know, that honest group, many of whom are now ex-convicts, who brought you Watergate, Vietnam body counts and the secret invasion of Cambodia.
When you throw a whole lot of mud at a wall, sooner or later, some of it will stick. It plays both ways. So, in this era, it's the IN thing to be anti-media.
How about this -- don't trust anyone who disagrees with you.
There are a few bad reporters. There are also bad cops, politicians, doctors, soldiers, hair stylists and anything else you can name.
What I see, given the benefit of at least some hindsight, is a lot of myopia on the part of people who really don't have the experience to understand that there just may be some difference between what they believe and what may be the truth.
The Founding Fathers believed, rightly I think, that things like "The Loyal Opposition" political parties, separation of powers and a sometimes adversary media are essential to keeping government free and honest.
One of the most biggest dangers to democracy is the stiffiling of opposing ideas.
That's why when the first changes to the Constition came along, freedom of speech and the press were among the very first -- along with freedom of religion. We know as The First Amendment and the first of the Bill of Rights.
To paint any group of people all with the same brush is narrow minded and borders on looking foolish.