I’m a newshound and always have been. I grew up as the daughter of a weekly newspaper editor. I earned a journalism degree and knocked around several newspapers as a reporter and editor before going into higher education. I feel the media help shine a valuable light on things society needs to know, always have and continue today.
However, just now I tend to tune out of television news for part of the day as I battle housebound Covid-19 depression. I find the occasional TV movie helps with that as does my constant supply of Kindle historical fiction.
Media Are Doing a Fine Job IMHO
But I think the news channels I watch, primarily ABC, MSNBC and CNN, with a little CBS tossed in, are doing a fine job. I also read the local newspaper (now down to three days a week in print), the county weekly (now only online), the Austin newspaper, which I receive online, and The New York Times and Washington Post. I think they do admirable jobs, given the economic realities of today and the fact that many staff members must work from home.
But Not Everyone Feels This Way
The public doesn’t necessarily share my opinion, according to a Pew survey. Pew said that 54 percent believe the media are doing well — either “excellent” or “good” — while 46 percent believe the media are doing “fair” to “poor.”
Those getting their news primarily from TV and print publications tend to think more positively about the coverage than those who are getting their information from websites, radio or social media, according to the Poynter Center’s newsletter. About 68 percent of those who turn to network TV news think the media is doing well, while 66 percent of those who primarily turn to print publications think the same.
Your Opinion Also Depends Upon Your Politics
There also is a wide gap depending on your politics. Of those who consider themselves as Democrats or Democratic-leaning, 68 percent think the media are doing a good job, compared to only 37 percent of those who are Republicans or Republican-leaning.
So Why Does This Matter?
How can you make informed decisions about what steps to take next without media you trust? When in our lifetimes has this ever been more important? Should the state or country be reopened quickly to restore jobs and the economy? Or, so we take a more laid back approach and place health concerns first?
Who Do We Believe?
Do we believe the president’s press conference rambling? Or, do we believe the words of the doctors he has assembled on his corona task force? Are there subtle differences we should heed? Can the media help shed light? Are they guides through this quagmire of information and disinformation? Let’s hope so. I certainly am grateful for the news I am privileged to consume.