WASHINGTON, June 7, 2007
The Press At The Polls
CBS' Meyer On Repairing America's (Mis)Trust Of The Press During The 2008 Election
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Photo
(CBS/iStockphoto)
Late at night on Nov. 4, 2008, there will be winner — or a loser — that wasn't on the ballot and that the press won't be talking about: the press itself.
All the problems of legitimacy, competence and trust that besiege American government also apply to the press. But there are two big differences.
First, if the new president is elected by a wide margin and his or her party also does well, there could easily be substantial increase in trust in government; the press has virtually no chance for swift, if temporary, redemption.
Second, the government is funded by mandatory payments by U.S. citizens, otherwise known as taxes. Even when the regime is unpopular and incompetent, the cash flow keeps flowing. The press is funded by earnings; if there aren't any, there won't be any press. As it is now, profits from journalism are scarce and growing scarcer.
If the 2008 election doesn't offer the news business a chance for salvation, it is still a time of opportunity, a chance to rise or fall in public esteem. It is unfortunate, but presidential elections are when public opinion about the press gets molded. And there will be more press, more punditry, more campaigning, more of everything in this longest-ever campaign than any in history. If we in the news business aren't careful, our customers at some point will be shouting, "Gag me." (I know, I know, a lot of you already are; if you're firmly committed to the "liberal bias" or "right-wing tool" camp, you're welcome to go straight down to the comments section and vent.)
In May 1972, when Richard Nixon was running for re-election, Gallup conducted a large "State of the Nation" poll. It showed that 63 percent of the public either had a "great deal" or "fair amount" of trust and confidence in the executive branch of government. The news "mass media" scored 68 percent.
In April, 1974, four months before Nixon’s resignation, Gallup’s new "State of the Nation" poll showed trust and confidence in the executive branch had crashed down to 40 percent. Trust in the media had actually gone up a point.
Trust in government in this country has never really recovered from Watergate.
In September 2005 Gallup repeated its questions from the 70s, just about verbatim. The executive branch scored 52 points, up somewhat from Watergate. But trust in the news media had plummeted to 50 percent. And there are much worse poll numbers out there — trust me, I'm a journalist.
The fall of the press in public opinion was gradual, and almost all major institutions in American public life have suffered, too. For journalism, the single biggest factor was almost certainly the advent of cable television and the attendant 24/7 news cycle, complete with argutainment-style programming. New financial pressures hurt the quality of local and network broadcast news, radio and newspapers. And we have hurt ourselves in many ways.
Right now, the audience reach of every kind of news media is shrinking. The only exceptions are the Internet and the ethnic press.
The 2008 campaign presents special problems, not the least of which is the brutal length of this campaign. How will voters not be sick of it — and us — by next fall?
This will be the first election where many, if not most voters have high-speed Internet access at home and work. The number of Web sites and blogs devoted to politics has increased beyond counting. Some are news, though what's news and what's not is now in the eyes of the beholder to some degree. Some sites are ideological, some are partisan, some are e-communities, some are funny and some are fakes. The sheer output of information can be overwhelming. It probably will be — it already is for me.
For the very active political consumer with extra time, there will be more raw information — video of speeches and press conferences, financial data, voting records, ads, background papers — available for scrutiny than ever before, thanks to the Internet. That is a good thing, an opportunity. My guess is that if we in the press can do a good job with that, we'll have had a good election.
This campaign may be an opportunity for journalism to earn back some lost respect. Even if it does, the "traditional" press is bound to shrink in the near future. Changing that slide means reversing a pattern where the public values and respects less and less. The press is not the government; it can shrink and shrink a lot.
So, like America's political parties, the American press has a lot at stake in 2008.
If you prefer e-mail to public comments, complaints or arguments, send them along to Against the Grain. We may occasionally publish some of the interesting (and civil) ones, sometimes in edited form.
By Dick Meyer
© MMVII, CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved.
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See all 58 CommentsWe may very well end up with Thompson, another actor who plays well on TV but has no business being there. Heaven help us.
Posted by sanevoice at 01:28 PM : May 31, 2007
This "sane" voice couldn't be more wrong. One of the finest candidates as well as most electable in recent history is running on the democratic slate, Gov. Bill Richardson.
Gov. Richardson is a genuinely fine person with an outstanding record of government experience. He has broad appeal, few enemies, and clearly understands the problems which face the country. Gov. Richardson understands, as well, the possibilities for resolving these problems.
This is projective. You are a self-proclaimed "independent" and "eclectic". Come out from the crowd and tell us why you favor McCain, Guilani, or Romney over Clinton, Edwards, and Obama.
*** always claims to be in the middle and pretends very well. But he has gushed about McCain in the past and his rhetoric is certainly aimed in that political direction.
How about the PRESS DOING THEIR JOB
WHERE ARE WE NOW
POLITICIANS BEATING UP AND ARRESTING REPORTERS
WHO ASK RUFF AND TUFF QUESTIONS (NOT the FLUFF)
======
Giuliani GOONS ATTACK (ASSAULT) REPORTERS
for asking QUESTIONS
(See FIRST (THE FIRST) AMENDMENT to OUR US CONSTITUTION)
A FREE PRESS for a FREE PEOPLE ? ? ? ?
http://www.wnd.com/
Are we still a FREE PEOPLE ? ? ?
linked from DRUDGE REPORT
http://www.drudgereport.com/
9/11 Conspiracy Theorist Arrested In Post-Debate Spin Room
http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=3dd_1181140608&p=1
or
From a PATRIOT site
Reporter Arrested on Orders of Giuliani Press Secretary
Charged with Criminal Trespass Despite Protest of CNN Staff and Official Event Press Credentials at GOP Debate in New Hampshire
http://www.infowars.com/articles/ps/giuliani_reporter_arrested_on_orders_of_giuliani_press_sec.htm
This guy is JUST running for PRESIDENT
IMAGINE if he some how became
OUR SUPREME LEADER (DICTATOR)
REMEMBER after 911 he didn't want to give up
his ELECTED OFFICE of MAYOR
after his TERM EXPIRED
THIS IS OUR FUTURE
TAKE A STAND
or ? ? ?
Hey, wasn't it just 2 elections ago that about 2/3s of the press gave the presidency to Gore before the night was over.
This last time around, they wanted to keep Kerry in there as long as possible before actually conceding defeat. What a shame...the press loses again.
After the last two elections, voters need to be very aware of whom they are voting for. Thank God we do have internet, and each of us should be doing research on the candidates in order to make an informed decision. I think too many voters followed their party rather than taking the time to check Bush out. Furthermore, the electoral college is not the best way to elect a president. I'd like to see this country become a democracy, and accept the popular vote.
The immigration issue will also play a large role in the coming election. While CBS showed that most Americans favored allowing the illegals to attain legitimacy, the actual polls showed that about 68% felt they should be deported. Now this was very biased reporting, and one had to read the entire article to find that fact stated close to the end of the article. Extremely bad reporting!
Ever since then if you don't give equal time for opposing views or publish false statistics or make false statements as fact you would lose your broadcast license.
Since then the press has gotten increasingly lazy, and focuses on what keeps viewers glued to their sets (tripe) and advertisers happy (don't run any negative bush ads by progressive organizations with facts that criticize the GW but allow ads by Swift Boat Fascists for Record Deficits with false and unverified statements).
Mainstream media is a tool is controlled by corporations and a tool of the military industrial complex. Completely and utterly useless and dangerous as a 'news' source.
For example, the terrible story of the missing and now dead teen in Kansas will get MUCH more air time than GW refusing to finance a global warning measurement satellite system that is 'too expensive' but would cost less in the next ten years than the occupation in Iraq will cost us in the next two weeks. Which of these two stories is going to affect potentially billions of people of this and future generations?... Which is getting more coverage?...
Case Closed.
Even if you believe that all other networks constitute "the evil liberal media" there is nothing in the solar system as fraudulent as Fox News.
I hear this statement, or something like it, all the time from liberals but I never actually see anyone provide examples of it. Can you please provide examples of how Fox News' news coverage (as opposed to its opinion shows) is "fraudulent?" Or is this kind of like the Emperor's New Clothes mentality used to repeat a liberal mantra like "Bush Lied, People Died" where no facts to support the statement are required and if you do not simply accept the statement without question, you just must not "get it?"
Posted by marcodele at 09:52 AM : Jun 07, 2007
......dear marcodele, you couldn't be MORE incorrect.
Fox news has on many occassions the liberal corruption that's occurring in America's liberal MSM wolfpack. Maybe that's why more Americans watch them then CNN, MSNBC, HLN, MNBC "combined".
The "real" problem is the "contamination" of our "free left-wing press" of millions of Americans since the 1960's. With the advent of the internet Americans can finally compare what "certain" news organizations report and what they "don't".
The results are clear which is reflected in national polls............Americans more and more distrust our corrupt liberal MSM wolfpack because they have distorted, censored, filtered, and lie to the American people in an effort to "prop" up their leaderless pals in the Democrat party...........and that is just a FACT.......... a SAD FACT
Even if you believe that all other networks constitute "the evil liberal media" there is nothing in the solar system as fraudulent as Fox News.
Posted by marcodele at 09:52 AM : Jun 07, 2007
True !!!!
It is time to say what needs to be said. It is completely unbelievable to me how you and your colleagues can vote Republican and listen to things like Fox news.
It is so flippin idiotic it blows the mind. I mean, seriously, dont you ever just put aside your hatred for liberals and just listen to what the republicans say ? It is completely false....all the time. Think the matter through some time. Just think about it.
Your Pres Bush literally says that the deaths in Iraq are "necessary". This seems like a rationale statement to you ? Does it ?
He doesnt believe that Global Warming is an actual thing ?! This seems rationale to you when every good scientist in the entire world has proven beyond a shadow of a doubt that it is true ?
Republicans want to cut taxes. Dont you realize that cutting taxes simply means that there is no money for the poor in this country. None. That roads go unfixed. No money for schools. No money for good hospitals. Do you fundamentally not understand that ?
I mean seriously. Get it together. You dont have to vote for a Democrat but for crying out loud.
Your Pres Bush literally says that the deaths in Iraq are "necessary". This seems like a rationale statement to you ? Does it ?
ANSWER: NOBODY LIKES THE WAR IN IRAQ AND NOBODY WANTS THE TROOP HOME "MORE" THAN OUR PRESIDENT.
985 AMERICANS WERE KILLED IN IRAQ IN 2006
16,185 AMERICANS WERE KILLED IN AMERICA IN 2006 MOST OF THESE AMERICANS KILLED IN AMERICA LAST YEAR ARE FROM "DEEP BLUE CITIES LIKE BALTIMORE, WASHINGTON, DETROIT...ETC MY QUESTION IS WHY?? IS THIS ALLOWED ESPECIALLY IN "DEEP BLUE" CITIES???
He doesnt believe that Global Warming is an actual thing ?! OUR PRESIDENT AGREES THAT THERE IS GLOMBAL WARMING .....NOT SURE IF CBS PRINTS THIS. HE HAS A NEW PROPOSAL THAT THE G-8 IS LOOKING TO APPROVE THIS WEEK.
Republicans want to cut taxes. Dont you realize that cutting taxes simply means that there is no money for the poor in this country. None. That roads go unfixed. No money for schools. No money for good hospitals. Do you fundamentally not understand that ? THIS IS WHERE DEMS AND REPBULICANS DIFFER GREATLY. HIGH TAXES HURT POOR PEOPLE AS WELL AS MID-CLASS AMERICANS. IF YOU WANT TO CREATE "WEALTH" YOU NEED TO "PROMOTE BUSINESS" . BIG BUSINESS, MEDIUM, SMALL IS THE "ENGINE" THAT AMERICA RUNS OFF OF. IT'S WHERE ALL THE TAX REVENUES COME FROM 1. CORPORTATE TAXES AND PAYROLL TAXES FROM THE 10'S OF MILLIONS OF AMERICANS THAT BIG BUSINESS EMPLOYS. HURT BIG BUSINESS YOU HURT AMERICA.
Have a nice day.
The appeal of Fox News can be attributed to its bigotry and the unwillingmess of so many Americans to learn to think for themselves, which is why so many self named Christians (really just Pharisees and descendants of Cain in disguise, the evangelistas of Evanginazism), watch it.
Response: Total BS. Republicans like the war. Republicans pray for war. Bush wants a troop presence in Iraq forever.
985 AMERICANS WERE KILLED IN IRAQ IN 2006
16,185 AMERICANS WERE KILLED IN AMERICA IN 2006 MOST OF THESE AMERICANS KILLED IN AMERICA LAST YEAR ARE FROM "DEEP BLUE CITIES LIKE BALTIMORE, WASHINGTON, DETROIT...ETC MY QUESTION IS WHY?? IS THIS ALLOWED ESPECIALLY IN "DEEP BLUE" CITIES?
Response: Tax dollars help to fight crime. You're correct that crime is way up in these cities and others across the US. I direct result of funds being diverted to fight a war in Iraq for nothing.
THIS IS WHERE DEMS AND REPBULICANS DIFFER GREATLY.Response: Again, total BS. This is simply trickle down econ again. Give the money to the rich and they'll hire more maids. I say tax the rich. Enforce payment. Make them pay. they can afford it. You want to reap riches in the US then you must also agree that because we are the land of the free that freedom demands that you protect it by paying your fair share. And, by the way, that includes sending your children to Iraq.
you have a nice day too
Sorry, forgot to reply.
Response: Bush will submit a proposal that is one sided. He is completely unwilling to work with other nations that he feels dont matter. It is arrogant and counterproductive. It is also completely with Nazi neocon views.
http://www.prisonplanet.com/articles/june2007/070607swatteam.htm
HOWEVER we have DIFFERENT JUSTICE
for PARIS HILTON, ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS and convicted tax evaders Ed and Elaine Brown
20 Loopholes in the SECRET Senate Immigration Bill
Loophole 18 %u2013 Back Taxes Not Required:
Last year%u2019s bill required illegal aliens to prove they had paid three of their last five years of taxes to get amnesty. This year, payment of back taxes is not required for amnesty. The bill requires taxes to be paid at the time of application for a green card, but at that time, only proof of payment of Federal taxes (not state and local) is required for the years the alien worked on a Z visa, not the years the alien has already worked illegally in the United States. Though Senator McCain%u2019s S.A. 1190, adopted by voice vote, claimed to %u201Crequire undocumented immigrants receiving legal status to pay owed back taxes,%u201D the amendment actually only required proof of payment of taxes for %u201Cany year during the period of employment required by subparagraph (D)(i).%u201D Since the bill does not contain a subparagraph (D)(i), nor require any past years of employment as a prerequisite for amnesty, the amendment essentially only requires proof of payment of taxes for future work in the U.S., not payment of %u201Cback taxes.%u201D [See p. 307, and p. 293 as altered by S.A. 1190, amendment p. 2: 19-20.]
More right wing leaning BS. All the same. Completely paranoid. Oblivious to facts of any kind.
You don't need any media outlet to convince you that the above statement is more true than false.
"The media jumped the shark with the advent of Fox News. What started out as a legitimately poised conservative view point on issues became an alleged source of "truthiness" and "could be facts." Unfortunately there are so many gullible viewers in America that they believe that Fox is actually news, when in fact, it is neoconservative opinions.
Even if you believe that all other networks constitute "the evil liberal media" there is nothing in the solar system as fraudulent as Fox News.
Posted by marcodele at 09:52 AM : Jun 07, 2007
True !!!!"
We are all STILL anxiously awaiting for an example to support this statement, complete with facts and a coherent rationale.
That's the trouble with most liberals. They are ALL emotion and NO logic. I guess you get that way waiting on your welfare check or the government to do something for you that you ought to do for yourself.
You should be required to acknowledge it in writing every time you go to a restaurant or check into a hotel.
That's the trouble with most liberals. They are ALL emotion and NO logic. I guess you get that way waiting on your welfare check or the government to do something for you that you ought to do for yourself.
Posted by MildyAmused1 at 02:42 PM : Jun 07, 2007
Lol. There we go.Spoken in true idiot republican fashion. The government has done more to help Republican aholes from having to fight in wars they start or pay their fair share in taxes in the last 12 years then they ever have helping anybody with their welfare checks.
What's the next stupid Republican comment ?
"ANSWER: NOBODY LIKES THE WAR IN IRAQ AND NOBODY WANTS THE TROOP HOME "MORE" THAN OUR PRESIDENT.
Response: Total BS. Republicans like the war. Republicans pray for war. Bush wants a troop presence in Iraq forever."
Let's see... how to respond to all the FACTS and LOGIC of Tejasdemo's argument....?? Wait a second. There aren't any FACTS or LOGIC???? This looks like just a bunch of non-supported, empty statements made by an idiot!! I mean, this looks like something a 5 year old would say on a playground. Should we just accept this stuff because Tejasdemo says it is so? Of course not. Only a moron would think that.
MildyAmused1,
You can not respond to it because, like your colleagues, you dont have a hot clue how to. Isnt it time for a nap for you ?
"Lol. There we go.Spoken in true idiot republican fashion. The government has done more to help Republican aholes from having to fight in wars they start or pay their fair share in taxes in the last 12 years then they ever have helping anybody with their welfare checks.
What's the next stupid Republican comment ?"
First, I am a Libertarian not a Republican and I actually agree with part of what you say about the government spending American taxpayer dollars and lives on foreign wars. Let the rest of the world all kill themselves if that is what they want to do. All of them are not worth the loss of a single American life. I also don't support the idea of pre-emptive war. We just need to make it clear that if one of these third world garbage pails attacks the US or is complicit in such an attack, then we will retaliate massively and we WILL NOT help them rebuild the smoldering ruins.
Second, I also oppose ALL government subsidies and the Republicans love those as much as the Democrat socialist wealth redistributors love stealing from the productive and giving to the lazy and non productive (i.e. the entire Democrat voting block). My basic philosphy is that the Republicans are trying to sell this country and the Democrats are tyring to give it away, after they destroy it first by eliminating all accountability and morality.
Finally, still waiting for the first fact from you. You got the empty opinion and namecalling down pretty well, though.
"You can not respond to it because, like your colleagues, you dont have a hot clue how to. Isnt it time for a nap for you ?"
Oh, I am crushed by the sheer intellect and substantive volume of this well-reasoned response! ROTFLMAO. Do some research and come back when you have something persuasive. Your unsupported and childish opinions are not going to convince anyone.
Let me help you get started. Your views on taxing the rich are nonsense. Over the last 20 years, the top 20% of wage earners in this country have paid over 80% of ALL federal taxes, while the bottom 20% of wage earners (also called "the Democrat base") paid NO federal income tax at all. In fact, many of the bottom 10% actually got yet another welfare check from the government in the form of the EIC. Don't take my word for it, though. I could be just another empty headed dolt spouting my worthless opinions on some website. You can go to www.irs.gov and look up the historical tax data. (It can be also downloaded into Excel in spreadsheet form from the site). It will take a little effort (I know work is a scary word to liberals) but you might actually find that actual facts are useful in forming a coherent thought.
No terrorist can ever destroy America and our freedoms, but the government sure can!
Wow. Your empathy for the bottom 20% ( as you call us, " the Democratic base" ) is compelling but I disagree.
As a percentage of their pay ( which is really all that matters) the bottom 20% pay a much higher % of federal income taxes then the rich.
23 cents out of every dollar I make goes for FICA and federal income taxes. Sorry but show me one, just one, individual or corporation with a net worth over one million dollars that pays the same. Just one. Research that and get back with me.
In any case, I guess you are trying to make the argument that the rich pay enough and the poor ( the Democratic base ...lol) just need to get to work.
I need to get back to work now. Gotta pick some mo cotton. Lol
Posted by O_Hussein_B at 05:21 PM : Jun 07, 2007
Are we gonna take that MildyAmused1 ?
newspapers and wire agencies consenting to act as organs of CIA propaganda." How many "assets" do they have now, nearly 60 years later? Gee think that might have something to do with why the MSM doesn't cover the fact that the CIA is the biggest drug cartel in the World? Pushing Heroin, crack cocain, and opium from the largest fields in the world? Whe the MSM covers up the Pedophile's in Washington? Why there are "Free speech" zones set up a mile away from any "Republican" events? Why legitimate protesters are locked up by the Police? Why there was no mention of World Trade Center building #7 being Pulled? How George Bush could get away with being a Deserter in time of war and his records covered up? We're supposed to respect you "journalists"? Honest reporting is a thing of the past there is only "following the script" keeping the public in the dark about just how corrupt our government really is. Investigative reporting now means the same thing as a "congressional investigation" ie., how do we spin this to our advantage, how do we look like we're doing something while we lie, cheat and steal from the American people.....
newspapers and wire agencies consenting to act as organs of CIA propaganda." How many "assets" do they have now, nearly 60 years later? Gee think that might have something to do with why the MSM doesn't cover the fact that the CIA is the biggest drug cartel in the World? Pushing Heroin, crack cocain, and opium from the largest fields in the world? Whe the MSM covers up the Pedophile's in Washington? Why there are "Free speech" zones set up a mile away from any "Republican" events? Why legitimate protesters are locked up by the Police? Why there was no mention of World Trade Center building #7 being Pulled? How George Bush could get away with being a Deserter in time of war and his records covered up? We're supposed to respect you "journalists"? Honest reporting is a thing of the past there is only "following the script" keeping the public in the dark about just how corrupt our government really is. Investigative reporting now means the same thing as a "congressional investigation" ie., how do we spin this to our advantage, how do we look like we're doing something while we lie, cheat and steal from the American people.....
newspapers and wire agencies consenting to act as organs of CIA propaganda." How many "assets" do they have now, nearly 60 years later? Gee think that might have something to do with why the MSM doesn't cover the fact that the CIA is the biggest drug cartel in the World? Pushing Heroin, crack cocain, and opium from the largest fields in the world? Whe the MSM covers up the Pedophile's in Washington? Why there are "Free speech" zones set up a mile away from any "Republican" events? Why legitimate protesters are locked up by the Police? Why there was no mention of World Trade Center building #7 being Pulled? How George Bush could get away with being a Deserter in time of war and his records covered up? We're supposed to respect you "journalists"? Honest reporting is a thing of the past there is only "following the script" keeping the public in the dark about just how corrupt our government really is. Investigative reporting now means the same thing as a "congressional investigation" ie., how do we spin this to our advantage, how do we look like we're doing something while we lie, cheat and steal from the American people.....
Posted by MildyAmused
I've prepared hundreds of returns for professional athletes and other high-income individuals. Any good accountant knows that the amounts withheld mean NOTHING!
At the end of the year, it's all evened out by various tax shelters (legal, of course) and techniques that ensure refunds of virtually all that is withheld.
Be assured that Frank Thomas doesn't feel that bite in the @ss that most Americans get. If he does, have him give me a call and we'll take care of that right away.
Posted by MildyAmused1 at 06:55 PM : Jun 07, 2007
To earn a wage you have to labor for it. Most of the 10% of Americans that own 75% of the country don't labor, they let their capital grow off the labor of others. Yes, they do pay most of the taxes, but as you can see below, they've been doing pretty well lately. The book referenced is a great book discussing the various ways they have of reducing their tax burden, not available to you or I.
Income bracket_____% Change in income* (1970-2000):
Bottom 90%_______-22.5%
90-95%_____________0.4%
95-99%____________19.5%
99-99.5%__________47.0%
99.5-99.9%________90.0%
99.9-99.99%______227.0%
Top 0.01%________412.0%
*as a share of ALL U.S. income. Source: 'Perfectly legal' by David Cay Johnston
I am grateful for the Internet...where I can get information from all sources without the infuriating punditry the networks are so famous for. I am so sick of opinionated news people who think that they own the air waves.
CNN has lost my respect, particularly Lou Dobbs whose crusade on immigration is designed to stir up every one into a frenzy...all to attract viewers. It is not my idea of bonafide journalism.
At least here on CBS.com, I can usually put in my two cents even if the article which inspired it is considered by many to be grossly biased
It's all a conspiricy as we step bodly toward a new world order in America: the USSA (United Socialist States of America).
SIG HEIL, BUSH!
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