I am SICK I say, and I say it again SICK of how many confuse commentary with journalism.

[TexasProgresive]

Every day here on DU comes the perennial moaning about this or that commentator as if they are reporting the facts. I am a distant observer as I don't have cable or satellite. I watch ABC, CBS, NBC and PBS news shows and my local broadcasts. Often the complaints about so and so not leading with xxx story is not what I see on regular network news. I have to say that Ted Turner did the U.S. a disservice by creating the 24 hours cable snooze channels. It might've seemed like a good idea at the time, but there are always unintended consequences to any action. As they say, "The road to Hell is paved with good intentions."

[Lotusflower70]

1. Commentary

There is no confusion for me. TV commentary is not about journalism. It hasn't been for a long time but I think this election elevated the sensationalism of it. It's entertainment. All about money and ratings.

[RKP5637]

4. Yep, bottom line is big $$$$$'s. It's pathetic that this shapes the dialogue for an election. n/t

[Lotusflower70]

8. Agreed

And it's pathetic that some people treat it as fact. It's sad that the mindless masses eat it up.

[RKP5637]

9. I had a friend years ago at school that said one day the mindless masses would rise up

and out of ignorance topple US democracy. At the time I though it was an arrogant and egotistical statement, but today, it seems to be closer to the truth.

[Lotusflower70]

10. Surrounded by stupidity

Unfortunately it does seem to be closer to the truth. It still astonished me how people can vote for him.

[thucythucy]

2. I think among those most confused about this distinction

are TV "journalists."

I watched CNN and MSNBC last night to see their take on the great FBI nothingburger. Blab blab blab about what this might mean, and Hillary's unfavorables, and this playing into her perceived "untrustworthiness" and blah blah blah. Panels of "experts" in a discussion that wouldn't be out of place at my neighborhood sports bar. Come to think of it, I think TV sports analysts are generally far better informed about the individuals (and teams) they cover than our so called political pundits.

Even the punditry is on a level so low a turtle could jump it. Where do Trump and Clinton stand on reproductive rights? The minimum wage? Concrete proposals for improving health care, etc. etc.? If you want that kind of information you as an individual will have to dig for it.

Samantha Bee had a great segment on this weeks back, on some TV "journalist" actually recommending that the audience Google the information they wanted. Or as Bill Maura said last week, talking about TV "journalists" -- "Do your fucking job!"

I would have thought the establishment of 24 hour news networks would have provided more, not less actual content for the public to examine. Instead, as you point out, it's gone in precisely the opposite direction.

[RKP5637]

3. Ted Turner started out with a good idea and then it went to hell when he sold CNN off. One problem

I really have with all cable news, is often they portray themselves as presenting truth, knowledge and intelligent discussions. So often that are a bunch of damn fools spouting out their rhetoric of a given choice to get a large paycheck. And, often, they think it's all about them, for example, Morning Joe.

[TexasProgresive]

5. Ted Turner opened the door for Faux, M$NBC etal

[RKP5637]

7. Yep, and the rest followed right along when they discovered P&L centers made huge profits

as opposed to the financial drag of nightly news, a lost leader. I would love to see a society where politics was not driven by money.

[procon]

6. I weep, too. None of my rightwing relatives can distinguish an opinion

from a real news story. They argue -- often vehemently -- that their favorite celebrity cable TV hosts are actually reporting the "real" news stories that the liberal MSP keeps hidden to block conservative views from telling people the truth.

The 24/7 brainwashing has ruined their lives and convinced them to vote against their own interests. Their non stop consumption of Faux News, hate radio and conspiracy theory websites has destroyed our family. My own brother sees me as his avowed enemy, not his dear sister, but a stranger, a disciple of some dastardly leftist cabal intent on destroying the country.

I don't know what to do, and I'm afraid I'll never get them back.