Mainstream media - an empirical look

I ran across this article today and I feel there are some unpolished gems of insight here that few people are talking about.

www.breitbart.com...

In probing general attitudes toward the news media, Pew found that Republicans have grown more alienated from many established news sources than they were in a similar study conducted in 2014. Confidence in the media has been more stable among Democrats, and in some cases has increased.

We can all speculate that people go find their news where they get mostly a "like minded" perspective and we also know that there are far more liberal leaning mainstream news outlets than conservative ones. One thing I think most people of either side can agree on is that the media in general is no longer viewed as objective reporting and people have begun to question authenticity of content if it doesn't align with their views.

Coming from a site dedicated to discussing conspiracy theories, I would think taking any media opinion with a HUGE grain of salt would be a positive step in the right direction.

However, there have been claims of the mainstream media being a major propaganda machine and brainwashing unsuspecting viewers... If that is your belief, what do you make of the note that "Confidence in the media has been more stable among Democrats and in some cases has increased."?

Three-quarters of conservative Republicans say they trust Fox News, and two-thirds distrust CNN, Pew found. The numbers essentially flip among liberal Democrats, where 70% say they trust CNN and 77% don’t trust what they see on Fox.

I find these numbers extremely disconcerting because it shows the depth of the political divide in our country.... This is NOT a good thing.

I believe a very wise man once said "A house divided cannot stand."

a reply to: CIAGypsy

Ironically, some on ATS will not read or will attack your OP because you referenced Breitbart...

Even though they are just referencing Pew findings.

At the end of the day, you are correct.

The political divide in our country is being fueled by the MSM.

So the question I have to ask is...

Is it just for ratings? Marketing placement? The money?

Or is it for something else altogether?

An actual agenda perhaps?

I think that is the case.

The media is complicit in dividing and fracturing our country for a reason.

Because once it breaks down totally, then it can be remade into something that the Framers did everything they could to protect us against.

Tyranny.

A wise person here on ATS started calling them the Enemedia.

It's true.

a reply to: CIAGypsy

I do not trust news from any source anymore. When I watch and read news I look only for quotes and words coming directly from the source. If it is commentary - I'm out.

Mostly I like my local weatherman. He has it figured out.

originally posted by: Lumenari
a reply to: CIAGypsy

Ironically, some on ATS will not read or will attack your OP because you referenced Breitbart...

Even though they are just referencing Pew findings.

At the end of the day, you are correct.

The political divide in our country is being fueled by the MSM.

So the question I have to ask is...

Is it just for ratings? Marketing placement? The money?

Or is it for something else altogether?

An actual agenda perhaps?

I think that is the case.

The media is complicit in dividing and fracturing our country for a reason.

Because once it breaks down totally, then it can be remade into something that the Framers did everything they could to protect us against.

Tyranny.

A wise person here on ATS started calling them the Enemedia.

It's true.

.
Smart people are just able to turn it off and live their lives.

Theoretically.

a reply to: Lumenari

I agree that there is a hidden agenda.

But playing Devils Advocate for a moment, why do you think thousands of Americans who work in the Mainstream media would purposely bring their country to the brink of Civil War? I'm not talking about the George Soros or executives of the Networks.... I'm talking about the average, mostly nameless people who do the real work and heavy lifting at these institutions....

a reply to: Admitted

Same here.... I don't take ANY news sources as gospel.

a reply to: Jefferton

Smart people are just able to turn it off and live their lives.

Somewhat true, if you don't interact with friends, family members and co-workers that have not done that.

I haven't had a cable subscription for over a decade and it still manages to influence me... through others.

a reply to: Jefferton

I get your point and why you do it but I think there will come a time when you can no longer bury your head in the sand....

originally posted by: CIAGypsy
a reply to: Lumenari

I agree that there is a hidden agenda.

But playing Devils Advocate for a moment, why do you think thousands of Americans who work in the Mainstream media would purposely bring their country to the brink of Civil War? I'm not talking about the George Soros or executives of the Networks.... I'm talking about the average, mostly nameless people who do the real work and heavy lifting at these institutions....

The same reason any socialist power gets established in a country.

They think they will be the ones benefiting from the new system... they will be better off under the new order because they helped put it in place.

They will be favored and in a good position afterwards.

Nevermind the fact that historically, those who put socialists in power were the first ones put into mass graves...

Simply because the new tyrant in charge can't trust them.

Because they are stupid and easily used.

Kissinger calls the Democratic voting base "Useless Eaters".

There is a reason for that.

originally posted by: Lumenari
a reply to: CIAGypsy

Ironically, some on ATS will not read or will attack your OP because you referenced Breitbart...

Even though they are just referencing Pew findings.

At the end of the day, you are correct.

The political divide in our country is being fueled by the MSM.

So the question I have to ask is...

Is it just for ratings? Marketing placement? The money?

Or is it for something else altogether?

An actual agenda perhaps?

I think that is the case.

The media is complicit in dividing and fracturing our country for a reason.

Because once it breaks down totally, then it can be remade into something that the Framers did everything they could to protect us against.

Tyranny.

A wise person here on ATS started calling them the Enemedia.

It's true.

You are a very wise woman, and I am certain that you are right

a reply to: CIAGypsy

Goebbels taught us well.

originally posted by: Lumenari
a reply to: CIAGypsy

So the question I have to ask is...

Is it just for ratings? Marketing placement? The money?

Or is it for something else altogether?

An actual agenda perhaps?

I think the answer is yes, yes, and yes. The most often-cited defense against 'conspiracy theories' is how hard it would be to keep everybody quiet about the conspiracy. But what if the ratings, the marketing, and the money serve as the cover story, and are completely true, as the quarterly reports come out. After all, when 'news entertainment' became a catch phrase, spiking ratings and ad revenue becomes a valid goal. Sure sure, getting the scoop is still an admirable goal, because it serves all of those things, while still serving the core goal of journalism, being revealing truth. But truth doesn't necessarily align with fact, especially considering the postmodern, post-fact world. And who wants to tell little Timmy, 'sorry Timmy, but Daddy felt compelled to report facts instead of the narrative supporting the Truth my editors were looking for. Maybe next year I'll get the bonus and you can get your ADD meds"? Nobody. Nobody.

We're not even in the postmodern era anymore. We're in what's described as the 'post-postmodern.' Let that sink in. If postmodern was the rejection of objective truth, we're now in the abstraction of the rejection off the objective truth, and that doesn't count as a double negative. In that light, it makes perfect sense that now feminists are being attacked by trans activists as being not progressive enough, as if somehow women's rights has turned the corner into whoever identifies as a woman's rights. I might lose some stars on this reply.

What the hell was I writing about?

Conspiracy. It doesn't require a massive roll call to maintain a conspiracy. It only takes a convincing cover story, and a profit motive. Unscrupulous humans will fight to maintain their status quo, in service of that message, and will actively deny any participation in wrongdoing as a matter of course. Nobody thinks they're on the wrong side of history. Give people a convincing enough argument, and they'll roll boulders up a hill all day for you, take the money, then start over again in the morning.

z

a reply to: Zelun

We're not even in the postmodern era anymore. We're in what's described as the 'post-postmodern.' Let that sink in. If postmodern was the rejection of objective truth, we're now in the abstraction of the rejection off the objective truth, and that doesn't count as a double negative. In that light, it makes perfect sense that now feminists are being attacked by trans activists as being not progressive enough, as if somehow women's rights has turned the corner into whoever identifies as a woman's rights. I might lose some stars on this reply.

You may lose stars for that but you gained a whole lot of respect from me.

a reply to: visitedbythem

You are a very wise woman, and I am certain that you are right

Queenofswords started that phrase on ATS.

I ran with it because it's a perfect summation of where the media is right now.

The Enemedia.

originally posted by: CIAGypsy
a reply to: Jefferton

I get your point and why you do it but I think there will come a time when you can no longer bury your head in the sand....

I dunno, it's pretty comfy down here. And quiet.

You should try it.

originally posted by: Jefferton

originally posted by: CIAGypsy
a reply to: Jefferton

I get your point and why you do it but I think there will come a time when you can no longer bury your head in the sand....

I dunno, it's pretty comfy down here. And quiet.

You should try it.

Every thing you know is wrong

originally posted by: visitedbythem

originally posted by: Jefferton

originally posted by: CIAGypsy
a reply to: Jefferton

I get your point and why you do it but I think there will come a time when you can no longer bury your head in the sand....

I dunno, it's pretty comfy down here. And quiet.

You should try it.

Every thing you know is wrong

But, here I am living totally large.

Jealous?

a reply to: Jefferton

best way to be happy , keep the government out of your life as much as possible

a reply to: Admitted

We know we're screwed when we trust the weatherman more than reporters.

Jaden

originally posted by: Jefferton

originally posted by: CIAGypsy
a reply to: Jefferton

I get your point and why you do it but I think there will come a time when you can no longer bury your head in the sand....

I dunno, it's pretty comfy down here. And quiet.

You should try it.

Unfortunately, I don't get that luxury....given the work I do. However, I am very aware that work is a choice. There are many days when I dream of going off the grid and, at a minimum, having a comfortable place to watch the world burn down around me.... But then there's this pesky little angel on my shoulder that reminds me that I have a moral and ethical obligation to the generations who come after me to try to preserve our Country, freedom, and the values that we stand for...especially when it is under direct, but covert, assault.