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  #1  
Old 05-02-2006, 11:55 AM
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Media criticism

Good points, IMO.

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Oscar-winner Dreyfuss campaigns against "shaped news"
By Astrid Zweynert

LONDON (Reuters) - Richard Dreyfuss has challenged the establishment for decades and now the maverick actor and activist is taking on the mainstream media.

The Oscar-winning star says an obsession with delivering instantaneous news and images provides too little context for audiences to reflect and understand what is happening in the world.

"There is no room to pause, no room to think," Dreyfuss, who starred in films ranging from "Jaws" to "Mr Holland's Opus" told Reuters in a recent telephone interview.

"We don't build into our system of thoughts the need to explain, the media doesn't build that into its transmission of knowledge and information."

That creates what Dreyfuss calls "shaped news" -- a version of events according to how the mainstream media want audiences to see what happened, and a violation of journalism's core value of objectivity.

Citizen journalism is playing a vital part in broadening news coverage, as well as scrutinizing professional journalism, Dreyfuss said.

"Information from more than one source is good. I'm totally in favor of it, even if people send propaganda. In the aggregate you can find more truth than in one opinion."

But despite an explosion in blogs, people's views of the news is still shaped by what powerful media corporations print, broadcast and put on their Web sites, Dreyfuss, 58, said.

"Do the mainstream media ever tell their readers 'Don't believe everything we tell you?' No, they don't."

Dreyfuss said media coverage of the September 11 attacks on the World Trade Center in New York was a pertinent example of how a non-stop supply of images and spot news shaped people's views.

"The falling Twin Towers -- pictures that produced anger, a lot of anger that were sent instantly around the world, they created a need to react."

"People in Kansas could see the Twin Towers fall at exactly the same instant as in Nigeria and Cairo. Such an instantaneous knowledge of a situation leads to an instantaneous reaction which creates demand for an instantaneous, reflexive response.

"The question is how do you get people to find out more, how do you get people to read not just what they are told to read."

The power of language is also an important factor in shaping the news.

"The 'war on terror' -- objection to using this term is dead. It's become part of our vocabulary, but what does it really mean? You should know more specifically what you are fighting."

Dreyfuss is eager to point out that he is not anti-technology: "I'm not in love with technology and speed but I don't want to sound like a luddite.

"We've got to be aware of the power of technology and the speed at which it allows us to transmit information.

"You have to encourage prose, analysis and detail -- otherwise people will go to war in Iraq and Afghanistan without really knowing why."

Dreyfuss, who won an Oscar for his performance in "The Goodbye Girl," has pursued his passion for political and social activism since his college days.

An active opponent of the Vietnam War, he has also worked to promote solutions to the Mideast conflict, campaigned for education and, most recently, has lent his support to a campaign for the impeachment of President Bush.

He is studying civics and democracy as a senior associate member at St Antony's College at the University of Oxford.

"Civics is no longer taught in the U.S, a sign of a neurosis that is inexplicable," he said. "Not to teach civics is suicide.

"Reason, logic, civility, dissent and debate -- five ancient words that should be taught again and better, at elementary level, so that people know the difference between news and shaped news," Dreyfuss said.

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  #2  
Old 05-02-2006, 12:00 PM
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He is studying civics and democracy as a senior associate member at St Antony's College at the University of Oxford.
What the hell is a 'senior associate member'? Would that be adjunct to the Adjunct Faculty, or what?

Good points, btw.
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Old 05-02-2006, 12:11 PM
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"The question is how do you get people to find out more, how do you get people to read not just what they are told to read[?]"
In a country where on a good year ~ half of the folks that started high school actually graduate, there is no real prospect for an answer to this question.
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Old 05-02-2006, 01:00 PM
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Originally Posted by Zeitgeist
What the hell is a 'senior associate member'?
Good points, btw.
At Wal-Mart, doesn't that mean, 'hired yesterday as another minimum wage employee'?
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  #5  
Old 05-02-2006, 01:05 PM
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Originally Posted by Lebenz
In a country where on a good year ~ half of the folks that started high school actually graduate, there is no real prospect for an answer to this question.
Good point. A couple of years ago a reasonably intelligent 21-year-old asked me what the difference between a Republican and a Democrat was, and W. was a Democrat and Clinton a Republican, right?

She didn't know because she, like most Americans and possibly most people around the world, doesn't give a lick about national or world events.

I'm all for a news approach that is closer to the Newshour than to cable news, but people have to care in order for it to make a difference.
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  #6  
Old 05-02-2006, 02:07 PM
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Originally Posted by Maroon 300D
Good point. A couple of years ago a reasonably intelligent 21-year-old asked me what the difference between a Republican and a Democrat was, and W. was a Democrat and Clinton a Republican, right?

She didn't know because she, like most Americans and possibly most people around the world, doesn't give a lick about national or world events.

I'm all for a news approach that is closer to the Newshour than to cable news, but people have to care in order for it to make a difference.
It's a fair question and I understand why she'd be confused. Clinton was the best Republican president (aside from Reagan) in the previous century. And W is spending more money and turning-out more 'progressive' programs than a socialist on crack.

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Old 05-02-2006, 02:26 PM
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What do they hear at home?

Those are good points. The way news is presented, the editing rather than the writing, is a very important shaper of our thinking and perception. Perhaps we would not have been so quick to go to war with Iraq had we assimilated the unfolding news a little better. I think of how some salesmen (I'm a salesman) often try to keep the pace of things moving at a certain pace to keep their prospects from thinking too hard about their purchases. It often leads to buyer's remorse.

It is appalling how little teenagers and twenty-somethings seem to know about civics, politics, and world events. I don't know if it is the result of poor curriculum choices by the board of education or lack of interest and discussion at home.

My kids seem to have a fair degree of comprehension and interest in politics. We talk about these things in light of current events. They seem to study the right things at school. Of course, we live in a suburb of Washington, DC, so maybe proximity plays some part. Any thoughts on that?
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Old 05-02-2006, 07:17 PM
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How nice for Richard to have discovered Marshall McCluhan. Better late than never I suppose.
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Old 05-02-2006, 10:03 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Botnst
It's a fair question and I understand why she'd be confused. Clinton was the best Republican president (aside from Reagan) in the previous century. And W is spending more money and turning-out more 'progressive' programs than a socialist on crack.

Bot

Excellent points.

Perhaps the 21 year-old wasn't as naive as he thinks... Perhaps she was making a sarcastic, sideways comment on the current state of the two parties?....

Mike
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Old 05-02-2006, 10:10 PM
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Originally Posted by mikemover
Excellent points.

Perhaps the 21 year-old wasn't as naive as he thinks... Perhaps she was making a sarcastic, sideways comment on the current state of the two parties?....

Mike
Alas, I wish it were true! She's a friend of mine whom I used to work with.
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Old 05-02-2006, 10:12 PM
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Originally Posted by Maroon 300D
Alas, I wish it were true! She's a friend of mine whom I used to work with.

Hahaha....

OK, then she's just clueless.

It's really amazing how many people are almost completely ignorant of what is going on around them, politically and otherwise.

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Old 05-02-2006, 10:52 PM
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Most people these day's are eager to go with the flow, they don't question authority, they don't want to buck the establishment in fear of retribution. Abstract thought and objectivity are looked down upon in our current society
as radical thought, out of the mainstream. Thats why the public are slaves to the media hype, they can't think for themselves anymore. They have to be dictated too so they can accept what is being conceived as the norm. They lack personal convictions or the willingness to face the criticism for those ideas. Few people want to be the odd man out who sees what others are blind to. I'm glad forums like this do exist. It stimulates thoughts and ideas, creates controversy, and expresses opposing arguments.
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Old 05-04-2006, 01:36 PM
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Is this only the case now?

Quote:
Originally Posted by 450slcguy
Most people these day's are eager to go with the flow, they don't question authority, they don't want to buck the establishment in fear of retribution. Abstract thought and objectivity are looked down upon in our current society
I don't think this is unique in our time. History is full of people "eager to go with the flow," and who "don't question authority." Germany in the 1930's is one example that comes to mind. I remember a button popular in the late sixties that said "Question Authority." Maybe we should print up a new batch of those.
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Old 05-04-2006, 01:39 PM
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Do you have authority to print that?
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Old 05-04-2006, 02:15 PM
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Originally Posted by Maroon 300D
I'm all for a news approach that is closer to the Newshour than to cable news, but people have to care in order for it to make a difference.
As long as folks only pursue what is handed to them, there is little hope. Of course, some folks think that "handed down wisdom" is independent thought.

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