Wednesday, August 31, 2016

Is investigative journalism dead?

Everyday the public is treated to some new revelation in the news media, most of these reports are about the release by government agencies of previously unknown electronic communications or court ordered release of documents obtained in a Freedom of Information legal case, but where is the in depth coverage of the stories behind the leaks and legal actions.   It seems that so called journalists are nothing more than internet surfers and Googlers who don't want to do the legwork required to get behind the headlines and report about what is going on in the organizations that are conducting the business involved in the real stories.  Day to day investigative journalism is dead, reporters are now gathering information for the latest book exposing this or that public figure or some great crisis of monumental importance that will be forgotten by the next news cycle.  The reporters who are exposing this or that infidelity or character flaw have a political agenda, to trash the candidate that the corporation they work for is opposing.  Remember, the news media is owned and operated by giant conglomerates that are owned by stockholders who want the bottom line - profits.  The news media are not public service organizations.  The candidates who will be of most use to the media corporations will be the ones treated most favorably.  Any candidate who opposes the status quo weather on the right or the left will be attacked by the media.  You want evidence, just look at the coverage of the 2016 Presidential election.









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