As it ever was with news. Yellow journalism got us into the Spanish American war. Walter Cronkrite got us out of Vietnam and todays journalists just twist the facts faster. We live in magical times.
In the days of our youths (for the geezers among us) TV shows would attract advertisers that were looking for an audience like their target audience. With three TV channels the competition was there. Now, with streaming of anything anytime that dynamic is gone.
Folks here are right mentioning he must be watching FOX News. I remember this strip and it was a real time commentary on the advent of the “new” station that had just debuted, and it was clear from the start it had a different agenda from traditional national networks. They front loaded their “news” programming with lots of fluff and “fun” stories, advertising they wanted viewers who were tired of the usual doom and gloom.
They often showed outlandish or twisted stories to change the tone or spice up the interest, highlighting some dubious or scurrilous element to imply they had a scoop the others didn’t. After a while it became a schtick to portray popular, mainstream mostly dem political figures unkindly, taking quotes out of context, misrepresenting actions, insinuating something nefarious was going on. They would get the smear out, then retract it quietly if the target threatened to sue.
To assuage viewers who were starting to catch on, they added the tagline “fair and balanced” simply to give the impression that other stations weren’t, even though they were the ones skewing things. It was working and other stations were losing viewers so they all started to fluff up their programs to compete, with more human interest and less Cronkite gravitas.
Murdoch, a craven right winger, was finally called to account for his flaunting of FCC regulations around news programming which required fact checking, neutrality in coverage, and avoidance of charged rhetoric, opinion segments labeled, etc. He laughed at the committee and said, “FOX News” is just the name of the company. We are in the ‘creative entertainment’ business, it says so right here in our license application.”
And he got away with it, free to nurture this dangerous distrust of vital mainstream news. FOX marched right into it’s real goal as the propaganda organ of the reactionary right, with millions of duped citizens locked in step.
Ah I miss the days when between 4:00 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. the air waves were filled with cartoons for kids. At 5:30 p.m. was the national news and at 6:00 p.m. was the local news.
Saturday mornings cartoons started around 7:00 a.m. with Mighty Mouse, followed by Heckle and Jeckle. Next came Tennessee Tuxedo and His Tales followed by Underdog. The Bugs Bunny/Road Runner Hour rounded out the cartoons only to be followed by Roy Rogers, after Roy Rogers was Sky King. Then a quick lunch and out the door to play until supper time.
Over time some of the cartoons were replaced by the likes of HR Puffen Stuff, Josie and the Pussy cats etc. But the Saturday morning formula stayed the same for many years.
The public gives reporters of news department the story of what public does against the law. Curtis you are too young to watch public mess up that creates the news story.
That was 25 years ago. Fortunately, the news has evolved and lives by the rule book called “Journalistic Integrity.” They just give us the straight news, no matter whose ox is being gored and they won’t stand for partisanship in reporting.
What do you mean Fox news??There is NO SUCH THING AS AN UNBIASED, TRUTHFUL, ACCURATE NEWS SERVICE these days.And agreeing with leftist agendas does not make it truthful, just more likely to be inaccurate, or just plain wrong, and biased
BE THIS GUY over 2 years ago
Now we know TV news is aimed people with minds of 6 year-olds.
codycab over 2 years ago
I’m not as patient as I used to be. Haven’t bothered watching a movie in a long time.
Templo S.U.D. over 2 years ago
What news were you expecting to be about, Calvin? Yourself doing some amazing feat?
sirbadger over 2 years ago
A sound bite is better than 24/7 news coverage.
Liverlips McCracken Premium Member over 2 years ago
Boy, does this ever look familiar!
Susan00100 over 2 years ago
He must be watching Fox News!!
Scorpio Premium Member over 2 years ago
The more things change, the more they stay the same.
M2MM over 2 years ago
Must be watching FOX.
whahoppened over 2 years ago
Not to worry, Calvin, it understands you better than you think.
rshive over 2 years ago
Sensationalism wins a well-earned triumph.
bluram over 2 years ago
Back to Sesame Street.
TCA1799 Premium Member over 2 years ago
Apparently a short attention span is not a new thing! Been around since 1992 at least.
Mr_Cool over 2 years ago
BW was way ahead of his time.
sandpiper over 2 years ago
And this was early times leading cell phones to become appendages and a focus for short term thinking.
jagedlo over 2 years ago
Wow, that TV is bouncing around more than Calvin is!
vaughnrl2003 Premium Member over 2 years ago
As it ever was with news. Yellow journalism got us into the Spanish American war. Walter Cronkrite got us out of Vietnam and todays journalists just twist the facts faster. We live in magical times.
tripwire45 over 2 years ago
Nothing’s really changed.
nathan.sheriff3 over 2 years ago
I loved 90’s Nickelodeon and Cartoon Network commercials/ bumpers. Short, sweet & to the point!
Diat60 over 2 years ago
So called “independent” news channels featuring discussion panels with ALL the participants on the same side!
gantech over 2 years ago
Calvin is so ADHD.
pixiekitten Premium Member over 2 years ago
And this strip was done before the explosion of 24/7 “news” cable networks (CNN was around but it was far better than what cable news is now).
flagmichael over 2 years ago
In the days of our youths (for the geezers among us) TV shows would attract advertisers that were looking for an audience like their target audience. With three TV channels the competition was there. Now, with streaming of anything anytime that dynamic is gone.
mindjob over 2 years ago
Some idiots still watch TV
prairiedogdance Premium Member over 2 years ago
Folks here are right mentioning he must be watching FOX News. I remember this strip and it was a real time commentary on the advent of the “new” station that had just debuted, and it was clear from the start it had a different agenda from traditional national networks. They front loaded their “news” programming with lots of fluff and “fun” stories, advertising they wanted viewers who were tired of the usual doom and gloom.
They often showed outlandish or twisted stories to change the tone or spice up the interest, highlighting some dubious or scurrilous element to imply they had a scoop the others didn’t. After a while it became a schtick to portray popular, mainstream mostly dem political figures unkindly, taking quotes out of context, misrepresenting actions, insinuating something nefarious was going on. They would get the smear out, then retract it quietly if the target threatened to sue.
To assuage viewers who were starting to catch on, they added the tagline “fair and balanced” simply to give the impression that other stations weren’t, even though they were the ones skewing things. It was working and other stations were losing viewers so they all started to fluff up their programs to compete, with more human interest and less Cronkite gravitas.
Murdoch, a craven right winger, was finally called to account for his flaunting of FCC regulations around news programming which required fact checking, neutrality in coverage, and avoidance of charged rhetoric, opinion segments labeled, etc. He laughed at the committee and said, “FOX News” is just the name of the company. We are in the ‘creative entertainment’ business, it says so right here in our license application.”
And he got away with it, free to nurture this dangerous distrust of vital mainstream news. FOX marched right into it’s real goal as the propaganda organ of the reactionary right, with millions of duped citizens locked in step.
Turns out Murdoch was sly as a…..
I was FRAMED!!!!!! over 2 years ago
He must be watching Faux News.
A Hip loving Canadian... over 2 years ago
We finally cut cable right out and we don’t really miss it. If and when we want entertainment, we stream it.
Daltongang Premium Member over 2 years ago
Ah I miss the days when between 4:00 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. the air waves were filled with cartoons for kids. At 5:30 p.m. was the national news and at 6:00 p.m. was the local news.
Saturday mornings cartoons started around 7:00 a.m. with Mighty Mouse, followed by Heckle and Jeckle. Next came Tennessee Tuxedo and His Tales followed by Underdog. The Bugs Bunny/Road Runner Hour rounded out the cartoons only to be followed by Roy Rogers, after Roy Rogers was Sky King. Then a quick lunch and out the door to play until supper time.
Over time some of the cartoons were replaced by the likes of HR Puffen Stuff, Josie and the Pussy cats etc. But the Saturday morning formula stayed the same for many years.
The Wolf In Your Midst over 2 years ago
The problem with the media is that it gives us exactly what we want.
Cincoflex over 2 years ago
Man, this strip is pretty timely.
mistercatworks over 2 years ago
Sometimes I actually write to editorial contacts. Sometimes they agree with me, but the tide itself never turns.
GreggW Premium Member over 2 years ago
Amusing himself to death. Pace Neil Postman.
rklynch over 2 years ago
I never watch the news. It’s either too depressing, or it just pisses me off…
AlienHillbilly over 2 years ago
The worst manifestation of cable ‘news’ is the ‘ambush journalism’ carried out by the likes of cretin Jesse Watters!
g04922 over 2 years ago
Good commentary on todays ‘News’ outlets.
stamps over 2 years ago
He must be watching Fox news.
wiley207 over 2 years ago
Angry Dad: “That’s opinion! NOT NEWS!”
dbradway1 over 2 years ago
So, Calvin grew up to be a Trump supporter?
kab2rb over 2 years ago
The public gives reporters of news department the story of what public does against the law. Curtis you are too young to watch public mess up that creates the news story.
erinurse2000 over 2 years ago
Plus ca change…
WCraft Premium Member over 2 years ago
That was 25 years ago. Fortunately, the news has evolved and lives by the rule book called “Journalistic Integrity.” They just give us the straight news, no matter whose ox is being gored and they won’t stand for partisanship in reporting.
Brian Premium Member over 2 years ago
No matter how many times I see it, the bouncing TV gives me a laugh.
hagarthehorrible over 2 years ago
The gravity defying tv is one of the masterpieces of Bill.
Shadar2001 over 2 years ago
Calvin watches the news?!
Sailor46 USN 65-95 over 2 years ago
As does it seem most of the rest of the Human Race.
einarbt over 2 years ago
And things have not exactly gotten any better.
aussie399 Premium Member over 2 years ago
What do you mean Fox news??There is NO SUCH THING AS AN UNBIASED, TRUTHFUL, ACCURATE NEWS SERVICE these days.And agreeing with leftist agendas does not make it truthful, just more likely to be inaccurate, or just plain wrong, and biased