http://www.democraticunderground.com/articles/05/05/25_memoriam.html

In Memoriam: the Television News Media (1950 - 2005)

May 25, 2005

Obituary by Nancy Greggs


After a lengthy illness, the Television News Media (TNM) finally
succumbed to a combination of lapses in professionalism and ethics,
complicated by an obvious loss of the will to live.

Born in the early Fifties, the TNM grew from its infancy and developed
as a strong, easily accessible news source for a constantly growing
number of viewers, supported by the talents of informed investigative
journalists.

During its frequently-troubled adolescent years, TNM found its voice
and was often outspoken on the issues of the day, both domestic and
international.

Not afraid to criticize the government and its policies, TNM regularly
investigated its own stories, and often took the initiative to look
behind White House press releases and other suspect sources.

The TNM ventured, unafraid and uncensored, into coverage of events
like Watergate, and was widely credited with turning the tide of
public opinion against American involvement in Viet Nam by bringing
the true horrors of war, as well as the lies being told about it, to
the American public.

Upon hearing of TNM's untimely passing, childhood friends reminisced
about their departed friend, who had earned the nickname "VP"
(Vigilant Press) back in the halcyon days of early broadcasting.

"We started noticing the symptoms on Inauguration Day, January 2001,"
explained a long-time friend.

"There were thousands of protesters lining the streets along Bush's
route, but TNM was adamant in its refusal to show them. We should have
realized then that something was terribly wrong. It seemed so out of
keeping with the TNM we'd grown up with."

In the lead-up to the war in Iraq, it was obvious that TNM was in
failing health.

Stories generated by the White House about WMD, a connection to 9/11
and Al Qaeda affiliations aired without any questions being asked.

"Back in the day," observed a long-time TNM colleague, "a story as
bogus as that would never have gotten past the cue-card writers -- it
was that full of holes."

By the time the 2004 presidential campaign was in full swing, TNM was
out of control.

Rumours about wild Swift Boat parties began circulating, and viewers
were left to their own ingenuity to try to ferret out any real
information.

"It seemed unable to focus," commented one angry viewer.

"The whole time questions were being asked about Bush's military
record, TNM was arguing about the legitimacy of everyone's sources.
Fair enough. But it got so caught up in the minutia of who was saying
what, the real story about Bush's whereabouts during his so-called
military service was completely lost."

In the aftermath of the election, TNM began showing signs of
forgetfulness.

Although two months of investigation into vote fraud, in Ohio and
elsewhere, were ongoing, TNM failed to even mention it.

"There was a time when a story like that would have been all over the
airwaves," said a disgruntled former colleague.

"But all TNM seemed to be interested in was Scott Peterson, and Brad
and Jen breakin' up -- whoever they are."

"I think TNM kind of rallied when the Valerie Plame and Abu Ghraib
scandals surfaced," commented a more compassionate viewer.

"You know, all that talk about getting to the bottom of things, and
demanding answers -- it was great while it lasted. For a minute there,
it was almost like the old days. But there was never any
follow-through, and -- well, you know the rest."

By the spring of 2005, TNM had deteriorated to the point where it had
to be hooked up to a TelePrompTer, apparently fed directly by the
Administration, the right-wing, and corporate interests.

Polls showed that a vast majority of viewers favoured pulling the
plug.

Dementia had set in, and TNM started babbling incoherently about
runaway brides and other nonsense, obviously unable to speak
rationally about the economy, job outsourcing, soaring gas prices and
the disastrous situation in Iraq.

"I think it was failure to cover the Downing Street Memo story that
did it in," said a (former) devoted viewer.

"It was like ol' TNM just didn’t have any fight left in him. That’s
when we knew it was over," he added, too overcome by emotion to
continue.

The White House has yet to issue any formal statement on TNM's
passing, but spokesperson Scotty McClelland called the idea of the
death of ethical journalism "absurd."

"You just have to look at the up-and-comers like Jeff Gannon to
realize that honesty and integrity are flourishing in today's creative
news-gathering environment."

While official autopsy findings have not been disclosed, it is widely
acknowledged that TNM's illness was contagious, having already spread
to the radio and print news media.

The deceased is survived by websites and blogs, who reluctantly took
control of the family business when TNM proved too weak-minded to
carry out its duties responsibly.

Memorial services will not be held, due to what is obviously a total
lack of interest on anyone's part.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to
appropriate websites.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/articles/05/05/25_memoriam.html

In Memoriam: the Television News Media (1950 - 2005)

May 25, 2005

Obituary by Nancy Greggs


After a lengthy illness, the Television News Media (TNM) finally
succumbed to a combination of lapses in professionalism and ethics,
complicated by an obvious loss of the will to live.

Born in the early Fifties, the TNM grew from its infancy and developed
as a strong, easily accessible news source for a constantly growing
number of viewers, supported by the talents of informed investigative
journalists.

During its frequently-troubled adolescent years, TNM found its voice
and was often outspoken on the issues of the day, both domestic and
international.

Not afraid to criticize the government and its policies, TNM regularly
investigated its own stories, and often took the initiative to look
behind White House press releases and other suspect sources.

The TNM ventured, unafraid and uncensored, into coverage of events
like Watergate, and was widely credited with turning the tide of
public opinion against American involvement in Viet Nam by bringing
the true horrors of war, as well as the lies being told about it, to
the American public.

Upon hearing of TNM's untimely passing, childhood friends reminisced
about their departed friend, who had earned the nickname "VP"
(Vigilant Press) back in the halcyon days of early broadcasting.

"We started noticing the symptoms on Inauguration Day, January 2001,"
explained a long-time friend.

"There were thousands of protesters lining the streets along Bush's
route, but TNM was adamant in its refusal to show them. We should have
realized then that something was terribly wrong. It seemed so out of
keeping with the TNM we'd grown up with."

In the lead-up to the war in Iraq, it was obvious that TNM was in
failing health.

Stories generated by the White House about WMD, a connection to 9/11
and Al Qaeda affiliations aired without any questions being asked.

"Back in the day," observed a long-time TNM colleague, "a story as
bogus as that would never have gotten past the cue-card writers -- it
was that full of holes."

By the time the 2004 presidential campaign was in full swing, TNM was
out of control.

Rumours about wild Swift Boat parties began circulating, and viewers
were left to their own ingenuity to try to ferret out any real
information.

"It seemed unable to focus," commented one angry viewer.

"The whole time questions were being asked about Bush's military
record, TNM was arguing about the legitimacy of everyone's sources.
Fair enough. But it got so caught up in the minutia of who was saying
what, the real story about Bush's whereabouts during his so-called
military service was completely lost."

In the aftermath of the election, TNM began showing signs of
forgetfulness.

Although two months of investigation into vote fraud, in Ohio and
elsewhere, were ongoing, TNM failed to even mention it.

"There was a time when a story like that would have been all over the
airwaves," said a disgruntled former colleague.

"But all TNM seemed to be interested in was Scott Peterson, and Brad
and Jen breakin' up -- whoever they are."

"I think TNM kind of rallied when the Valerie Plame and Abu Ghraib
scandals surfaced," commented a more compassionate viewer.

"You know, all that talk about getting to the bottom of things, and
demanding answers -- it was great while it lasted. For a minute there,
it was almost like the old days. But there was never any
follow-through, and -- well, you know the rest."

By the spring of 2005, TNM had deteriorated to the point where it had
to be hooked up to a TelePrompTer, apparently fed directly by the
Administration, the right-wing, and corporate interests.

Polls showed that a vast majority of viewers favoured pulling the
plug.

Dementia had set in, and TNM started babbling incoherently about
runaway brides and other nonsense, obviously unable to speak
rationally about the economy, job outsourcing, soaring gas prices and
the disastrous situation in Iraq.

"I think it was failure to cover the Downing Street Memo story that
did it in," said a (former) devoted viewer.

"It was like ol' TNM just didn't have any fight left in him. That's
when we knew it was over," he added, too overcome by emotion to
continue.

The White House has yet to issue any formal statement on TNM's
passing, but spokesperson Scotty McClelland called the idea of the
death of ethical journalism "absurd."

"You just have to look at the up-and-comers like Jeff Gannon to
realize that honesty and integrity are flourishing in today's creative
news-gathering environment."

While official autopsy findings have not been disclosed, it is widely
acknowledged that TNM's illness was contagious, having already spread
to the radio and print news media.

The deceased is survived by websites and blogs, who reluctantly took
control of the family business when TNM proved too weak-minded to
carry out its duties responsibly.

Memorial services will not be held, due to what is obviously a total
lack of interest on anyone's part.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to
appropriate websites.

______________________________________________________

Television News Media -- Rest in Peace.

Harry