Alright, folks. Remember that last post where I attacked Congress and its apparent amnesia about who it’s supposed to work for (hint: it’s us)? Well, I’m back, and this time, I’m turning my attention to another group that seems to have lost its way: the American news media.

I’m talking about all of it – cable news, broadcast news, online news, the whole shebang. It feels like we’ve traded in actual journalism for a constant barrage of opinion masquerading as news. And frankly, it’s exhausting.

Seriously, did Ted Turner envision this when he created CNN? I doubt it. He wanted a place where people could get unbiased information and form opinions. Now, it’s more like watching two different versions of reality fight it out on the airwaves.

The Goal: Simple, Honest, and Accurate Reporting

Let’s get back to basics here. The core mission of journalism, as I understand it, is pretty straightforward:

• Report the facts: Present the events as they happened, without embellishment or distortion.
• Be accurate: Verify your information, double-check, and triple-check if necessary. Getting it wrong erodes trust.
• Be fair: Present all sides of the story. Let people hear the different perspectives involved.
• Be unbiased: Leave your personal opinions at the door. Your job is to inform, not persuade.

Seems simple enough, right? So, what happened?

The Blurring Lines Between News and Opinion

Somewhere along the line, the lines between objective reporting and subjective opinion blurred—and then practically erased. Now, every news story has a thick layer of commentary and analysis coating it.

I’m not saying analysis is always bad. Sometimes, context is essential to understanding the implications of a news event. But the problem is that when that analysis becomes the story, it buries the facts under a mountain of speculation and spin.

Why It’s Bad for Us, the Consumers

This shift towards opinion-driven news has some serious consequences for us, the consumers of information:

• We’re told what to think, not how to think. Instead of receiving the information and being allowed to form our conclusions, we are constantly nudged toward a particular viewpoint.
• It fuels division: The constant barrage of partisan opinions only widens the divide between groups. We end up seeing each other as enemies instead of fellow citizens.
• It makes it harder to be informed: When every news story is filtered through a partisan lens, it becomes difficult to get a clear and accurate picture of what’s happening worldwide.
• It erodes trust in the media. Constantly feeling like you’re being manipulated and pushed towards a specific narrative? Of course, you’re going to stop trusting the news sources. I think we have already reached that point.

Picking Sides: Great for Football, Terrible for Our Country

Look, I get it. Everyone has opinions. Journalists are human beings, too. But when you’re reporting the news, you are responsible for putting those opinions aside and focusing on the facts.

Picking a side might be great for football, but it’s terrible for our country. When news organizations align themselves with a particular political party or ideology, they risk becoming propaganda outlets instead of reliable information sources.

We don’t need journalists to tell us what to think. We need them to tell us what happened, who was involved, and the potential consequences. We’re capable of forming our opinions, thank you very much.

Journalists, Do Your Job! (Please?)

So, to all the journalists, I have a simple request: Do your job!

• Report the news accurately and objectively.
• Present all sides of the story.
• Let us, the public, make up our minds.

I know it’s not easy. There’s pressure to generate clicks and ratings, and to cater to a particular audience. However, the long-term health of our democracy depends on having a strong and independent press committed to reporting the truth.

What Can We Do?

While calling on the news media to step up, we, as consumers, also have a role to play. Here are a few things we can do:

• Be critical of the news we consume: Don’t just blindly accept everything you read or see. Ask questions. Consider different perspectives.
• Seek out multiple sources of information: Don’t rely on a single news outlet for all your information. Read and watch news from a variety of sources, including those that may have different perspectives.
• Support independent journalism: If you value unbiased reporting, consider supporting independent news organizations not beholden to corporate or political interests.
• Engage in respectful dialogue: When discussing current events with others, listen to their perspectives and engage in respectful dialogue, even if you disagree.

The Future of News: Can We Get Back to Basics?

I’m not sure what the future holds for the news media. But I know that if we want to have a healthy democracy, we need a press that is committed to reporting the truth, not pushing an agenda.

It’s time for journalists to remember their core mission and do their job. And it’s time for us, the consumers, to demand better. Let’s hold the media accountable and support those who provide accurate and unbiased information. Our country depends on it.

What do you think? Am I being too harsh? Or are you seeing the same problems? Let me know in the comments below!

Tom Rooney