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Again: This Is News?
There are many, many things that could be said about our pathetic mainstream media, especially newspapers and wire services and why they seem to be ready to go the way of the passenger pigeon. Those media, especially newspapers and wire services, blame the internet for a lot of their woes: competition from blogging, the expectation of getting news for free, increased productions costs and God Damn The Unions, etc., etc., etc.
I really, really don't think it's occurred to them that newspapers and wire services might be dying because, well, they suck beyond suckage.
People want to please their bosses because they don't want to get laid off? Seriously? That's all you've got, on a Sunday? That wasn't news when there wasn't a worldwide economic crisis. That wasn't news when the Pyramids were being built, and you weren't laid off, you were horsewhipped before they buried you under Slab 17A. Now that people worldwide are hurting, the only thing this "news" does is increase the general nervousness level, and show that you're completely out of touch for thinking it's "news".
Some asshat who fancies himself an editor greenlit this. You can make the excuse that there are always fluff stories, intended to fill space, especially when a more important story misses deadline. But there is so much going on right now, so much for so many years, that you'd think something substantive might possibly be reported upon.
And I'm sure that dozens of newspapers ran this column over the weekend, and patted themselves on the back for keeping people "informed".
A lot of regulars here have been having job woes lately, and I feel for all of you, and wish you all a lot of luck. There is one aspect of this mess which might possibly work out -- sometimes, when you get pushed into the pool, you can turn it into a creditable 1-1/2 gainer. If you're not there already, what's your dream job, and how close are you to actually going for it? And, if you are there already, how's it working out?
I really, really don't think it's occurred to them that newspapers and wire services might be dying because, well, they suck beyond suckage.
People want to please their bosses because they don't want to get laid off? Seriously? That's all you've got, on a Sunday? That wasn't news when there wasn't a worldwide economic crisis. That wasn't news when the Pyramids were being built, and you weren't laid off, you were horsewhipped before they buried you under Slab 17A. Now that people worldwide are hurting, the only thing this "news" does is increase the general nervousness level, and show that you're completely out of touch for thinking it's "news".
Some asshat who fancies himself an editor greenlit this. You can make the excuse that there are always fluff stories, intended to fill space, especially when a more important story misses deadline. But there is so much going on right now, so much for so many years, that you'd think something substantive might possibly be reported upon.
And I'm sure that dozens of newspapers ran this column over the weekend, and patted themselves on the back for keeping people "informed".
A lot of regulars here have been having job woes lately, and I feel for all of you, and wish you all a lot of luck. There is one aspect of this mess which might possibly work out -- sometimes, when you get pushed into the pool, you can turn it into a creditable 1-1/2 gainer. If you're not there already, what's your dream job, and how close are you to actually going for it? And, if you are there already, how's it working out?
no subject
It's a diverse profession and we all love to kick the paper that's a little bigger than us, a time-honored pastime among readers as well. There's always something stupid in the paper, something non-essential or just plain asinine, especially in the opinion pages...
But I still maintain that we provide an essential service that democracy cannot function without.
no subject
"[W]e provide an essential service that democracy cannot function without" is one of the biggest understatements in human history.
That's why bullshit pap such as the "story" I linked to above makes me so nuckin' futs. There are careers waiting to be made over good writing, good reporting, real investigative work, things that matter, many many many things that simply don't get time in the mainstream. And yet, somehow, they can find the time and column inches for this.
No, I'm most definitely on your side. I want newspapers and wire services to rise to the occasion.
Still waiting.