I find that the root of my political opinion, or I should my disgust with politics all together, comes from media coverage. While this isn't entirely fair or responsible, it is nonetheless a fact for me. On television coverage, I see the major outlets: Fox News, sensationlist and slapping me with their right hand while looking me in the eye; you have CNN, slapping me with the left, and MSNBC which is a good mix I suppose but leaves me wanting to slap Keith Obermann with both of mine. Newspapers are no less bereft of objectivity than they were in the Civil War and borders on yellow journalism, each has a "philosophy" behind their coverage. Magazines like Time and Newsweek are a joke, and with their glossy pictures appeal to the eye but not the brain, and most articles belong in editorial rather than any attempt at objective journalism. Radio news is unashamedly partisan, one can only listen to someone who will only reenforce their own opinions (Rush is a good example). NPR and BBC on good days are a refreshing exception, but too often fall into the latter category. The Economist, a Brit publication, adds some new twists but something that cannot focus on all important issues.
Not a condemnation of the status quo, but more of a question to everybody: where do you get your news? I understand there is no possible way to get 100% objectivity, but there has to be better alternatives and I am just looking for ideas. My solution has always been to turn off the TV and bury myself in my history books...surly adding perspective but leaving me uninformed on the living world around me.
