Perhaps one of the more smart manuevers Vince McMahnon made as CEO of the WWE is going against conventional trade wisdom and announcing their product was not a sport, but sports entertainment. Beyond being able to avoid a given States Athletic Commissions Rule of Law, it opened the doors to evolve an industry from smokey wooden halls into stadiums that consistently seated 50,000 plus fans. Sure, it pissed off some diehard fans who support the sport of it more than the ritz, yet it also garnered the adoration of folks who couldn't sit through an actual amateur wrestling contest if their life depended on it.
And here I sit and ponder. I read a few articles just recently on AR about political posts that had a bunch of traffic. It can be a passionate subject. I'm a member a few political groups here, and they vary on their opinion. I would cite none of them as legitamate sources of news, though. Commentators disguised as such, maybe. Bringing to light something the reader hadn't known before, perhaps. Competent Journalism, a BIG "HELL NO."
Personally, I love reading opinions on matters that may or may not affect us. Whether I agree, am indifferent, or passionately disagree, I would hope to think that I would never stifle such opinions. Think away, my friends ... think away.
When it comes to the beloved primetime television that now seems to represent the "News", I've got NEWS for them. It ain't journalism. It's editorial commentary at its best ... or worst ... depending upon what type of tea you prefer.
Fox News claims to be Fair & Balanced. That's grand. I claim to have a higher IQ than my Mother. My working knowledge is that both statements may be a bit skewed.
In the other corner, you have MSNBC. From their end, FAUX (as they like to refer to them) is an ultra-right wing militia who just happens to have television time. That also may be true, but any claims of them being bedside with President Obama is completely off-base. After-all, they aren't left of center or anything.
What I'm trying to articulate here is quite simple. Quit trying to shove down our throats what shouldn't be imported up our asses in the first place. You are what you are, just state it! As a viewer of said telecasts, it's apparent that I (and I dare say, we) like our television to be a tad skewed. If it's on T.V., it's probably skewed/scripted/contrived in the first place. Why hide from that? That's television, the viewers time to get away from the so-called real world they live in. Utilize it to brag about those ratings and petty little political wars that your team won ... as you are currently doing.
Learn from Vince. You aren't journalists or wrestlers; you are commentators & sports entertainers who are constantly putting forth your two pennies. And that's fine. FOX is a bit right and MSNBC is a bit left, that's the way I see it. And from my vantage point, neither is hiding it. The only thing either organization is hiding is what they really are ... a source of advertising what they are selling.
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