Journalism?

[ironchop]

Recently, before I stopped reading almost any 'news', I noticed a ridiculous trend in journalism.

I felt like I was reading a highschool newspaper all the time or a note that I had intercepted that was passed between two preteens in my social studies class.

I can always tell by the headline whether I want to read it or not. Here are some examples of the kind of tripe I'm talking about. You can post up your own examples below...

Headlines:

"Cardi B slams Tomi Lahren"

"Demi Lovato had perfect response for fat shamers"

"Sanders slams Clinton in epic takedown

These aren't even original. Like any stupidassed thing that kids say (like 'cray cray' or 'I know, right'), it was simply heard and then repeated ad nauseum by the folks incapable of original thought

Yes the headlines seem to be slanted to appear like anything that a particular group says or does results in 'epic takedown' or a 'slam' or a 'perfect response' to the perpetrator. You're led to believe that one person triumphed over another using wit and reason before you even clicked on the link. After that was established, the only reason you would have to read the article is to reinforce your own thought processes and bask in a victory that isn't yours to claim because the person doing the 'slamming' is someone you admire (which is a segue to another thread I'd like to do regarding celeb worship)

The insinuation in the headline is that one person totally annihilated his/her detractors by using words like 'slam' or 'epic takedown'..... in my research, these phrases are almost NEVER used to describe the victory of one right leaner over a left leaner in any sort of altercation. Maybe you've had a different experience but it's the left wing publications that seem to be the biggest offenders.

Using those words is like fingernails on a chalkboard for me. These kind of stories reminds me of tweets or Facebook posts written by young girls.

Journalism has always been slanted in this country....a country that was founded by using the print media to push a specific narrative as a way to foment a revolution. Nothing has ever changed but the intensity of the absurdity and the immaturity of the journalists.

When I read a stupid headline like that, I can usually assume that it's written in the form of one highschool cheerleader speaking to the other highschool cheerleaders about today's gossip. I can also assume that it's filled with grammatical errors, meandering reason, and gross misspellings because there are zero editorial standards. Speed, not accuracy, is the name of the game.

There is no such thing as professionalism in print or television media. Literally, a child could write this stuff. It's written as if the audience is children, so why not let children do the writing?

They do this because you can't take back what had already been seen or heard by the masses. The same way an attorney says things in court in front of a jury that he/she KNOWS will be 'stricken from the record'. Attorneys know that you can't make a jury unhear something you said out loud and the seed is now planted in their minds. This is the current state of American media as well.... Say outrageous and untruthful things and don't bother to apologise or retract unless forced or coerced by online mocking. Plant that seed and watch it grow and take on a life of it's own like the smirk on a Catholic schoolboy's face.



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[atctim]

Regarding journalism (or lack thereof) what do you expect with the modern paid indoctrination system (once known as college). Look at 90% of college professors these days. Through my point of view, professors are nothing more than self proclaimed soap-box heroes spewing their politics to their students. I've heard many stories of professors being challenged on their opinions by students, and students either being failed, or straight dropping the class. With K-12 teachers now leading kids down the path of one political party - that only continues and at a much more aggressive "slant". So not only does this give new journalists a pre-disposed opinion (taught as fact to unknowing students) - the overwhelming majority of pupils do not even know how to properly investigate a topic, because in college, they didn't have to. There then comes in the snow-ball effect as if a young journalist were to do research - much of the published content is wrong - or so far leaning that it is not fact at all.

I'm seeing a lost generation, and I blame it on teachers, professors, and school administrations. The lack of fair reporting is beyond chaotic.

A few observations: A) I personally see notes from K-12 teachers where grammar and spelling are terrible, yet these are the ones teaching our kids. And the big one - B) who is directly in charge of our public school systems? Hint - they also are in charge of all the other unions.

When school teachers do not teach facts, but rather opinions as facts, there is little hope for the kids / students. Again, this morning, I am reminded of the movie "Idiocracy" and just how dangerously close we are coming as a society to this type of society.

NOTE - regarding college: I have to assume engineering / science / math and other observable sciences will do fine, when it comes to journalism, and especially education - it will only get worse in our lifetimes.

[DAM shop]

Tim
Just a quick note teacher’s in the k12 system are teaching off of a curriculum type of learning. Meaning they have very little leeway when it comes to straying off that curriculum even if they wanted to. Don’t put the blame on teachers themselves they really have very little control over their teachings due to state governments and administrators. Plus the kids today don’t make it easy to teach. A few examples on phones 24/7. Not doing the work, expecting something for no effort and the worst parents defending their kids because of their own lack of involvement in their child’s education.
If you want your kids to read Tim then teach them. If you want your kids to know the world then teach them. If you want your kids to manage money then teach them. Want me to go on? My wife taught in middle and high school and yes she will say that kids can’t write or even read but these kids come to her out of the lower level grades. The most successful kids are the ones where their parents are involved in not only their education but life. Don’t pass this on to a teacher issue Tim believe me I live with one and was reminded of the frustrations on a daily basis.

[atctim]

DAM Shop - I 1000% agree that kids these days are super hard to teach for all the reasons you said - phones should be banned in schools (in my opinion). Oddly enough, our local school has a no phone policy, yet no teachers enforce it. So who is at fault for that? I've gone as far as to pose that very question to the teachers and I get looked at like I have 2 heads. Kids these days are harder to teach because the are not being parented correctly - that is a fact!!! However regarding the "forced state curriculum" that teachers have to teach........teaching is voluntary. That is like saying don't blame the drug dealers, blame the drug manufacturers and king pins. They are all in cahoots. Every teacher in my state is forced to pay union dues and very strongly encouraged to vote one way in elections. What do their union dues actually do? I think we all know the answer to that question. What does your wife think of her union dues going to political campaigns? I'd be interested on her take on that very topic honestly.

Don't get me wrong, I personally have at least 1/2 dozen close personal friends who are teachers, as well as probably dozens of acquaintances who teach in public schools. I personally know two teachers who while adhering to the curriculum in a legal sense, refuse to push agendas that they are to be pushing. I also know that many go above and beyond to indoctrinate. During this time of school shut downs, we are very much considering "home schooling" for the rest of our kids k-12 lives.

I have a co-worker who is married to a teacher. He tells me horror stories his wife shares with him. Not being able to fail students, not being able to do the right thing. However, he also shares with me her super biased political views that make me cringe. It is my belief she has good intentions, but is brainwashed by the unions that basically strong arm her into believing what they say is true. I've read stories online of teachers who get out of the trade because of how the school administrations push agendas and do not let teachers "teach". Again - no one forces anyone to be a teacher. It is a choice.

While I see your point, and agree with the "it all starts at home" mentality - it is fair to place blame where it belongs. When schools (teachers) teach what they are told to, they must be held accountable. And it goes right up the ranks to the unions, the school board, and the state board of education. Again, they are all in it together, and unfortunately, the majority of teachers are fine with teaching the kids their biased view points rather than just teaching facts. I'm not laying blame on your wife, as she sounds like she is in the minority of teachers, but then again, I get pretty candid with teachers and ask them the hard questions. One question I LOVE to ask my teacher friends is this: "Why do you think teachers need a union?" I'd be curious to know your wife's take on that very question. Most of the time I do not get an answer when I ask. I have one friend who is a "minority" teacher. When I asked him this question his answer rang clear to me. He said "I don't think we do need a union."

[Arky-X]

I've got 2 kids in college; one in engineering and one in computer science.
The technical courses don't have much opportunity for political agendas but I do see courses on their curriculum in the junior/senior years for "Ethics" or "Societal Impacts" regarding their majors. I'm sure those will get interesting.
One kid did have a social science class (forgot the name) where the instructor was talking about the cons of factory farming (basically give up eating meat and become vegan.) All these compelling arguments against it. I reminded my kid, they are teaching you a thought process and their deduction is their own. Besides, come up with the pros or the opposite of a topic and then make your own decision. Now, if he was going fail for disagreeing, then b.s. your way through it. Once you get your passing grade, tell em how you really feel. They can't change that.
We had that discussion while eating our Wendy's burgers........and he got an A by the way.

I have a sibling that teaches math and can retire anytime now. First, getting students to class is an issue. Truancy is unreal so that they keep adjusting the rules (days missed allowed) just to fit the curve.
Cell phones: If they see a student in class on their phone, they make them place it in a basket and they can get it when class is done. But what story do you think gets told? "You took my kid's phone away!"
Yep, had an issue with a parent and he just turned that over to his superiors and told them cell phones and this parent were obstacles......they deal with obstacles.....he teaches math. I don't think he will be at it much longer (30+ years.)

I would agree, yes, it starts at home but there are also more political views being pushed in schools today. If we are afraid of of those views being pushed, that home upbringing becomes even more important. Try to raise them to see through the crap because school is not the only place they are going to see it. Social media, news, it's everywhere so we have to prepare them to put up the shield and ward off the nonsense.

I'm more like my parents than anyone else for a reason.

[DAM shop]

Tim
I live in Iowa and we do have a teachers union, but because of our great governor years ago the teachers union has no collective bargaining abilities. So the union in Iowa does jack sh**t. My wife quit teaching this past year because she was tired of not having any support from admins or the union. My wife teaches business classes and was required two years ago to split her year teaching between two buildings. This was okay with her one semester at one school the 2nd at the other. This past year they told her she was going to travel between two schools daily. This required her to drive during her lunch hour (a 20 minute drive) and being her class load was so full she didn’t even have a prep period. Complaining to the admins or the union resulted in no change in results. She had finally had it. She had no power what so ever in how she taught or even her messed up schedule. The union did nothing, screw the union, it’s a money pit to make certain individuals rich. The union has stopped being productive in the 80’s, it’s a mess now not doing what it was originally formed to do back in the day and that was protect the worker. I no longer have kids in school but when they were we never had an issue with teachers not teaching the truth as you say. Maybe your state is different.
When raising my kids I always taught them the things I wanted them to know. If we had ever felt that a teacher was not giving facts I’m sure my wife was on the phone questioning the situation. In Iowa our schools are run by the admins and the teachers themselves have no say in what or how they teach, they certainly have no voice or control over policy’s.
As far as cell phones go my wife did not have the authority to tell students they can’t bring phones to class, again this was always a admins decision and not a teachers. Believe me if it was my wife would have locked up every cell phone in every class every day.
Education from state to state is different some doing much better than others. Here in Iowa it sucks and the policy’s are made by the governor and the admins enforce the policy and the teacher follow along because they have no choice.
Ps
Transparency in how and what things were done at least I. The school my wife taught was pretty much non-exsistant.

[Tri-Z 250]

It’s easy to be smart amongst a group of failures in life. You just need to apply yourself and Do the Work needed to reach your goal. The need to be better comes from within the individual even given the best environment to grow within. Reporting News and providing content comes with a pretty smile and an empty skull. Commentators just read the content provided in the belief that someone else fact check all the sources. When wrong a retraction maybe issued but it’s back page at no fault to them or anything that the information passed caused harm. How is it that $per student equals better education as a narrative given by school boards across America. In Cleveland it’s been proven to be false as $gets distributed to the schools not each kid. Unless you consider the food enrichment programs to feed the students because of failed parenting.(funny how the same parents went to the same schools). Enrollment is going down and the price is going up...so is your property taxes. It’s easy to point the finger at the home/parent by Educators, as a way to say it’s not our fault or the child’s fault. Where’s the NEWS in that? Do I need 2Masters with 2minors and 60credited hrs in advanced education to teach my 3grade student how to read? By the way the teacher makes over 120k a yr. is ten yr so a lock position with incentive inflation pay gap and a retirement package based on highest paid 3 year term. Is that a business model or a money grab on both the School board and the over educated teacher in a position clearly beneath them to get max Tax$ per household? When you don’t pay your taxes it’s the Schools coming for your home with the enforcement agency’s and Auditors backing them up. You could provide the best home you can afford but are fighting a system inbred on how they rate themselves to the value of your home averaged out to the highest based valued home in the area. What News I ask you is in taking on a broken system run by Educational Institutional types with Dr, PHD’s....your a brick layer, get back to work and wear a mask 6’ from the next ditch digger.

[atctim]

DAM Shop - thank you for your candid response. Sounds like your wife was just a pawn for the union gang, and that is sad, because I also can read between the lines that your wife most likely was teaching for all the right reasons. She most likely got into teaching because she feels education is of utmost importance. That is why teachers should be teaching. I see teachers getting into it because it's a state job, has a union to protect them when they could care less about actually educating. Also there is a nice pension still in place for teachers.

25 years ago when I was in school, you could tell most teachers were there to educate. There were a few though that you could tell only wanted a check, a cushy job, and summers off. I'm thinking the roles have reversed and the opposite is now true - only a few doing it for the greater good.

[atctim]

Ironchop - sorry - didn't mean to get this thread off topic. I just feel that journalism is heading down the path it is because of the education of journalists aka opinion authors as of late.

Also - nothing against teachers who do it for the right reasons. I praise good teachers, and yes, there are still some left. Society as a whole is getting lazy and sloppy and teachers are right there in the public sector mix with tyrants and oppressors.

[atctim]

A thought hit me in the brain this morning: I wonder how long until there will actually be college classes teaching how to spread propaganda efficiently? Propaganda 101 is a prerequisite for Journalism courses. I mean who ever thought 25 years ago there would be such college classes as "Gender Studies". Incrementalism is a normal thing at American colleges and it runs rampant - it is disgusting!

[ironchop]

A thought hit me in the brain this morning: I wonder how long until there will actually be college classes teaching how to spread propaganda efficiently?

They already have for a long time.... It's called Linguistics.

How to use words and language to elicit specific reactions or responses from the listener..... And look who has a Doctorate in Linguistics? And guess his political and ideological affiliation....

https://chomsky.info/1994____/

I don't care if the thread gets a little off topic. Let the conversation flow!

[BOB MARLIN]

"If you want your kids to read Tim then teach them. If you want your kids to know the world then teach them. If you want your kids to manage money then teach them. Want me to go on? My wife taught in middle and high school and yes she will say that kids can’t write or even read but these kids come to her out of the lower level grades. The most successful kids are the ones where their parents are involved in not only their education but life. Don’t pass this on to a teacher issue Tim believe me I live with one and was reminded of the frustrations on a daily basis. "

My shop foreman's wife is a grade school teacher. He is always complaining that she's under paid. She has only been teaching for 4 years. Here in Califonia we have a law that all state employees pay must be made public on a website called "Transparent California".
So I looked up her pay. She makes $106,000 a year. If its up to the parents to teach the kids, why should the teachers make so much ?.

[DAM shop]

"If you want your kids to read Tim then teach them. If you want your kids to know the world then teach them. If you want your kids to manage money then teach them. Want me to go on? My wife taught in middle and high school and yes she will say that kids can’t write or even read but these kids come to her out of the lower level grades. The most successful kids are the ones where their parents are involved in not only their education but life. Don’t pass this on to a teacher issue Tim believe me I live with one and was reminded of the frustrations on a daily basis. "

My shop foreman's wife is a grade school teacher. He is always complaining that she's under paid. She has only been teaching for 4 years. Here in Califonia we have a law that all state employees pay must be made public on a website called "Transparent California".
So I looked up her pay. She makes $106,000 a year. If its up to the parents to teach the kids, why should the teachers make so much ?.

Lol, a couple of things Bob, you have chosen to quote me out of context. I do believe without going through old post that i was referring to Tim's comment on teachers teaching lies and their own agenda. My point was that if you want your children to learn something then teach them what you want them to learn.. I don't share the thoughts of Tim and never saw an issue with our kids schools teaching anything other than written curriculum .. Yes teachers do need to teach core classes I agree, but if you want your kid to know the history behind say general Grant and Lee and the school only touches on this subject then you as the parent should teach them what you want them to know.. here's another thing, a lot of parent's are dead beats and their kid's are lazy and disrespectful and expect something like a grade for no effort. These dead beat parents then scream and cry because their kid's are flunking school, hat is at no fault of the teacher but that of the dead beat parent. One more thing Bob as far as pay goes HOLY S**T 106.00 PER YEAR FOR A 4 YEAR TEACHER. My wife didn't make half that, you need to consider the State you are in..
One more thing Bob, what do you consider a fair wage in your state? is it 50k, 100k? I feel that here in Iowa if you are making under 40k that is getting close to poverty level

[BOB MARLIN]

The point I was trying to make is, here in the state of California, teachers absolutely teach their own agenda. They hand out diplomas to kids that can't read or write past a grade school level. How does anybody go through 12 years of " being taught" and cant read anything over a grade school level ?. But yet every 2 years or so they go on strike because they want more money. And they use the kids as and excuse to get it. The teachers union in this state is one of the most powerful unions there is in the state. California schools are always at the bottom of the list as far as education. But as far as pushing their political agenda they are always near the top. I didn't mean to ruffle your feathers and I didn't accuse Iowa of anything. I was just stating facts about the state that I live in. If there was real journalism out there you would have already known about the problem we have here and it wouldn't have been such a surprise.

Once again. I am sorry for offending you. It was not my intention.

[DAM shop]

No offense taken Bob. I agree that does sound like an issue. Our teachers union in Iowa is pretty much non existent. I agree with the journalist aspect of things and feel that the screwed up education system in this country should certainly be addressed and brought to the forefront of all journalists reporting. Unfortunately like most things screwed up in this country no one wants to bring the issues to the forefront. Let’s just sweep our issues under the carpet and maybe they will all forget. Proper journalism has been going down the tubes for sometime now.
I picture journalist of the old days. 40-50 crammed into a room wearing fedoras and smoking cigars