Media
In Crude Impact, several of the individuals criticize the state of the media in the United States. Is this an indictment of the media? I don’t believe it is. It is an indictment of we the people of the United States.
Corporations who offer news in television or print have one over-riding objective – produce the highest profit. That is the obligation of the corporation to its shareholders (see corporations).
It is undeniable that if the American public changed its viewing habits, the television news programs would change accordingly. If the highest rated news program on American television was an in-depth serious newscast, and news presentations that featured light stories on celebrities. with highly animated, swirling graphics and loud music interludes were relegated to the bottom of the ratings, stations would pursue the more serious broadcast.
However, it is apparent that the American public wants the type of newscast described in Crude Impact. We cannot criticize a corporation for broadcasting a style and content demanded by the American public. We have set them up to maximize profit, which necessitates high ratings. They are doing exactly what we have asked them to do.
So, if we want the style and content of news to change, we need to find those outlets that are broadcasting in a different style and support them. The other news stations will follow where we lead.