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Where the Light Enters


An enthralling epic about two trailblazing female doctors in 19th century New ...
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In what ways, in your opinion, has the media evolved, for better or worse? What role do you see it playing today? Are some forms of news media more or less trustworthy?

Created: 10/01/20

Replies: 10

Posted Oct. 01, 2020 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
davinamw

Join Date: 10/15/10

Posts: 3442

In what ways, in your opinion, has the media evolved, for better or worse? What role do you see it playing today? Are some forms of news media more or less trustworthy?

Conrad stops newspaper deliveries to Sophie, because he felt that "it was scandal that sold papers and paid their salaries, and some weren't above manufacturing what they couldn't discover." In what ways, in your opinion, has the media evolved, for better or worse? What role do you see it playing today? Are some forms of news media more or less trustworthy? How do you find the most reliable information?


Posted Oct. 02, 2020 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
kimk

Join Date: 10/16/10

Posts: 889

RE: In what ways, in your opinion, has the media evolved, for better or worse? What role do you see it playing today? Are some forms of news media more or less trustworthy?

While I think news media are extremely important to our society, I do also think that to stay afloat they have to make money, which means attracting an audience, which means spinning content to make it more sensational. I know that I personally follow more liberal publications and newscasts, and I know other people who exclusively follow more conservative content, and this makes me worry that because there's so MUCH news out there that people have the luxury of only paying attention to the sources that agree with their opinion. It was interesting to see that, based on the clippings the author included, that this might not be a new issue.


Posted Oct. 04, 2020 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
gaylamath

Join Date: 02/11/20

Posts: 39

RE: In what ways, in your opinion, has the media evolved, for better or worse? What role do you see it playing today? Are some forms of news media more or less trustworthy?

I think the media, whether it be TV, radio, newspaper, magazine, or online, has an audience it plays to, sponsors that pay for this "play" and narratives that each believes needs to be told. There are networks and cable channels that are considered left leaning, right leaning and those that just try to report the news, and I believe there is ALWAYS a slant on everything. I think online has become the worst case scenario of "slants" and "untruths" and it is hard for the consumer to pick through to find the few nuggets of possibly real news. I'm disgusted by the "news" for this election season and can't wait until it is over. It's dangerous to only get your news from one source or multiple sources all leaning in the same direction. It seems to be much worse during this election cycle and I think that online has a lot of blame for this. Rant over.


Posted Oct. 04, 2020 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
momo

Join Date: 04/03/19

Posts: 49

RE: In what ways, in your opinion, has the media evolved, for better or worse? What role do you see it playing today? Are some forms of news media more or less trustworthy?

I think the media has evolved in both good and bad way. It has changed in a good way because news media is allowed to be more liberal and speak truths about the president. It has worsened in that there is a plethora of misinformation. I see it playing the same role of being everyones scapegoat. Some form of news media is more trustworthy than others. However, I think the problems we have today are because people don't read as much and aren't as informed in general, instead they just repeat what they hear.


Posted Oct. 05, 2020 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
susiej

Join Date: 10/15/14

Posts: 363

RE: In what ways, in your opinion, has the media evolved, for better or worse? What role do you see it playing today? Are some forms of news media more or less trustworthy?

I see the media today as more biased toward the specific point of view its sponsors support. Also, the fact that much news is now offered 24/7, I perceive the news agencies to more often misrepresent in their effort to “be the first” to get the story to the public. Much news presented online is brief, scant on fact, and even grammatically erroneous - really insulting to a thinking reader. One must read many sources to find the clearest truth - if such a thing is even available. Many probably do not know what they do not know regarding the news in our country today. I include myself in this group often. The newspaper articles and notes in this novel reveal that this is clearly nothing new.


Posted Oct. 06, 2020 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
lloyden

Join Date: 07/17/19

Posts: 18

RE: In what ways, in your opinion, has the media evolved, for better or worse? What role do you see it playing today? Are some forms of news media more or less trustworthy?

As a society we have seen "Yellow Journalism" published by Randolph Hurst and the weekly magazines of the more trusted People magazine to the sensations of the National Enquired and magazines such as The Globe. Each publication has their niche and serves to disseminate news to their audience. I think there has always been an audience that wants their news more sensational than strict commentary. As a whole the United States media is more liberal than conservative in their philosophy and appeal to readers. Even the 1950's had it's share of liberal news sources right along with Woman's Day and Family Circle.


Posted Oct. 11, 2020 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
gerrieb

Join Date: 09/03/19

Posts: 208

RE: In what ways, in your opinion, has the media evolved, for better or worse? What role do you see it playing today? Are some forms of news media more or less trustworthy?

I agree with all the excellent posts above. It takes effort and critical thinking to be informed of the facts in today’s news cycle. Often times the easiest to access “ news” is not news at all but opinion and fabrication packaged as “ news”. The journalistic standards that once were the norm in mainstream media- truth, accurate research, unbiased reporting are no longer the standard. Where once most people realized what tabloid news was and could distinguish it, now it is packaged as fact and served up to the American public as fact based journalism, when in fact it is little more than a glorified public relations firm masquerading as legitimate news. Unfortunately, in the perilous time in-which we live many of the “ alternative facts” these supposed “ news” organizations have promoted to their viewers have caused irreparable harm and proved threatening to our population. I fervently hope that someday these same organizations who so selfishly worked to undermine our democracy and our public health suffer immense consequences . As gaylamath said, Rant Over.


Posted Oct. 15, 2020 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
dorothyl

Join Date: 04/15/12

Posts: 146

RE: In what ways, in your opinion, has the media evolved, for better or worse? What role do you see it playing today? Are some forms of news media more or less trustworthy?

I think news had changed a great deal in my lifetime. I think much of this started with cable news. Mostly it presents opinions as news and reenforces what its audience wants to hear. The best thing to me about the current news media is that there is true investigative journalism which has disclosed information that would never been available years ago. Some of this is necessary for people to make informed decisions. Years ago reporters were not permitted to report on personal stuff about Presidents for example--JFK and FDR are two who come to mind. So I think that is a good thing.


Posted Oct. 15, 2020 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
nancyh

Join Date: 06/25/13

Posts: 347

RE: In what ways, in your opinion, has the media evolved, for better or worse? What role do you see it playing today? Are some forms of news media more or less trustworthy?

The Media is always involved in something they think will sell papers That is their job. If they would stay just to the facts, it would be good, however, they tend to add anything they can dig up. It would be worse today because it is so much easier to find any information available. I would hate to think what would be in the news today.


Posted Oct. 16, 2020 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
carolt

Join Date: 03/25/17

Posts: 190

RE: In what ways, in your opinion, has the media evolved, for better or worse? What role do you see it playing today? Are some forms of news media more or less trustworthy?

We have always had "yellow journalism." The difference today is that the news cycle is 24/7 and very hard to get away from. In the time of this novel, just not reading the paper would have given people relief. A few years later, we added radio, which made not paying attention harder, but not impossible. TV added to that, but with the internet we are nearly at their mercy.


Posted Oct. 17, 2020 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
evelyng

Join Date: 02/07/18

Posts: 49

RE: In what ways, in your opinion, has the media evolved, for better or worse? What role do you see it playing today? Are some forms of news media more or less trustworthy?

One of the reasons I enjoy a book club is that I get to read books that I would perhaps never ordinarily read....in other words, diversity of reading helps formulate a more informed and educated reading base. Basically, I think the media of yesterday still prevails in that the "news" is definitely pointed on the most negative aspects of whatever is being reported on. Today, of course, with our Internet we have enormously vast pools of information at our fingertips....and a lot of it, whether CNN or Fox, has basically it's own line of thought to provide the audience. I bought a "real" newspaper today and I know I will enjoy it in a way that I used to growing up, for better or worse. One must use today's media in all of it's available diversity to form well rounded views and not just stick to what appeals to your reading tastes. We have the best and the worst of our media streams by just using the power of our minds and laptops.


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