Message from tbarbarossa

[Anonymous]

I think the role of the journalist should be completely unbiased. Personal values do not belong in the reporting of events in the world. The truth, which is never easy to ascertain, is at stake. In fact, my sister and I were discussing the nature of television media just last night. In the days of Vietnam, we saw story after story reported daily on network TV which showed the brutal truth --- remember The Girl in the Picture: the Story of Kim Phuc? How could a generation have stopped that war without having access to that truth and other truths? Certainly, there was a campaign to suppress reality at that time. Everyone watched network news; remember Walter? One might argue that the photo of the "Girl in the Picture" was prejudicial; of course, it was, but it was the gritty, horrible truth, it happened. Nowadays, all our television media is owned by huge monopolies who have vested interests in what is transmitted to the public. There is a conflict of interest with businesses that deal directly with the current war in Iraq. In no way has reporting been truthful or unbiased in the mainstream media. The American public loses because without the whole, true story, life continues as usual without involvement (except when it touches us personally), and of course, a sleeping nation, especially a powerful one, can cause disaster. I suggest NPR (not perfect, perhaps), Pacifica news, and there is another radio free show on AM radio, I think. I guess these thoughts are on my mind because I firmly believe that it is not the job of a journalist to "promote" anything.