Where's the TV News?

Ahhhhh....remember the days of "The Huntley-Brinkley Report" and "The CBS News with Walter Cronkite"?

No??? [Damn, I'm getting old!]

Anyway, at about 6 pm every weekday evening we were all treated to a half-hour's worth of the "news of the day" [actually a summary of what the editors and writers deemed significant -- their value judgments (but that's another blog)]. It supplemented the daily newspapers. [Remember them?]

Oh, sure, there are still news shows [emphasis on "shows"] on the major networks each evening -- a half hour of national stuff and a half hour of local stuff. But they're more like entertainment conceits, like US and People magazines.

Most of the time on TV is allotted to "commentaries" about the news. Fox comments from the "classical liberal" position, and MSNBC comments from the "utilitarian" position. [Two different perspectives of authentic "liberalism."] CNN sort of does both. BUT THERE'S NO NEWS!

I must confess, I do enjoy the banter between and among the commentators -- occasionally!! But I'd sure like to hear the NEWS once in a while.

What is "news" you many wonder?

Good question...glad you asked!

It's the reporting of the important and significant events of the day, a day which was "like all days filled with events that altar and illuminate our times." [If you don't know the quote -- look it up.]

Can such reporting be objective? Of course not! As I mentioned above, the very selection process is evaluative -- hence subjective. So then, how does this this so-called "reporting" differ from "commentaries" about the news?

Intent! That's how...the aforementioned, venerable reporters tried to be "fair and balanced"!

I miss that...

Of course I miss The Howdy Doody Show too -- and his friends like Buffalo Bob and Flub-a-Dub, but most of all, Princess Summerfallwinterspring! [Kowabonga!]

"Those were the days, my friend...we thought they'd never end..."