In the mid-1970s, we joked that Mike Royko (then at The Chicago Sun-Times) wouldn’t ever quit the paper because what other Chicago paper was there for him to go to – The Chicago Tribune?! Haw, that Republican strong-hold?? The idea was just too ridiculous!.A few years later, Rupert Murdoch bought the Sun-times. He made all kinds of weird changes. The first day’s issue that came out under his control had the layout and typeface of a typical scandal tabloid. There was even a picture of some guy who won a contest of how many cigars he could cram in his mouth. It was astonishing, and I wish a still had a copy, but I literally spit on it and threw it in the garbage..In his columns, Royko kept calling Murdoch, “The Alien.” And a short time later Royko left for the Tribune! Never say never. There were other valuable people who left, too. It was a sad time for Chicago journalism..And a few years later Murdoch sold the paper, part of standard procedure in his purely profit oriented media empire. It was the slow beginning of decline for both the Sun-Times and the Tribune, that continues to this day. Scandals and bankruptcies have followed, new managements, and reorganizations. The Internet will eventually eliminate print editions of both papers — you watch..The output of journalism is getting away from paper that you can hold in your hand, from which you clip articles to put on the bulletin board. Are electronic media secure and permanent enough, free from 1984-type revisions, to guarantee our access to free information? I fear not. But it’s the way things will be..And besides, I’d surely feel strange taking a computer into the bathroom with me.
I can occasionally stomach a bit of Shepherd Smith, not too bad. But most of Rupert’s runts are too disgusting to listen to for more than a couple minutes of disgusting lies, same for Limbaugh. The same goes for his print “journalists” .
It is important to note that Rupert is from Australia, not America, his English holdings are likewise reflective of his disgust for anything but the worst elements of the “plutocracy”.
BTW, not ALL “plutocrats” are the bad, mad, and evil folks , painted with a bit too broad a brush. But! Those who see only their personal rise and profit as the “be all and end all” are a danger to the world, whether with respect to climate change, “border wars”, or profiteering from the deaths, or misery, of others.
Rupert and “family” are in that latter group, and he makes William Randolph Hearst seem a saint.
“I always remember what my first journalism teacher, in our initial class asked us, ‘What is the purpose of a newspaper?’ He corrected us when many of us replied with idealistic platitudes: ‘The business of a newspaper is to make money.’”
Either you’re telling it wrong or your teacher did.
The “purpose” of a professional enterprise and the “business” of it are separate things. The “purpose” of a hospital is to heal. The “purpose” of a university is to educate. The “purpose” of a theater company is to entertain. The “business” of all these things is to make money, or at least to sustain themselves. The “purpose” of a newspaper is to provide news to the population, and (to a greater or lesser extent) to shape public opinion.
better than having news told by lying propagandists who take every little rumour about the opposition as “fact”, report it as such, THEN, when it’s proven wrong (Like the so-called “Whitewater scandal”), they refuse to even make a retraction; NOT the way a REAL news source acts… The Daily Show’s “fake news” is a lot more balanced AND accurate!
Liberals have no room for alternative views. They shout down and attempt to censor anyone who they disagree with. << Once again, you’re confusing the Liberals with the Republican right! (You need to get that checked!)
Romney hung himself long before that with his 47% line; hopefully it becomes the official slogan of their party! ;) (And that Reformatory <<Reform wolf in Tory sheep’s clothing>> Harper should follow suit here in Canada)… one thing about that fatal pronouncement, you have to admit, it’s the first time a Conservative told the truth about how they only care about the rich! (Something I’ve known for years)
Justice22 over 11 years ago
That’ll be the day!
Simon_Jester over 11 years ago
“Put me down, or I’ll have your cell-phone hacked!”
walruscarver2000 over 11 years ago
But he has so many followers. Besides, where else do you get the news? Not the “left wing controlled lame stream media”.
jerry6665 over 11 years ago
to danzinger: brilliant! in one picture, you incorporate the whole landscape of what happened. nice job!
emptc12 over 11 years ago
In the mid-1970s, we joked that Mike Royko (then at The Chicago Sun-Times) wouldn’t ever quit the paper because what other Chicago paper was there for him to go to – The Chicago Tribune?! Haw, that Republican strong-hold?? The idea was just too ridiculous!.A few years later, Rupert Murdoch bought the Sun-times. He made all kinds of weird changes. The first day’s issue that came out under his control had the layout and typeface of a typical scandal tabloid. There was even a picture of some guy who won a contest of how many cigars he could cram in his mouth. It was astonishing, and I wish a still had a copy, but I literally spit on it and threw it in the garbage..In his columns, Royko kept calling Murdoch, “The Alien.” And a short time later Royko left for the Tribune! Never say never. There were other valuable people who left, too. It was a sad time for Chicago journalism..And a few years later Murdoch sold the paper, part of standard procedure in his purely profit oriented media empire. It was the slow beginning of decline for both the Sun-Times and the Tribune, that continues to this day. Scandals and bankruptcies have followed, new managements, and reorganizations. The Internet will eventually eliminate print editions of both papers — you watch..The output of journalism is getting away from paper that you can hold in your hand, from which you clip articles to put on the bulletin board. Are electronic media secure and permanent enough, free from 1984-type revisions, to guarantee our access to free information? I fear not. But it’s the way things will be..And besides, I’d surely feel strange taking a computer into the bathroom with me.
emptc12 over 11 years ago
It’s probably just me, then..But a newspaper is much more versatile in an emergency, know what I mean — unless there’s an app for that?!
Dtroutma over 11 years ago
I can occasionally stomach a bit of Shepherd Smith, not too bad. But most of Rupert’s runts are too disgusting to listen to for more than a couple minutes of disgusting lies, same for Limbaugh. The same goes for his print “journalists” .
It is important to note that Rupert is from Australia, not America, his English holdings are likewise reflective of his disgust for anything but the worst elements of the “plutocracy”.
BTW, not ALL “plutocrats” are the bad, mad, and evil folks , painted with a bit too broad a brush. But! Those who see only their personal rise and profit as the “be all and end all” are a danger to the world, whether with respect to climate change, “border wars”, or profiteering from the deaths, or misery, of others.
Rupert and “family” are in that latter group, and he makes William Randolph Hearst seem a saint.
fritzoid Premium Member over 11 years ago
“I always remember what my first journalism teacher, in our initial class asked us, ‘What is the purpose of a newspaper?’ He corrected us when many of us replied with idealistic platitudes: ‘The business of a newspaper is to make money.’”
Either you’re telling it wrong or your teacher did.
The “purpose” of a professional enterprise and the “business” of it are separate things. The “purpose” of a hospital is to heal. The “purpose” of a university is to educate. The “purpose” of a theater company is to entertain. The “business” of all these things is to make money, or at least to sustain themselves. The “purpose” of a newspaper is to provide news to the population, and (to a greater or lesser extent) to shape public opinion.
walruscarver2000 over 11 years ago
Surely you are not equating some of our news organizations with your morning visit. (And if not, I will.)
Mikeyj over 11 years ago
Watch how long it takes before they find some excuse to fire her for that line! (heaven Forbid someone at Fox “news” should think for themselves)
Mikeyj over 11 years ago
better than having news told by lying propagandists who take every little rumour about the opposition as “fact”, report it as such, THEN, when it’s proven wrong (Like the so-called “Whitewater scandal”), they refuse to even make a retraction; NOT the way a REAL news source acts… The Daily Show’s “fake news” is a lot more balanced AND accurate!
Mikeyj over 11 years ago
Liberals have no room for alternative views. They shout down and attempt to censor anyone who they disagree with. << Once again, you’re confusing the Liberals with the Republican right! (You need to get that checked!)
Mikeyj over 11 years ago
Romney hung himself long before that with his 47% line; hopefully it becomes the official slogan of their party! ;) (And that Reformatory <<Reform wolf in Tory sheep’s clothing>> Harper should follow suit here in Canada)… one thing about that fatal pronouncement, you have to admit, it’s the first time a Conservative told the truth about how they only care about the rich! (Something I’ve known for years)