Cable News

[SpyridonOCA]

I've removed the cable news channels from my television, what I believe to be the mouthpiece for state and corporate power. Their "news" is overwhelmingly negative or trivial, and I'd prefer more fair and balanced sources like BBC, PBS, C-Span, and the internet. I encourage you, for your own health and well being, to do the same.

[SeraphimSarov]

Read the paper and keep people of my craft in business! :P

[gzt]

The BBC is an organ of the state in a broad sense, just not the state you live in. PBS moreso, since they directly receive government funding.

[fuerein]

What is this c-a-b-l-e that thou speakest of?

[SpyridonOCA]

The BBC is an organ of the state in a broad sense, just not the state you live in. PBS moreso, since they directly receive government funding.

The BBC is much better at reporting world news, and, despite being a state outlet, is more critical of government than corporate American media. PBS has been criticized for not being deferential enough to whoever is in office. Since they are not trying to win ratings, they are more likely to report the news without sensationalism.

[gzt]

Well, from a 'Merkin perspective, sure. I heartily support looking beyond one's own backyard for reports about what's going on in the world. It is fairly impartial, but don't be blind to its perspective [and, of course, one can't forget its Britishness, which is certainly no strike against it, but it certainly does colour its take on things beyond its mere status as a state organ (in some sense)]. As for PBS, well, pick one's poison, I suppose.

[SpyridonOCA]

The reason why I'm starting a thread such as this is that a monk told me that, during Lent, one should abstain from watching television news, because it is overwhelmingly sensationalist and negative and will lead a person toward despair and sin. Perhaps, then, we should abstain from it all of the time.

[gzt]

Well, if you look back a few decades, they'd recommend abstaining from newspapers, as well!

I don't think that advice is absurd, either.

[Cyprian31]

I'm very picky about my news sources. That said, Auntie Beeb, PBS, Matt Drudge and certsain papers/radio/computer sites fill the need quite nicely, thank you. And I still take everything with a grain of salt. :P

[cobweb]

I just figure that they all lie at least a little bit and take what they say with a grain of salt. When I watch/read the news I try to get it from multiple sources that may not agree. I figure that the truth is found somewhere in between.

[Chocolatesa]

What is this c-a-b-l-e that thou speakest of?
^What he said.

[SeekingTheLight]

well, isn't it funny that just this week hubby and I decided to NOT watch anymore news! See, for years we've had Fox News as our homepage, and so each day we can see at a glance what's going on around the world. Well, for the last few months it's just seemed that the "Headline"stories (that my kids can also see)have been continually about some horrible murder, or molestation, or something equally negative. Not that they've ever been good, but it's like they're trying to force the really "gross" things on us, and we don't want our kids seeing that stuff anymore. Also, it was making me depressed. so, we've decided to not look at the online news anymore. We gave up watching local news years ago, and only turn it on if the weather is bad.

That being said, It's been hard not knowing what's going on, and we don't want to be "completely" ignorant of what's gong on in the world, so perhaps we need to look around for a more "Christian" news source.

We need to have an Orthodox News Network. (Is there one?)

[Dorothea]

Yeah, I don't care for cable either. That's why we have satellite. :P

[Khaleas]

It's a whole lot easier than that... just don't turn it on! I read US, Finnish, Swedish, British news daily online, sometimes Russian and Israeli as well. I mean I venture to Al Jazeera from time to time... but as for TV, it's rarely on...
I can limit my exposure a whole lot easier with online news... it's up to me what I click and read.