TOT: There's a lot of truth in what you say. I have two comments on your basic blog post:

*As to broadcast personalities - some are script readers and others are script writers. Either way you get the slant of the author. You have/had this in the print media as well. What has now changed is that you now have fewer filters "checking" the "news" before it "hits the street." This can be a good or a bad thing. You really have to keep your wits about you when you read anything that is put out as "news." Oftentimes the slant can be subtle and insidious.

*As to the syndicated columnist - I'm not sure I agree with you that they are "the best source of reliable news." In my experience, syndicated columnists are the best examples of "opinion on the news," and their output must be examined with the same critical scrutiny as any blog on this here site.

Personally, I still prefer to sample various "news sources" and sift/weigh what they are shoveling to come up with my best "view" of the news. It takes more work to do it that way, but I think you get a more balanced sense of what is going on in the world. Nowadays, the "news sources" - "major"/national in all media - are peddling to their readership and as such you can expect a slant, providing you know who their target audience is. Outfits like MSNBC and Current TV pander to the far left. The so-called "mainstream media" news channels such as ABC News, CBS News, and NBC News have had a tilt to the left for as long as I can remember. During the Ted Turner days, CNN (I believe) tried to play it down the middle. These days you can lump them in with the mainstream.

Fox News Channel was explicitly created to OFFSET the left tilt from all of these networks. FNC exists - IMHO - for the same reason that most of talk radio exists: because people with conservative views were sick and tired of seeing only the opposite end of the political spectrum being represented (and reported on) in the "mainstream news media." FNC started out as the proverbial David versus Goliath. Their success is indicative of the strength of the conservative movement in this country. In fact, since their establishment in the mid-1990s, FNC has developed - ratings-wise - into Goliath, and the rest are now Davids seeking stones for their slings to take Goliath down. Call it the Media Wars. It does nothing for the presentation of real "news" to the public. And by most accounts, the Davids are LOSING the Media Wars.

Yes - you have to be very careful where you get your "news" in this day and age. IMHO - I see one of the best examples of "playing it straight" with the news right here: The Coastal Courier. I think there's a lot of good journalism going on here in this publication.

We should consider ourselves lucky.

sebekm, Thanks for your very able response. I was not aware of the history of the Fox News channel Heck I might start watching it.

I gave up on the broadcast media when CNN gradually became just another network with leftest slant.

You are correct about the columnist being "opinion" but they have to remain pretty close to factual as to their remarks because they can be held accountable.

The Coastal Courier electronic side does play it pretty straight.

Their print side has slipped in the last 15 years.

But you're right , we should consider ourselves lucky.

Well today wraps up yet another year and tomorrow is a new fresh beginning.

Happy New Year to each and every one who visits this site.

....and here's an example of what CNN has "stooped to" (pun intended) recently:

http://newsbusters.org/blogs/noel-she...

HOW BOUT THEM DAWGS!!!

Grow up

I dare say I AM grown up TOT. It's just that your posts bring out the child in me that exists in everyone of us.

You like reading cartoons too I bet. All of 'em except Doonsbury.

Tot: you wouldn't be from Clemson, Auburn or some farm school like that, would you?

Did you look up buffoon yet?

I read Doonsbury every day.

Glad you brought that up because a skit on there reminded me of you a few weeks ago.

It was one in which the husband was asked if he was occupied during the day because the wife was hospitalized.

The husbands response was that he wrote a blog.

To which the statement was made "no I meant do you have a real job"

Jimmy Mack I see you in many if not most of the characters in Doonsbury.

Now you go on back to your wonderful skill of blogging.

You are singlehandedly dragging the Coastal Courier site down the tube.

You probably need a real daytime job.

Might do you some good.

"singlehandedly dragging the Coastal Courier site down the the tube" sayeth TOT.

Once again, Tot you do not know your left from your right. Real daytime job?

Soon I will be 64. Have pension, SS and have gun - will travel; all legal in the eyes of the law.

You TOT, are dumbing down this here blogsite with your castigation of groups of people. A hallmark of ignorance.

I am not going anywhere TOT as long as exclusionary conservatives such as your self are here.

EVIDENCE: you believe writing on this cyber bathroom wall can change things. Guess what? It won't. Change comes at the ballot box, and I presume you are one of many apathetic non-voters.

"EVIDENCE: you believe writing on this cyber bathroom wall can change things. Guess what? It won't. Change comes at the ballot box, and I presume you are one of many apathetic non-voters."

I don't consider this medium to be a bathroom wall. If I did I would not participate.

I think this medium is the modern fourth estate.

I have respect for you (though it is difficult) and everyone else who gives of their time to contribute.

You JimmyMack are the buffoon.

"I respect you....but you JimmyMack are the buffoon."

Leave it to a conservative such as TOT to respect buffoons.

In case you have not noticed, TOT I am still here even with all your whining to the webmeister.

Whining is a conservative trait now days.

Actually I had noticed and it simply reflects that the media is leaning toward the left, even in our little corner of the world.

I don't think I have personally attacked the charecter of any contributor on this site.

As you say I have declared that certain types of people should be looked upon with scorn.

If the shoe fits, then wear it.

Regarding the fact that you are still being allowed to stalk the person of TOT whom you do not know and berate him or her is an indication, to me at least, that the webmaster is content to monitor a pigsty.

Most of us who participate on this site are attempting to influence the "goings on" of our community.

I don't think I've seen many comments from those of the conservative bent which have attacked the person of another blogger.

Tells me we are free to stoop to the same levels that some of you liberals enjoy so much.

Also the fact that I've spoken in a critical way about the Courier and yet I remain a voice here,

(so as sebekm said earlier the Courier is playing it straight down the middle)

,might have escaped your notice.

What I'm trying to influence here is the quality of the material which is presented to us the citizens of Liberty County.

We are in fact what once was the LETTERS TO THE EDITOR section of The Coastal Courier.

'bacca chewing tractor drivers carry no relevance in cyber bathroom walls.

Check out the Doonesbury strip in the Feb 2 issue of the Savannah Morning News