In the world of news reporting, there has been much debate about how hard news reporting has apparantly gone the way of the dinosaur, with news instead being thoroughly filled with entertainment and infotainment. I saw further proof of this while viewing a Fox News program called "Red Eye", which airs at 2 A.M. weeknights. The show is ostensibly a talk news program, but crosses the line between comedy and news by pretending to be a news program but actually just a place for ridiculous and even obscene humor to be passed off as news. However, it is presented in a manner that is similar to other Fox News programs, distancing itself from real satire like "The Daily Show" and "The Colbert Report". The program also features "freak show" type highlights, such as children who suffer from birth defects being highlighted and then discussed by the "panel" who are essentially comedians. This was one of the strangest and most disturbing shows I have ever seen and the fact that Fox News shows it at all, given that it is an extremely low-viewed hour, must raise some questions about their judgement.
Fortunately, I was pleased to read in "The New York Times" this week that "60 Minutes", CBS's long running newsmagazine, has been garnering extremely good ratings with their increased focus on real stories and good reporting. "60 Minutes" has been one of the few places that I have ever seen coverage on the ground in Iraq and Afghanistan, both with Lara Logan. She is a consummate professional who does great reporting. The show has also had interviews with the presidential candidates and other shows that are topical, relevant and hard-hitting that have helped their ratings while increasing the quality of the news reporting. CBS News has always had a solid news department and this would make Edward R. Murrow proud.
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