Date: Wed, 19 Mar 97 01:32:51 UT
Subject: M-G: How much news do Americans get?


When I ask how much, I'm really talking about quantity, not quality.
We can all assume that the substance of the "news" will serve
the party line, but how many important developments on the 
world scene (however they may be characterized) ever reach
the American public in a real way?
There was a very funny article in the New York Times today
on this topic.  That is, the writing was witty, but the content
will sadden or infuriate you if you didn't already know about it.
It concerned regular network television, not cable, which
much fewer people watch.
I think studies have shown that most Americans do not
receive their news through newspapers anymore but get it
>from television instead - from the three major television
networks - CBS, NBC, and ABC.  There were no statistics
in the article although it did say that network news is 
"still America's main provider of the day's headlines".
The author of the article watched all 3 of the channel's
evening television broadcasts for one week and reported
on what "news" was presented.  The article is entitled
"Who's Lite Now:  TV's Hard Charges on Soft News"
and is currently available on the Times' websight at
http://search.nytimes.com/web/docsroot/yr/mo/day/news/arts/tv-news-lite.html
Those who don't live in America should read it.  
Here's just one conclusion from the article:
"22 minutes [the length of these "news" shows] go fast,
and given the diversions, little time was left for drier, less
picture-friendly, more remote matters, whether abroad or
in Washington.  Maybe the current network-news reasoning
is that viewers interested in, say, . . . the disarray in Zaire
can get what they need from cable . . ."

How much news do people in your Country get?

                   Angie


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