Is internet news dangerous?

[techs]

This was inspired by the "Mexico Military Crosses US border" post BUT it is not about that particular post.
It is about the huge amount of disinformation news sites all over the web. Outrageous claims are being made every where. Many sites are laughingly childish. However many cut and past real news stories and intersperse them with bold faced lies. many seem to be done by professionals. For example WorldNetDaily is one of the most aggressive of these sites. It always seems to knock any search for real info about the site to the 5 or 6 pages of links. If you do take the time to follow the pages you find out that Joseph Farah the editor of WorldNetDaily is linked to L. Brent Bozell who is the mastermind of, apparently, hundreds of webistes that have outrageous news stories, all rightwing.
And whenever someone posts one here in ATOT we then debate the phony story.
We ALL need to first question the source of these stories.
And we need to band together, people of all political persuasions. to denounce people who have continually posted propaganda stories and attempt to continue the discussion of these false stories even after they are shown to be false.
Lets all "Take the Pledge"

 

[lozina]

I wouldn't generalize by saying Internet news is dangerous. Since it is so easy and cheap to setup a web site it is a good way for independent journalists to undermine the main barrier the mainstream corporate/state run media has setup to stomp them out, which is a financial barrier. The costs associated with running a TV station or radio station and the fact the air waves are regulated by the FCC means it is very difficult for independent reporters to get their story out. And this is partly by design of course.

The drawback is of course you get alot of phony sites but I think that cost is worth it. I'd hate to only have CNN and Fox News who basically only sit aorund in lavish complexes and rely on government press conferences for the story instead of really going out in the field like the independent reporters do (at least when it comes to political/foreign issues). With domestic issues like hurricans they make a circus of things.

 

[Genx87]

It isnt more dangerous than the MSM. The MSM has agendas and bias's that are put into their stories.

If anything the internet news and blogs have forced the MSM to come to grips with its bia's and either adapt or be made fools of and driven out of business by lost viewership.

 

[techs]

Originally posted by: Genx87
It isnt more dangerous than the MSM. The MSM has agendas and bias's that are put into their stories.

If anything the internet news and blogs have forced the MSM to come to grips with its bia's and either adapt or be made fools of and driven out of business by lost viewership.

I must admit your point has least some validity.

 

[BlancoNino]

Is internet news dangerous? Yes folks, that is the question asked by the person who starts more threads and posts more internet news articles than any other ATOT member.

I'm just pokin' fun.

 

[OrByte]

Originally posted by: Genx87
It isnt more dangerous than the MSM. The MSM has agendas and bias's that are put into their stories.

If anything the internet news and blogs have forced the MSM to come to grips with its bia's and either adapt or be made fools of and driven out of business by lost viewership.

And also MSM reaches more households. I agree with your position. Blogs and such are good for alot of things, I would venture to say more good than harm comes from blogging. Because, as a blogger, once you are discredited for any reason the show is over. Whereas MSM can run amok with facts and such and bend stories to fit bias, and there is hardly any oversight.