Monday, February 13, 2012

Academic Hope for TV News Station



Much of the "concerned" American public has strayed away from televised news due to its disappointing nature and lack of actual important academic content. Much of us are bored and simply do not care for the infotainment about Whitney Houston, award shows, or the murderer that may or may not be in my neighborhood (who can blame some news stations though, as "infotainment" is their business model).

MSNBC will become the first major news program to feature a talk show by a real tenured professor. The news station has a new program with Melissa Harry-Perry, a professor of political science.

MSNBC's newest academic addition scratches at the surface of the media's role as the protectors and promoters of the public interest and education. Perhaps this new model will become a trend for other televised new programs to follow? In hopes that it certainly does cause a new trend, the American public may prove to be more than just a mindless consumer market place. Academic scholars in well established news programs will provide an opportunity for a change in mass media towards its original goals of professionalism and objectivity.

Maybe, there is hope that televised news programs will provide "intellectual stimulation" for the general American Masses.

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