@Adirondackwannabe – Who’s common sense? You mean your common sense?
I tend to think it has always been the case, and not some recent phenomenon – however – if you’re looking for the smoking gun in US media, you’ll want to know about the 1987 FCC repeal of the Fairness Doctrine mandating an equal opinion footprint. Apparently Regan thought that what was really fair was that the electronic media should be as free as the press – and not have government dictating the content policy.
Rush Limbaugh was the first to take the ball and RUN with it. He launched an entertainment phenomenon that has inspired visions and copycats on both sides of the aisle to this day – both for monetary gain and in attempt to “spread the word”. Rush signed a new $400M contract. So surely there is demand for what he is saying.
Personally, I think there should be a better distinction between “News” and Entertainment, but I prefer the freedom to not watch from a wider variety of options – and soundly agree the government has no business mandating content.
I think Fox news is ridiculous. However the disdain many feel to Fox News and their supporters is what conservatives had been feeling for decades with the Washington Post and NYT, etc. in the 60s/70s (imho). Many Liberals don’t like their own medicine. Recent Liberals perhaps don’t see the recent phenomenon as backlash.
“All things are subject to interpretation. Whichever interpretation prevails at a given time is a function of power and not truth.” -Friedrich Nietzsche
“No one lies so boldly as the man who is indignant.” -Friedrich Nietzsche