Yellow Journalism Revisited

     Some stories don’t make the news anymore. They go unreported ― even when they are big and significant. It is a sign of the times. It is the sign of the new and dominant trend of corporate journalism: Only the news stories that servers the best interests of the richest one percent of Americans, and the corporate interests of the biggest and most powerful corporations will be covered. All the other stories ― especially the ones that speak out against the corruption created by power and greed, will not be reported.
     Consider, for example, the current issue before the Supreme Court: The Tea Party-Republicans are accusing President Obama and the Democratic Party of violating the "individual rights" of Americans (by forcing everyone to have health insurance.) Yet, no one in the media is looking at the Tea Party-Republicans' record on "individual rights." No one in the media is looking at the Tea Party-Republicans position on "individual rights" on other issues, like T.O.R.T. reform, collective bargaining, wire tapping, wages, school prayer, gay rights, women's rights. . .   

     This form of journalism isn’t new in the United States. Most of the news reports from the beginning of this nation to the present have favored the rich and powerful (After all, they were the ones controlling the government, the corporations, the military, the religious organizations, and virtually all of the other institutions ― including the press.) 

     However, in the past there were always minority voices (including media) in opposition. There were always voices that confronted all Americans on issues of equality, fairness, justice, respect, freedom, and other unalienable rights granted by The Creator (God). More importantly, it was evident, with each passing year, that these minority voices were making the United States a better nation, or a more inclusive society (with increasing improvements in the areas of equality, fairness, justice, respect, freedom . . .)

     At some point in the past 20 years, however, this trend reversed. We started becoming less inclusive, as the improvements we made in equality, fairness, justice, respect, freedom, etc. began to diminish, along with the minority voices that promoted them.

     Today, we are living in a United States that bears no resemblance to its former self. Both its appearance and its way of thinking have greatly changed. Its vibrant communities, confident citizens, courageous corporations and user-friendly governmental agencies are rapidly disappearing, and its character traits of honesty, trust, truthfulness, justice, fairness, and morality are virtually non-existent. All that remains today is the tremendous greed of a few and the yellow journalism propaganda of their media aimed at coercing the American people and the rest of the world.  

    A few of us, however, still cling to the hope that we can restore the minority voices (and the moral press) which once made this country, The United States of America, a great nation. I am one of them!

By

James A. Porter