Dear Editor:
I can remember, as a youth, watching the Nixon inauguration. Broadcast journalists had dignity at that time, could spell, and knew where to draw the line when it came to their commentary.
Today, broadcast journalism is about pyrotechnics, violent imagery and last-breath 911 calls. Gone are the days of newscasters that present the events and information and save their opinions for the end of the show. Now, newscasts are designed to scare the viewers as much as possible. Every entertainment personality is a self-appointed authority on world events. There is no division between facts and opinions, just blurry presentations designed to agitate and manipulate the public. The broadcast medias are one of the largest purveyors of fear and violence in the world today. Scared people buy more product, so I'm sure advertisers are thrilled with the result. Realistically, America and the rest of the world are in a state of unrest.
The collective medias have a karmic responsibility to encourage cooperation, calm and stability. They are also responsible for non-biased reporting, and giving everyone a fair shake. As it stands now, they are part of the problem, not part of the solution, and all of their viewers suffer. It is time for individuals involved in the medias to do some serious soul-searching and decide why they are in the profession. If they are there to help, great. Change direction. If they are just there to stir the pot and encourage violence and divisiveness, get another job. I vote with the on/off switch on my TV and other devices. I vote "off." How do you vote?