Bbc America

[xbittergracex]

I don't generally watch the news. I try to read what I want online, but generally I find most things like CNN, MSNBC and things like that pretty biased.

Today I actually caught the news on BBC America...and I have to say...its pretty interesting. Its very interesting to watch a foreign news service report on US news...it does seem pretty fair to me. Its almost more FACTUAL than our agenda-based news. I watched a story on our Presidential Campaigns, and I really felt like I was getting more information in a more straight forward way.

Not to mention, things like the election and whatever else might be a big deal to our networks today seems to consume the news. So you watch an hour of the news and you get maybe 2 big stories, and 3 small snippets. I like WORLD news...I like to know whats going on everywhere AS WELL AS HERE. World news in the US tends to STILL focus on the US.....OR.....they don't report ANYTHING in the US at all....but this BBC News sort of covers everything and includes GOOD NEWS too!!! (OMG?!?)

I dunno...I feel like I'm more informed today than I have been watching weeks of our news.

I know some people might totally bash me for this...it is after all...sort of political....but there ya go.

Its on BBC America weeknights at 7 and 10pm. I really like receiving my information this way...although I still like to watch our news once a week or so just to be somewhat locally informed as well.

Opinions?

***edit***

I also wanted to point something else out quickly...

I used to watch Canadian news when I was a kid (i think it came on after Sesame Street lol) but it seemed to contain a lot of GOOD news too. They try to have a balance. I read an article once that the media GREATLY influences crime rates and things like that. My friend lives in Canada....and he's always totally blown away by things going on in our country.

Just an interesting point I think....The only time they talk about good stuff is on our 5AM news when nobody is watching...watch the evening or nightly news....there is hardly EVER a good story....and even if there is...its one good one and twenty bad stories..... I think this greatly contributes to a negative focus in the general population....

[phee]

I do prefer BBC and NPR for news...

[Troy Spiral (13)]

NPR, PBS and BBC is really all i bother watching / listening to with any regularity. Unfortunately NPR and PBS are often very liberal biased and thus turn off more conservative people, but the overall style and depth of coverage is something you don't get on the mainstream American cable and network news shows.

I wouldn't necessarily say the news on american TV is always "uber biased" (even though everything is baised to some extent) but the main problem is that your average Joe in America just doesn't seem to give a fuck about substantive issues, so the reporting is just sort of "opinions and anecdotes" rather than the more in-depth type stuff you see on NPR / BBC.

Also generally "anger sells" and BBC / NPR try to discuss things rationally rather than having extreme bias persona A yelling their opinion and then have extreme bias persona B yelling their opposite opinion that is the bread & butter of American television.

Don't get me wrong i love America and there's no place I'd rather be from really. I just think , when it comes to world news / science / politics the mass media here is not nearly as useful as it should be. Its more and more just people preaching their opinion rather than trying to inform or persuade, and that's the good parts. Generally there's no opinion at all on anything substantive, its just all fluff entertainment for hours on end.

Honestly i prefer the fire-breathing angry conservative "biased" person, even though i don't like this style of discussion at least they care about something. As opposed to say the know-nothing-doesn't-care-about anything idiot "whatever man" jackass that has no opinion at all on anything substantive.

[Marmee_Noir]

I wouldn't necessarily say the news on american TV is always "uber biased" (even though everything is baised to some extent) but the main problem is that your average Joe in America just doesn't seem to give a fuck about substantive issues, so the reporting is just sort of "opinions and anecdotes" rather than the more in-depth type stuff you see on NPR / BBC.

Don't get me wrong i love America and there's no place I'd rather be from really. I just think , when it comes to world news / science / politics the mass media here is not nearly as useful as it should be. Its more and more just people preaching their opinion rather than trying to inform or persuade, and that's the good parts. Generally there's no opinion at all on anything substantive, its just all fluff entertainment for hours on end.

Honestly i prefer the fire-breathing angry conservative "biased" person, even though i don't like this style of discussion at least they care about something. As opposed to say the know-nothing-doesn't-care-about anything idiot "whatever man" jackass that has no opinion at all on anything substantive.

Amen! I absolutely have to agree with the fire-breathing conservative vs know-nothing.... I think alot of Americans these days specially the younger ones tend to confuse social liberalism with political liberalism.. I think a person can be quite liberal in a social stance and have a foot firm on old fashion conservative beliefs.. I think there is a fine line walking it. I myself was brought up straight republican conservative. And While I tend to lean more towards that party for certain specific beliefs I am still well and open to the Democratic party. And find myself more socially liberal in beliefs. When it comes down to politics and elections and all that great mind blowing stuff.. I think it's always best to do the research for yourself.

Yes you may get a more open non-biased opinion from the BBC or what not but seriously this is our country. Care enough about the damn place to find out facts and information for yourself. Or least take a good hard look at what your beliefs and stances are then look at each individual candidate.. Not a fucking elephant or donkey....

Eeeeps takes a deep breath* Hahaha how come politics always get people fired up... Had to stop myself before my comment turned into a full on rant..

[Troy Spiral (13)]

Amen! I absolutely have to agree with the fire-breathing conservative vs know-nothing.... I think alot of Americans these days specially the younger ones tend to confuse social liberalism with political liberalism.. I think a person can be quite liberal in a social stance and have a foot firm on old fashion conservative beliefs.. I think there is a fine line walking it. I myself was brought up straight republican conservative. And While I tend to lean more towards that party for certain specific beliefs I am still well and open to the Democratic party. And find myself more socially liberal in beliefs. When it comes down to politics and elections and all that great mind blowing stuff.. I think it's always best to do the research for yourself.

Yes you may get a more open non-biased opinion from the BBC or what not but seriously this is our country. Care enough about the damn place to find out facts and information for yourself. Or least take a good hard look at what your beliefs and stances are then look at each individual candidate.. Not a fucking elephant or donkey....

Eeeeps takes a deep breath* Hahaha how come politics always get people fired up... Had to stop myself before my comment turned into a full on rant..

Holy crap people actually read the random ramblings i post? Yay!

I like your response. I terms of the political-persuasion definition I'm pretty much in the same boat you describe. Generally that sort of social liberal ethical/economic conservative is generally identified as Libritiarnian, although trying to have a party of libertarians is like trying to herd cats.

I think politics and the subjects covered in this section of the board in general tend to get people fired up. Issues of some importance or substance tend to illicit a more emotional reaction than other random fluff, which has its good and bad points. Its good that people actually give a fuck, but its bad that people sometimes cant remain polite enough to have a civil discussion. (But much of that isn't visible on the board for very long since the mods do their jobs)

In terms of of what type of media to watch/listen to , really i think we are halfway there if people even BOTHER to watch/read/learn/think at all. Most people are too busy just going to work and then comming home and flipping channels to even bother to really contemplate issues or ideas for very long. They just sort of make up their minds based on virtually no information and then that's it, that their opinion for life and they then go watch american idol. heh.

[Marmee_Noir]

Holy crap people actually read the random ramblings i post? Yay!

I like your response. I terms of the political-persuasion definition I'm pretty much in the same boat you describe. Generally that sort of social liberal ethical/economic conservative is generally identified as Libritiarnian, although trying to have a party of libertarians is like trying to herd cats.

In terms of of what type of media to watch/listen to , really i think we are halfway there if people even BOTHER to watch/read/learn/think at all. Most people are too busy just going to work and then comming home and flipping channels to even bother to really contemplate issues or ideas for very long. They just sort of make up their minds based on virtually no information and then that's it, that their opinion for life and they then go watch american idol. heh.

Hehehe I always did think cats were superior!

And yes, I can agree with the whole halfway there.. But the moral of the story is a large majority of Americans are not halfway there... Like you said some people just can't be bothered to educate themselves. Course you have to the people who bitch about our government and the state of our country but ask them if they voted and they'll have a thousand excuses on why they didn't.

I think the best way to take any media news is with a grain of salt and an open mind willing to actually look into issues further!

[Troy Spiral (13)]

I think the best way to take any media news is with a grain of salt and an open mind willing to actually look into issues further!

Hot.

Seriously that kind of thinking is more attractive than a miniskirt. Two thumbs up.

[Shade Everdark]

I generally don't trust at all any American news source anymore.

I get my news from the BBC World Service, or the online English version of the Asahi Shimbun.

Both offer a more global perspective than do American sources, to boot.

[Marmee_Noir]

Hot.

Seriously that kind of thinking is more attractive than a miniskirt. Two thumbs up.

Well you've seen me in a miniskirt.. I like to think I rock both the miniskirt and the mind..

I generally don't trust at all any American news source anymore.

I get my news from the BBC World Service, or the online English version of the Asahi Shimbun.

Both offer a more global perspective than do American sources, to boot.

Gawd Shade, Asahi Shimbun.. Hahaha... I swear you got more Japanese in your blood than I do... And my grandmother is straight Japanese from Yokohama..

[Shade Everdark]

Well you've seen me in a miniskirt.. I like to think I rock both the miniskirt and the mind..

Gawd Shade, Asahi Shimbun.. Hahaha... I swear you got more Japanese in your blood than I do... And my grandmother is straight Japanese from Yokohama..

<kidding>

Of course I'm more Japanese than she is. Yokohama? Woman lived in the damn burbs! I was straight Tokyo all the way, baby.

</kidding>

[freydis]

i like the Beeb.

[Marmee_Noir]

<kidding>

Of course I'm more Japanese than she is. Yokohama? Woman lived in the damn burbs! I was straight Tokyo all the way, baby.

</kidding>

Hahaha... Ah don't be jealous Shade.... Oh damn I think I'm jealous.. Tokyo.. Lucky so and so...

Ok sorry back on topic now..

I think all media news is pretty shady and like I said grain of salt and a willingness to scope out things further for yourself is the key. America isn't exactly every other countries favorite country and I think sometimes they tend to crack down a bit hard on us also in their media reports.

[Homicidalheathen]

Its almost more FACTUAL than our agenda-based

I watch it too cause we dont get everything