What makes America the greatest country in the world?
It’s not. Watch this.
The clip is from The Newsroom (2012), a series on HBO that aimed to be honest and truthful about the news.
There are dozens of scenes that dive into morality, political correctness, and reasoning in its first season. The creator, Aaron Sorkin, sliced through those scenes with precision.
In any ideal democracy, the government is the voice of the people. And the media is the microphone. The Newsroom examines how media and the news affects democracy and the public sphere.
The show got me into politics and the thirst to be well informed. There is a need for the public to be informed and the need for the news to provide the public with the CORRECT INFORMATION for the ideal democracy to work.
The Newsroom illustrate some of the failures of mainstream media and the necessity for a higher standard in news.
In the 2016 American election, the two main candidates are the least popular candidates in recent history. Why? It’s the fault of the media. From right to left, breaking news to late night. They failed the American people in providing the necessary news to allow the public to be informed. The media asked the candidates the wrong questions. That has to change. I have a few questions of my own about the media.
How can the public focus on issues with 6 people on the screen talking over each other?
How can the public have unbias news when a news anchor is supporting a candidate?
How can the public determine the difference in policy when a network or show avoids any political questioning?
How can the public be well informed when it is no longer the responsibility of reporters to fact check candidates?
How can the public participate in a democracy when ratings drive coverage, money drives conversation, and controversy trump information?
The Newsroom’s message was simple…be the greater fool.
“The greater fool is someone with the perfect blend of self delusion and ego to think that he can succeed where others have failed. This whole country was made by greater fools." — Sloan Sabbith
Cowin Poon • TORONTO 2016
