Today Show + NBC

[jim]

My problem with it isn't that actual reporting, it's the sense of ... well, being "informed" as my co-workers bumper sticker boasts. I have listened and heard good and bad reporting, as long as you don't put your guard down and eliminate your filter NPR is not inherently a bad place to get your news. I listen to public radio frequently. I just really really hate the condescending "informed" attitude that can come with it.

[slide_into_first]

Your co worker is a Cubs fan, I bet.

[ghostrunner]

Strange thing is, I kinda indirectly like the show as a byproduct of liking my mother-in-law. Glad she has something she enjoys. I turned it on for her, even had some conversation about what was on.

But high-fructose corn syrup, as slide says best.

The odd day was last Wed I think - the main "news" story was protests and repeated clips of M Brown's stepdad story -with his reaction to GJ decision "burn this $%$ ...down!" I could hear her in the other room go "Oh my..." Then the local people come one with more stuff. And then they go for the knockout punch with putting ICE!* in the forecast. "Oh Dear!"

*how is it possible to ice when the lowest temps expected are mid 30s?

As opposed to what though? Watered down and diluted with a touch of pompous from NPR? I think that's almost more dangerous, someone I work with has their car plastered with NPR and public radio and Obama stickers and one of the public radio stickers simply says "Informed"

No you are aren't. You are being fed the same diluted crap that everyone is - just a different spin. Don't pretend like you really know what is going on because you don't.

I'm really cynical in case you haven't noticed.

I disagree with this pretty strongly. NPR allows wayyyy more time for people to speak than any TV broadcast does. They also don't talk over each other and are not encouraged to do so. There are far more stories about news outside the US than you'll ever hear on broadcast TV news. It's not as in-depth as something like the New York Times or the long form articles you can get in some magazines or website, but for audio/video it's about as good as it gets. They could probably do a better job including more viewpoints, but I find the coverage very satisfactory, given the medium. There's no contest between that and CNN/Fox/network news.

I agree listeners of NPR can be pompous, but the content itself is solid.

[jim]

No contest between that and CNN/Fox/network? Setting the bar a little high. So if that is the bar, then I agree with you - Rosie O'Donnell IS more attractive than Janet Reno.

[ghostrunner]

Seemed like that was the comparison being made. But you can separate it from those completely, and I think it's still a very good general news source. BBC radio programs are pretty good too.

[pioneer98]

I listen to NPR a lot. I agree with what Jim and others are saying. It's mostly just another version of the same news we get elsewhere. Once in a while though they will have something that literally no one else is reporting, though. Few and far between.

A parody of the Today Show in 1990 would be like the actual Today Show in 2014. High Fructose Corn Syrup is perfect on a lot of levels:
- Addictive
- Subsidized (with corn syrup it's direct, with TV it's with political ads)
- Terrible for you
- Is everywhere
- Process to make it is harmful
- But a handful of people benefit hugely from it

[pioneer98]

Strange thing is, I kinda indirectly like the show as a byproduct of liking my mother-in-law. Glad she has something she enjoys. I turned it on for her, even had some conversation about what was on.

But high-fructose corn syrup, as slide says best.

The odd day was last Wed I think - the main "news" story was protests and repeated clips of M Brown's stepdad story -with his reaction to GJ decision "burn this $%$ ...down!" I could hear her in the other room go "Oh my..." Then the local people come one with more stuff. And then they go for the knockout punch with putting ICE!* in the forecast. "Oh Dear!"

*how is it possible to ice when the lowest temps expected are mid 30s?

As opposed to what though? Watered down and diluted with a touch of pompous from NPR? I think that's almost more dangerous, someone I work with has their car plastered with NPR and public radio and Obama stickers and one of the public radio stickers simply says "Informed"

No you are aren't. You are being fed the same diluted crap that everyone is - just a different spin. Don't pretend like you really know what is going on because you don't.

I'm really cynical in case you haven't noticed.

I disagree with this pretty strongly. NPR allows wayyyy more time for people to speak than any TV broadcast does. They also don't talk over each other and are not encouraged to do so. There are far more stories about news outside the US than you'll ever hear on broadcast TV news. It's not as in-depth as something like the New York Times or the long form articles you can get in some magazines or website, but for audio/video it's about as good as it gets. They could probably do a better job including more viewpoints, but I find the coverage very satisfactory, given the medium. There's no contest between that and CNN/Fox/network news.

I agree listeners of NPR can be pompous, but the content itself is solid.

Yeah, the long form stuff sometimes is really good. They take the time to show a lot of angles to some of these complex things. I guess it is the morning and afternoon shows that are mainly a rehash of the day's news that get tiresome.

[Jocephus]

[jim]

Strange thing is, I kinda indirectly like the show as a byproduct of liking my mother-in-law. Glad she has something she enjoys. I turned it on for her, even had some conversation about what was on.

But high-fructose corn syrup, as slide says best.

The odd day was last Wed I think - the main "news" story was protests and repeated clips of M Brown's stepdad story -with his reaction to GJ decision "burn this $%$ ...down!" I could hear her in the other room go "Oh my..." Then the local people come one with more stuff. And then they go for the knockout punch with putting ICE!* in the forecast. "Oh Dear!"

*how is it possible to ice when the lowest temps expected are mid 30s?

As opposed to what though? Watered down and diluted with a touch of pompous from NPR? I think that's almost more dangerous, someone I work with has their car plastered with NPR and public radio and Obama stickers and one of the public radio stickers simply says "Informed"

No you are aren't. You are being fed the same diluted crap that everyone is - just a different spin. Don't pretend like you really know what is going on because you don't.

I'm really cynical in case you haven't noticed.

I disagree with this pretty strongly. NPR allows wayyyy more time for people to speak than any TV broadcast does. They also don't talk over each other and are not encouraged to do so. There are far more stories about news outside the US than you'll ever hear on broadcast TV news. It's not as in-depth as something like the New York Times or the long form articles you can get in some magazines or website, but for audio/video it's about as good as it gets. They could probably do a better job including more viewpoints, but I find the coverage very satisfactory, given the medium. There's no contest between that and CNN/Fox/network news.

I agree listeners of NPR can be pompous, but the content itself is solid.

Yeah, the long form stuff sometimes is really good. They take the time to show a lot of angles to some of these complex things. I guess it is the morning and afternoon shows that are mainly a rehash of the day's news that get tiresome.

That's for dinosaurs. Twitter is where it is at.

[Freed Roger]

Other than major sports i.e. NFL - Today Show is probably the only reliable advertising thing they have left, with a demographic they like (shopping women). So it carefully attempts to cater to them. Maybe this is why it seems like I'm a stranger in strange land when its on.

Also I don't think the show is going away - but wondering where it's future viewers will come from. I can't think of anybody in my generation watching it regularly.