Why Is Popularity of Network News Dwindling?


by Bill Fancher and Jody Brown

(AgapePress) – A recent statement by a well-known news anchor may be one indicator why fewer Americans tune in the nightly network news.

The Pew Center says the latest Nielson ratings indicate network news viewership is dropping fast. The most recent figures show only 30% of the population watches the network news. Just eight years ago, 60% tuned in every night to the “big four” (ABC, CBS, NBC, and FOX).

Gary Bauer is chairman of the Campaign for Working Families and a former GOP Presidential hopeful. Bauer says the problem is exemplified in a comment by CBS's Dan Rather during an interview last month with FOX's Bill O'Reilly. When asked if he felt Bill Clinton was an honest man, Rather responded in the affirmative, but then went on to say “I think you can be an honest person and lie about any number of things.”

“With that one comment, [Rather] has unfortunately summarized the situational ethics of our time, where there are no reliable standards of right and wrong,” Bauer says. “I'm afraid and fear that the attitude he's expressed is very prevalent throughout our country, but particularly among our 'elite' — in the media, on many of our college campuses, and all too often in government. That's a sad, sad thing to think about for our country.”

Last weekend Rather was honored by the Los Angeles Press Club for his “consistently outstanding journalism” on the CBS Evening News. At the 43rd annual Southern California Journalism Awards, Rather was presented with the Joseph M. Quinn Award for Journalistic Excellence and Distinction. But since taking over at CBS for Walter Cronkite 20 years ago, Rather has seen his viewership drop by 50%. NBC's Tom Brokaw has dropped 30% since he became anchor, and ABC's Peter Jennings is down 35%.


(This update courtesy of Agape Press.)

Parents Cautioned to be Wary of Hollywood-Style “Family Friendly” Flicks

by Allie Martin

(AgapePress) – The head of a media watchdog group is cautioning parents to not let their guard down when it comes to “family-friendly” versions of Hollywood movies.

Officials with the Dove Foundation announced recently that they have formed a partnership with New Line Cinema to produce what they call “family-friendly” versions of New Line's movies. Dr. Ted Baehr, founder and chairman of the Christian Film and Television Commission, says even some edited movies can be objectionable.

“Parents need to be aware that some of this stuff is not acceptable for little children,” Baehr says. “I don't know whether you want to say that it's acceptable for older [children], but it's certainly not acceptable for little children.”

He cautions that parents still need to research the edited versions of Hollywood movies. “The first film they released, The Mask — which is a fun film — was edited to take out the language and the sex and violence,” he says. “The fact of the matter is that … it still revolves around lust, it still revolves around magical thinking.”

Baehr also produces MOVIEGUIDE(R), a family magazine, a radio program and a television show which review all movies from a biblical perspective. It was announced last week that the PAX Television Network has begun airing 60-second movie reviews by Baehr.

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