We are privileged to have two local Bend, Oregon TV news stations to rely on for news. One actually has a “headlines” segment which brushes lightly on world events like the Hamas massacre in Israel and other spectacular events. And the weather, of course, which is about the only “hard” news to be had from any of our local news people.
The other rival TV station devotes almost the whole thirty-minute evening news program to fluff pieces heavy with news like the opening of a new bistro or a new brew pub, or plans for new bike lanes, or the opening of an additional homeless shelter, or the completion of a new round-about on one street or another. Add a light dash of high school sports and you have it all.
If I had no access to on-line news sites, or to my radio, I might be lulled into thinking we live in a happy time of sweetness and light. Somehow the increase in local crime, the out-of-control inflation, fueled by outrageous food, fuel and housing prices escapes the notice of our local TV news stations. In all fairness there might be a light touch about “falling fuel prices” where $4.39 a gallon for regular “falls” to $3.89 or some such thing. (Like it never was below that price, and our simple population can’t remember that far back anyway.)
With the exception of a local paper from Sisters, Oregon, our two major newspapers aren’t much better. Poorly written, shallow fluff pieces rule the day. And reliance on spell check does nothing to improve the quality. (I do appreciate the crossword puzzles, however.)
The question I keep asking runs along the line of whether this news shadow I live in is a deliberate plan to make us believe all is well in a world that actually looks to be coming apart at the seams.
Rod
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