Today I Learned

Generated with ai because I also didn't watch lol:

Short Summary

1. In the 1950s and 60s, there was a belief in a golden age of news where information was delivered without political bias, shaped by cultural, technological, and political forces.
2. The rise of television, figures like Joe McCarthy and 60s radicals, and even Ronald Reagan played a role in shaping the news landscape.
3. The aftermath of World War II highlighted the power of propaganda and the need for responsible news delivery.
4. Government sought to regulate news organizations through acts like the Radio Act of 1927 and the Fairness Doctrine in 1949 to ensure programming was in the public interest.
5. During the era of television news, objectivity was valued, with news programs not expected to make money and a doctrine of social responsibility guiding ethical journalism.
6. The New York Times set high standards for objectivity, with television news aiming to emulate this model.
7. Clips from the era showed commentators presenting opposing viewpoints without bias or emotionally loaded language, allowing the audience to form their own opinions.
8. Anchors like Walter Cronkite maintained impartiality even when reporting on controversial topics like the election results of pro-segregation candidate George Wallace.
9. Journalism in the 60s and 70s shifted towards a more active approach, with journalists encouraged to call out lies and take sides based on facts.
10. By the end of the 60s, there was a noticeable shift towards more activism-driven content in newspapers like The New York Times, departing from earlier eras where objectivity was considered the highest journalistic goal.