News news news

When I watch the news, read the paper or surf the Internet one thing that always fills me with pity is the poor politician being interviewed. Why do I pity him because more often than not the same thing happens. Jornalist asks a question the politician knowing to give an answer would be suicide gives the party line. Journalist snorts.

Sometimes the question asked is actually valid but more and more the questions seem to be less about issues that are of importance and more about things that are of no relevance at all. Did you inhale drugs at a party so long ago that a lot of your voters were not even born? Now the press would say this is valid as he may be the next leader. And once I would have agreed with them. But as time passes these seem to be less about political debate and more about points scoring. They will stop pursuing this only when people get bored of it not when it actually reaches some valid political or moral point.
They say politics is the ultimate popularity contest I disagree the media hold this distinction as they rely on us the voters for their income via advertising.

And lets not forget the media is not as independent as it used to be most are owned by large corporations who in many cases do interfere in what is considered "newsworthy" (apart from perhaps the BBC but after the Dr Kelly whitewash And "reforms" I am unsure). They do not outright lie but they do set the agenda on what to report on.
In fact when I look at what is in the media today not only do I doubt the politician but also the newsreader. In some cases this bias is pronounced if not celebrated for example fox news is undoubtedly right leaning and they make no great effort to hide this and seem to be proud to say it (which I find to be refreshing as much as I disagree with them)
But the big problem is with news channels that do seem to be unbiased, for how can I tell that they are?
And this is my problem, doubt about not only the politician but with the media who presents it .I am to say the least in a pickle. But this if anything was the reason I started blogging I can read people opinions knowing they are biased and then make corrections.