Marxism versus Broichism

Per an article by Laurie Kellman, Associated Press writer, dated Thursday, June 14th,

“The Bush administration still opposes a bill to shield reporters from federal efforts toforce them to reveal their sources despite sponsors' revisions, a Justice Department officialsaid Thursday.”

That’s not really a surprise to those of us in Communications 303, is it? We will soon be writing a case study related to this topic and I am looking forward to hearing what each of you has to say on the subject.

But what I want to consider in this blog is the thought of news as a “commodity”.

The text refers to “…the idea that news has become a commodity that is in oversupply.” It also touches on the apparent confusion in America over what’s news versus what’s entertainment.

Is news in oversupply or is there simply a shortage of understandable news? How do we hone in on and extract the news that impacts us as individuals and as a nation?

A Citizen’s Bill Of Rights and Responsibilities struck a chord within me, especially the section On Proportionality and Engagement stating,

“We have a right to expect journalists to be aware of our basic dilemma as citizens: that we have a need for timely and deep knowledge of important issues and trends in our community, but we lack both the time and means to access most of this critical information.”

Marx and Engels theorized: we are who we are as a result of our position in the economic situation of our time.

Broich theorizes: we are who we are as a result of our position in the information situation of our time.

We look to the press to provide “a journalism of sense making based on synthesis, verification, and fierce independence,” as the text says.

Are we willing to fulfill our role as citizens who seek and demand the truth? If so, we need to be informed about the issue of shield laws.

According to Kellman,“The legislation, said Mike Pence, R-Ind., "is not about protecting reporters. It is about protecting the public's right to know."