I agree with Glenn’s seeking approval answer much more than the vast-corporate-wing conspiracy theory. Sure money has its influence when corporations hire people, ala Fox Noise, who will promote their beliefs and agendas. However, the allure of Karl Rove and power brokers in government inner-circles is much more psychological than material.

Major MSM Players (MMSMP) really would like to be the power brokers, but their psychological make-up and life skills didn’t give them the strength or meanness to have chosen that path. MMSMP believe they chose "journalism" to use their best skills to make a difference in this world on the same level as the power brokers. MMSMP believe they are each a unique individual, that is so independent that they are beholden to no one. They somehow forget that they have to depend on exclusive stories to make their mark which makes them suckers for people in power to seduce them into an imaginary inner-circle and then string them along through blackmail (lose the inside information) and seduction (you are special so you will get special information/insights). They have to do some incredible rationalization to believe they have kept their integrity. Somehow they do it. The power of seduction should never be underestimated.

A few journalists have the strength and unwillingness to become a star MMSMP and refuse the seduction like AP’s Helen Thomas. Presidents until junior asked Helen who was in the front row in the WH press room the first question. Junior didn’t like one of her questions and banned her to the back of the room. Although MMSMP let us know this happened, their protests were minimal and many did more laughing than booing. That acquiescence probably marked the end of any truly independent MMSMP reporting on this administration.

MMSMP who report on politics also get trapped in becoming a sports announcer in the bloody spectator game of gotcha and kiss your chances goodbye you screwed up. They get so wrapped up in what is supposedly happening on the field and in the locker room, they forget that the gladiators who lose and the people too poor to be in the stadium suffer real consequences from the outcome of the game.

Maybe to counter some of this, we should give more visibility to those journalists who refuse the seduction more. We will praise what they report, but not them. For example, why haven’t Keith Olbermann, John Stewart, Bill Moyers, McClatchy reporters been given some reward by us for their important contributions?

“Chris Matthews knows very well that unless he criticizes the Democrats immediately after questioning the Iraq war, he would be out of a job.”

Then what about MSNBC’s Keith Olbermann who is not careful how he criticizes the Repugs and doesn’t worry about balancing both sides of an issue? Simple, his ratings are now higher than any other news network show during his time period and he has the integrity to report things as he, not corporate sees them.

I think this balancing of both views at the same time that is the hallmark of PBS and many other news shows, gets out of whack because of who is selected. Personalities and ability to create a ruckus often overshadow the accuracy and quality of the information presented. It gets back to coverage being a spectator sport, particularly when sex can be thrown into the mix. Just because two sides are represented doesn’t mean balanced reporting when infotainment and ratings score much higher than journalism.

“MSNBC clearly perceives the Keith Olberman segment as a comedy show.”

-- pantanal

MSNBC and the Comedy Channel see Countdown and The Daily Show as money makers reaching young adults. To reach that audience, they use techniques that are aimed at their prime audience, not you or I. I would not underestimate the power and importance of either of these shows. Polls show that young adults are heading away from the Repugs in droves. That is in no small part due to shows that through satire make the point about Repug thugs and their hypocrisy far better than anything else on TV or in print. And this departure can be for at least a generation.

Keith's extremely well done, penetrating rants are far from comedy.

Although it is more long term, our best chance may be with the younger generation. Many I talk to including my three sons see through the fog as do their friends and they learn about the world through the Internet not the M$M. The Repugs, neocons, wingnuts, fundamentalists, may have done us a real favor by going so extreme in war and politics that even the half-blind can begin to recognize the problem. The blind are probably a hopeless case.

Granted monopoly global capitalism is a monster that may eat us all. The most we can do is scream there’s the monster; our children may be able to start kicking, biting, and finally attacking but only if we have succeeded in teaching values that honor the wonders of life and dangers of selfishness. A good start would be to make what poster jgoh said earlier, “I believe in both freedom of religion and freedom from religion,” our first mantra.