Both systems have their drawbacks. The British system makes it easier for everyone to read only that which confirms their existing beliefs (plus provides more entertainment, prurient or otherwise). This may increase factionalism (although it’s been that way a long, long time). The Internet, of course, provides that opportunity to anyone, UK or US.
The American system makes it easier for the left-elite to confirm what they already believe, while leaving everyone else dissatisfied. This leads to a misinformed or uninformed populace.
Murdoch, with Fox, provides a true improvement in American journalism: choice and entertainment. He mixes hard factual news (e.g. Britt Hume) with opinion (O’Reilly and H&C), sprinkles in “true crime” with Gretta (ugh) and puts in a regular dose of T&A with video reports about Victoria Secret fashion shows, etc. It’s a formula that works.
Whatever happens, it is time for the media elites of America (like the ridiculous Dan Rather) to be knocked off their pedestals and retired. Lippmann was wrong. O’Sullivan’s second law dominates the news (organizations not explicitly conservative will become liberal), and unbiased factual presentation is merely a fantasy that the media tries to believe and foist on us. Screw ‘em.
