robert kennedy jr.: we have a negligent press in this country

Well, someone was cetainly negligent in allowing RFK Jr's tinfoil-hat ravings about the 2004 elections to get unchallenged into Rolling Stone.

 

he should move to a more informed part of the world.

 

Oh, that's my favorite comeback.

If you don't like it here, leave!

 

Although there may be some truth to criticism of the press having lost it's edge and wandered away from it's sense of purpose, such criticism ignores some key parts of the dynamic.
The media is a private industry. Although many journalists are dedicated to the more noble principles of the profession, the companies for which we work must still turn a profit. The media is not a government program into which an endless stream of money can be poured — take the DARE drug awareness program in schools — despite a lack of any credible evidence of results.
Further, consumers must want to be informed, otherwise there's no profit in informing them. The consumers of information bear a measure of responsibility in the information-exchange dynamic when judging the quality of information being purveyed and consumed.
When consumers prefer information packaged and presented in a way that just confirms their exisiting opinions rather than objective information intended to help them make informed decisions, that's what they get. And there are plenty of outlets that do that.
If consumers want celeb news, dating tips and the new fad diet, that's what they get.

 

Fantasy's heavy on the right, these days. It's tough to see your heroes turn to offal.