Actor Slams ‘Shaped News’
Oscar-winner Richard Dreyfuss has a problem with the news media. The rush to deliver instant news has dried up the idea pool, according to Dreyfuss.
“Information from more than one source is good. I’m totally in favor of it, even if people send propaganda. In the aggregate you can find more truth than in one opinion.”
While not coming out directly to slam public relations, he hints that PR and propaganda tend to play into the insatiable desire to shape a story with instant pictures, commentary and reaction. He likes Blogs and wants more civics lessons.
“Reason, logic, civility, dissent and debate — five ancient words that should be taught again and better, at elementary level, so that people know the difference between news and shaped news,” Dreyfuss said.
Dreyfuss attempts to persuade us to reject fast-talking news anchors and Bill O’Reilly ‘Spin Zoners’ by playing to the discontent of those longing for the past - those happy days when news was delivered by a suit at 5 p.m. and the world seemed safer. He points to the happy past to influence a change in the future of news reporting. He employs a common persuasion tactic by preaching for change and reform, yet shaping his reforms as comforting and based on the traditions and values of the past.
It must be considered that there is nothing more difficult to carry out, nor more doubtful of success, nor more dangerous to handle, than to initiate a new order of things. Niccolo Machiavelli.
Now Mr. Dreyfuss must patiently wait for the revolution to catch up with him, because those who start a revoluton are rarely the ones to finish it. By the way, who really cares what an actor thinks anyway?