○  spiro theodore agnew: television news coverage  ○

between n.b.c. and c.b.s. according to harris polls and other studies, for millions of americans the networks are the sole source of national and world news. in will roger’s observation, what you knew was what you read in the newspaper. today for growing millions of americans, it’s what they see and hear on their television sets.

now how is this network news determined? a small group of men, numbering perhaps no more than a dozen anchormen, commentators, and executive producers, settle upon the 20 minutes or so of film and commentary that’s to reach the public. this selection is made from the 90 to 180 minutes that may be available. their powers of choice are broad.

they decide what 40 to 50 million americans will learn of the day’s events in the nation and in the world. we cannot measure this power and influence by the traditional democratic standards, for these men can create national issues overnight. they can make or break by their coverage and commentary a moratorium on the war. they can elevate men from obscurity to national prominence within a week. they can reward some politicians with national exposure and ignore others.

for millions of americans the network reporter who covers a continuing issue -- like the abm or civil rights -- becomes, in effect, the presiding judge in a national trial by jury.

it must be recognized that the networks have made important contributions to the national knowledge -- through news, documentaries, and specials. they have often used their power constructively and creatively to awaken the public conscience to critical problems. the networks made hunger and black lung disease national issues overnight. the tv networks have done what no other medium could have done in terms of dramatizing the horrors of war. the networks have tackled our most difficult social problems with a directness and an immediacy that’s the gift of their medium. they focus the nation’s attention on its environmental abuses -- on poll

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