I set up my desktop to resolve reddit.com to localhost -- blocking my main window to the insanity for a while.

>Sinclair

Quid pro quo

https://www.cnn.com/2018/04/02/politics/sinclair-trust-in-local-news/index.html

That video in the link is really troubling:
https://theconcourse.deadspin.com/how-americas-largest-local-tv-owner-turned-its-news-anc-1824233490

The undoing of the Fairness Doctrine and the Telecommunications Act of 1996 have done their damage.

Sinclair must have missed greasing a few palms.  Looks like our biz-friendly FCC is going to nix the Tribune deal.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/ct-biz-fcc-sinclair-tribune-wgn-order-20180719-story.html

When the Sinclair Media Group acquires local TV news stations, (1) coverage of local politics gets replaced by national politics, (2) the ideological slant shifts sharply to the right and (3) viewership slightly decreases. Sinclair stations will soon be viewable in 72% of US households. ^{(cambridge.org)}

https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/american-political-science-review/article/local-news-and-national-politics/C8EEA488A777C37C7987964F8F85AEB5

We really need to reinstate the Fairness Doctrine.

This is slightly off-topic, but somewhat related - an account of detoxing his relationship with his phone, rather than toxic media. But interesting

Quote
Do Not Disturb: How I Ditched My Phone and Unbroke My Brain

Mostly, I became aware of how profoundly uncomfortable I am with stillness. For years, I've used my phone every time I've had a spare moment in an elevator or a boring meeting. I listen to podcasts and write emails on the subway. I watch YouTube videos while folding laundry. I even use an app to pretend to meditate.

....

Catherine had warned me that I might feel existential malaise when I wasn't distracting myself with my phone. She also said paying more attention to my surroundings would make me realize how many other people used their phones to cope with boredom and anxiety.

"I compare it to seeing a family member naked," she said. "Once you look around the elevator and see the zombies checking their phones, you can't unsee it."

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/02/23/business/cell-phone-addiction.html

There is a lot of truth to this. 

When I was commuting to SF daily I would ride BART (the local subway system) daily.  Nearly everyone was on their phones, sometimes I was too.  BART is close to hell though.  After a while I found that it was easier to just close my eyes and let my mind wander in and out of sleep.  One time there was a short pregnant lady standing on a crowded car and no one was giving up her seat.  For the most part I don't think people were being selfish, but instead were so wrapped up with their online distractions that they didn't even process the pregnant and uncomfortable person just inches away from them.  I was sitting at the time and I had to physically touch a guy to pull him out of his phone and ask him to get the attention of the lady (who was about two body widths away from me) and then ask her if she wanted my seat.

Anybody remember the movie They Live from the 1980s?

QuoteWhen the Sinclair Media Group acquires local TV news stations, (1) coverage of local politics gets replaced by national politics, (2) the ideological slant shifts sharply to the right and (3) viewership slightly decreases. Sinclair stations will soon be viewable in 72% of US households.

Disney to sell Fox regional sports networks to Sinclair for $9.6 billion - Reuters
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-walt-disney-divestiture-sinclair-ma/disney-to-sell-fox-regional-sports-networks-to-sinclair-for-9-6-billion-idUSKCN1S920A

Court strikes down FCC's relaxing of media ownership rules

https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/462628-court-strikes-down-fcc-media-ownership-rules

This could just as easily go into one of the CV19 threads, but I'm putting it in here.  It is a bit granola for the Core, but I thought it had value.

I have forwarded that to several people LM. Most said they had seen it earlier in the pandemic, but appreciated seeing it again.

I was hearing a lot of people getting really bent out of shape over other people ignoring the stay at home order (like we're cancelling all our rental guests and one friend said when she reached out to cancel people, they were told that other rentals nearby were still taking reservations, so why not her?) So I hear a lot people wanting lodging that is ignoring the rule to pay stiff penalties. I sent them all this.

News avoidance during the COVID-19 pandemic is associated with better mental well-being

can confirm.

Ironic, but I came across this today.

Sharp decline in appetite for news in recent years, Reuters Institute says

Quote
A report by Oxford University's Reuters Institute says 48% of people around the world are very or extremely interested in the news - down from 63% in 2017.

In the UK, the proportion is lower than the global average at 43%.

More than a third of people (36%) worldwide say they sometimes or often actively avoid the news.