Media failing its duty as 4th estate

There is no other way to start this blog than in the traditional fairy tale manner of once upon a time. 

Once upon a time the media could be relied upon to ensure the health of democracy.

Once upon a time the media supplied unbiased information to citizens in order for them to make responsible, informed choices.

But those days are long gone.  Media has fallen under the spell of the spectacle.  If the truth no longer sells papers or lead to website hits, then a spectacle surely will.  More emphasis is placed on sensationalizing the news than on securing accuracy.

Mass media still influences the public's point of view.  Yet, even though we are aware of the manipulating ways of the media, we are quite often still fooled into thinking we know the real story, when in fact we have been deceived.