@vicar
I think a conspiracy theory and the truth, is not even the same ballpark.

And not only the wealthy and powerful are running all media.
That goes, as well for the selling point.

Thanks to the internet most news are free.

If there is censored media, there will be at least two or three free media outposts.

Then,there is guerilla journalism.

I am not sure if the HuffPost does it in America but in Germany they trick you into headlining your own stereptypes. e.g.
The headline goes; 'A refugee walks up to a little girl, she got scarred for life!'

So, you see the headline and you think the worst of it. In the end the refugee turns out to be a normal human being, sharing something with the girl.
A subjective incident, written neutrally,reflecting the fear of the majority and usually plastered with facts about crime committed by refugees.

It's great.

I assume Alien and Vicar, you both are American. Try to find some respected European newspapers or tv stations. Some of them have English sites for example Spiegel. And you will see what I am talking about. Being in the EU and refugee crisis showing how good objective media works.
Spiegel is privately owned but you could also switch to tagesthemen, or tagesschau, heute journal, auslands journal. They all should have at least a little bit of content in English.

@dazzer thankx for ur articles. i read the first article u posted, that its bottom line is -working in journalism in china feels like ur wasting ur life. but it seems to me this is mostly for chinese ppl working in chinese media . what about foreigners working in foreign media n writing about china, i think they have it much easier ..

eladi, true unless the foriegn journo 'hurt the feelings' of the chinese people. read second link for definition of that one. also worth checking out the positive energy thing as that is now seems to be guiding policy.

Not saying conspiracy theory is truth, it's a label far too conveniently placed. BBC is highly respected in Europe. Just watched some. There were some students on it saying how important it was for Britain to stay in the EU. Really opened my eyes, thanks for the advice Hammer

Had a look at spiegel and the front page article about how dangerous the new populist party is in Germany but also some good reports there amongst the propaganda. Definitely a voice for the EU. The recent article Feb 10 in it on the refugee debate is basically a call to arms against naysayers.
Heute journal has a fair bit of propaganda in it. Not surprising since its owned by ZDF - a German state funded media network.

a word about the BBC - they are obliged to report both sides of any contentious issue, but unfortunately they are systematically pro government of the time. They don't really report the worst abuses of the government in case the government turns on them and says "right, we're breaking you up and selling you off to our mates", a very real threat under the current government. But overall, the BBC is pretty good.

You're right Haali and there lies one of the problems. Journalists pampering to agendas in order to guarantee first class access to 'information'

@vicar
Please define propaganda. I don't want to offend or intrude, but it seems like points that don't fit your idea of the truth or right are by definition propaganda or untruthful.
I read the article 'Alternative for Germany shows it's true right-wing colors', if that is the article you were referring to.

Actually from a reader and a writers perspective it is very objective and reflecting what is seen in the news and most importantly the actions of the party.

It's referring to the chances the party could have as a opposition to the ruling party if they wouldn't be so extremist and borderline anti-constitutional, killing refugees and such.
But also about the chaos and surfing the hatred wave.

Which is what they do. Very similar to Trump but a bit more extreme.

I believe it's written very fair and diving into the deep right sentiments, in Europe.

A call to arms against naysayers is a bit far fetched.

And the report shows both sides of the argument, out of the view of the opponent. I think it's safe to call it objective.

@Haali
It is the same in Germany, they have to report both sides. And most of the times they manage to keep objective. Some topics are almost impossible to report objectively, Islamic terrorism, for example.

Also sometimes in hindsight, with the knowledge then, it's easier to evaluate a past newsarticle.

But as I said, most media is very objective

But it is in the responsibility of the audience, too. If I want to see proof for the world going down, or seeing only blue skies, then of course, I shouldn't watch the news.

@vicar
You are incorrect, I was actually working with journalists, and none of them was, in 1950's movie style with a sketchbook standing in front of a culprit to break the best exclusive story.

Try it, most journalist tell you exactly how boring their daily tasks are.
And most actually have a urge to see out the truth, but do you have any idea, how hard it is to get the truth.

If you want to see something towards the real journalists life, watch 'making a murderer', made by real journalists. Watch episode 8 or 9, somewhere into the part of Steven Avery's trial. They film the reporter intervies and you can see how they do their job, and how they think, and then look at what they make of it at the newsroom.

Most editors and journalists are fact finding monsters, but as I said, I you think it's all fake, lies and propaganda, or a big money show, then there is no fact or report, that could ever change your mind.

If people think it's all fake news, and people try to lie their way out, then you are in the same boat with the reporters and journalists, that try to show you the truth.

Are there some culprits, sure, selling their soul to the devil. Certainly but from what I experienced, I can't confirm that, quite opposite, to be truthful.

To be brief, media is being used as a tool for politicians and companies for advertising as was origionally the intention from day one. It's monopolistic, if not, oligopolistic existance can at the flick of the fingers discredit anyone to the point of bringing them to shame. The opinions of it's audience are kept in the small print in the readers comments section, even then they are selected and 'moderated'. That audience doesn't get a fair say when it matters, rather mislead or disorientated either intentionially or not and until it changes, democracy no longer exists