Bourdieu Pre-Class

             I found Pierre Bourdieu’s essay “On Television” to not only be extremely interesting, but to also bring together and connect many of the ideas of my current CMC classes and theorists.  When discussing television, the quote that struck me the most by Bourdieu was when he stated:

In the circular circulation of information I’ve described, television carries decisive weight.  If the printed press should happen to raise an issue – a scandal or a debate – it becomes central only when television takes it up and gives it full orchestration, and, thereby, political impact.  This dependence on television threatens the position of print journalists…(256).

I think this long quote is really important, because it illustrates the idea that, because of the rise and increase in technology, television has become one of the major influences in our daily lives.  There are many theorists from CMC 300 that I feel stress this point, however, in my opinion, Habermas relates perfectly to this idea of the “cult of the new.”  In other words, whereas print journalism was once the primary way of retrieving important information, with the recent influx of technology, television – specifically news and satirical news shows – have become the primary source of news and information.

It is interesting to think about how not only has television has surpassed print journalism, but online journalism has becoming one of – if not the main reason – for newspapers to go out of business.  Whether it is television or a form of online database, the “cult of the new” has invaded our culture.  As Bourdieu states, “That said, there are indicators that, relative to television, print journalism is in gradual retreat” (256).  I think this mostly has to do with the idea that television allows for a greater audience, and outreach.  As the essay goes onto explain, any journalist who wants to be heard, has to be on television—that is the greatest way to succeed in this culture.

My media example this week comes from the PEW research center, and illustrates where the public is getting their news information and exemplifies Bourdieu’s idea that television is not only taking over print journalism, but most other forms of journalism sources as well.