Don't worry loz, you're ahead of the game compared to most of them.
Media Watch actually ran a special show a few weeks back where they looked into the effects of digital media on the quality of journalism. In a nutshell, the result is that due to the demand for news as it happens (and the competition from every man and his dog posting mobile phone photos of the latest disaster on the internet), Journo's are being pushed to churn out reports at ever increasing rates.
Like most things these days it's quality not quantity, and unfortunately as each generation passes, it seems like less people care.
Someone posted a link a while back to this
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/24/magazine/24labor-t.html?_r=4&pagewanted=1I liked it so much I bought the book. An interesting read, some of the philosophy content went a bit too far for me, but the crux of it was that people are feeling more anxious and more powerless as they are isolated bit by bit from doing anything tangible themselves.
One of the cases in point: the author talked about buying a Mixmaster in the 50's. The consumer expected the paraphenalia that came with it to include a full parts diagram so that when a component needed replacing, they just got one from the department store. Can you imagine ordering a spare part for nearly anything new today? I suppose modern electronics make that a bit difficult, but you know what I'm saying. Modern Mercedes apparently don't even have a dipstick? (apart from the driver
) you just take it back to the dealer when the warning light goes on.
