Mainstream Media In Decline

This is an interesting article which looks at the way alternative news sources on the internet are gaining popularity over the corporate owned mainstream publications.
As a reader of both styles of media, I think one has to be just as skeptical when reading alternative news sources as when reading mainstream media.
Sometimes I find the best perspective can be gathered by comparing mainstream news from various different countries. For example, an article about Australia which appears in the BBC news, but doesn't appear anywhere in any Australian mainstream publications is always worth a deeper look.

23rd August 2001, Supreme Court, Justice Richard Chesterman on the media:

"The appellant's argument exaggerates the influence of the tabloid media. The public is well aware that its function is to generate income for its proprietors and that the dissemination of information and expression of opinion by it is secondary to that purpose. Information published by the media is often inaccurate and is frequently distorted by the need to create sensation. The distortion is sometimes deliberate. Journalistic opinion tends to be populist rather than responsible and is often the product of ignorance and prejudice. Contrary opinions are suppressed."

This article illustrates the state of things quite well.

Mainstream media attempts to discredit blogs and internet sources in order to try and regain control.