By Astrid Zweynert
LONDON, April 27 (Reuters) - Richard Dreyfuss has challenged the establishment for decades and now the maverick actor and activist is taking on the mainstream media.
The Oscar-winning star says an obsession with delivering instantaneous news and images provides too little context for audiences to reflect and understand what is happening in the world.
“There is no room to pause, no room to think,” Dreyfuss, who starred in films ranging from “Jaws” to “Mr Holland’s Opus” told Reuters in a recent telephone interview.
“We don’t build into our system of thoughts the need to explain, the media doesn’t build that into its transmission of knowledge and information.”
That creates what Dreyfuss calls “shaped news” — a version of events according to how the mainstream media want audiences to see what happened, and a violation of journalism’s core value of objectivity.
Citizen journalism is playing a vital part in broadening news coverage, as well as scrutinising professional journalism, Dreyfuss said.
“Information from more than one source is good. I’m totally in favour of it, even if people send propaganda. In the aggregate you can find more truth than in one opinion.”
But despite an explosion in blogs, people’s views of the news is still shaped by what powerful media corporations print, broadcast and put on their Web sites, Dreyfuss, 58, said.
“Do the mainstream media ever tell their readers ‘Don’t believe everything we tell you?’ No, they don’t.”
Dreyfuss said media coverage of the Sept. 11 attacks on the World Trade Center in New York was a pertinent example of how a non-stop supply of images and spot news shaped people’s views.
“The falling Twin Towers — pictures that produced anger, a lot of anger that were sent instantly around the world, they created a need to react.”
“People in Kansas could see the Twin Towers fall at exactly the same instant as in Nigeria and Cairo. Such an instantaneous knowledge of a situation leads to an instantaneous reaction which creates demand for an instantaneous, reflexive response.
“The question is how do you get people to find out more, how do you get people to read not just what they are told to read.”
The power of language is also an important factor in shaping the news.
“The ‘war on terror’ — objection to using this term is dead. It’s become part of our vocabulary, but what does it really mean? You should know more specifically what you are fighting.”
Dreyfuss is eager to point out that he is not anti-technology: “I’m not in love with technology and speed but I don’t want to sound like a luddite.
“We’ve got to be aware of the power of technology and the speed at which it allows us to transmit information.
“You have to encourage prose, analysis and detail — otherwise people will go to war in Iraq and Afghanistan without really knowing why.”
Dreyfuss, who won an Oscar for his performance in “The Goodbye Girl”, has pursued his passion for political and social activism since his college days.
An active opponent of the Vietnam War, he has also worked to promote solutions to the Mideast conflict, campaigned for education and, most recently, has lent his support to a campaign for the impeachment of U.S. President George W. Bush.
He is studying civics and democracy as a senior associate member at St Antony’s College at the University of Oxford. “Civics is no longer taught in the U.S, a sign of a neurosis that is inexplicable,” he said. “Not to teach civics is suicide.
“Reason, logic, civility, dissent and debate — five ancient words that should be taught again and better, at elementary level, so that people know the difference between news and shaped news,” Dreyfuss said.
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It is amusing and, at the same time, pathetic to hear conservatives rail against “Hollywood gliterati”, such as Richard Dreyfuss, as irrelevant, having nothing “real” to contribute to political discourse. Professional thespians, in the conservative way of thinking, are incapable of holding and/or expressing valid viewpoints because they were, after all, only actors. They apparently continuously and conveniently forget that some of their greatest heros, such as Ronald Reagan, Charlton Heston, et. al. were also “pretenders”, It would follow, therefore, that Reagan’s entire political career was nothing more than a sham, an elaborate screenplay, devoid of any substance. I’m comfortable with that.
- Posted by nirI’ve read most of your comments and I have to say, simply, the problem with the media is that it is now a “BIG BUSINESS” venture.
Before now in our society the media lost money every quarter because it didn’t bow to corperations which at the time were far less rich than they are now.
Untill there is a way to get the main streem media to work for no profit then information will be sold to the highest bidders, ie; the whitehouse who buys soundbites, and gives talking points.
- Posted by Mr FarmerAn important issue not mentioned much in this conversation, if at all, is the upcoming hate bills the ADL has been trying to pass. Canada, all over Europe and Australia they’ve passed these and basically wiped out their citizen’s freedom of speech. I totally agree with Richards on having serious, open, unbiased discussion, but can this be taken seriously. Richard is supporting the movement to impeach Bush, which would do nothing. Bush is puppet with three-hundred people under him that could do just the same. We first need to DEMAND an outside investigation for the attacks on Sept.11, being that there are so many people in doubt of the real story (which you can find through numorous polls, blogs, videos, web sites, etc.). This would begin a serious movement against our leaders and their motives, past and present.
- Posted by D. JosiahDreyfuss’s forceful and cogent comments on Bill Maher’s show (latter part of November) made a huge impact on me. I have inadvertently erased this video from my recorder - I wish to display it to others and possibly include his comments on an educational website. Anybody know if this video is available? - I will certainly request HBO’s permission to use excerpts once I’ve extracted (edited) the content.
ocms@operamail.com
Dreyfuss’s is a powerful voice. If he runs for any political office, I would be honored to campaign for him.
- Posted by al wromkeTo; Mr.Joesph Hesters comment above if by that you mean we need impeachment to prove America will not tolerate deceit and imorale acts by it’s leaders I whole heartedly agree.
- Posted by Mathew OwensThe inclusion of democratic values in the discussion of character education will provide character education the moral foundation that it desperately needs.
- Posted by Joseph P. HesterRichard Dryfuss comments where a relief to hear, I was thankfull by all means read news, listen to news, and at as many sources possible. Best postion is neutral when trying to learn the truth. So much bias, if you been ignoring the news, time to catch up, quote from article above that impressed me,Reason, logic, civility, dissent and debate five ancient words that should be taught again and better, at elementary level, so that people know the difference between news and shaped news, Dreyfuss said.
- Posted by Mathew OwensSometymes my cartoons are bias but I try study as many sources as I can before doing them. Thier truth best I understand from what I learned. Sometymes I do with shock value just trying wake
AMERICA up get people involved. I am no journalist, just one of many trying to step out of darkness. Thank you,Mr.Dreyfuss.
I found the discourse from the panel to be stimulating and thought provoking. I had this discussion several weeks before this last election among friends and co-workers. I turned away from the newscasts at that time because they had turned into cacophony. Several of the preceding comments include mention of Viet Nam. Has anyone “googled” Viet Nam Oil Reserves?
- Posted by BetsyFurthermore, I feel that, while you may associate actors with terms such as glitterati and cast aspersions on their intelligence levels, I think that we can safely exclude Mr. Dreyfuss from the stereotype that you presume to set. After all, he is at least supporting a noble ideal. I don’t see him adopting third world orphans while American orphans go homeless and I don’t see him promoting a tell-all on how he killed his ex-wife on Fox. Oh wait…that’s how he “might” have killed…sad to see someone get away with murder and then go on to sell the book rights…
- Posted by JohnI think that the concept of teaching civics to our people is an important thing, and that Mr. Dreyfuss should be commended for standing behind such a pursuit. In truth, I feel that those who are so critical of Mr. Dreyfuss in this forum would do well to consider the idea involved, and not the man, as their personal statements appear to carry the tinge of prejudice.
It is easy to be subjective, to presume that an actor would not have an objective, or even realistic viewpoint of the problem as a whole, but I feel that Richard put things down quite eloquently, rehearsed or not, as to what the real problems in our society are. Too many people do not know about the system that they function within, and of their role within that system. Too many are kept in the dark, and it would behoove those people who choose to criticize the man in this situation to take a look at the idea he is representing and to forget about who is representing it. I’m sure, in the end, you would all see that the best thing for us all is to be educated in the roles that we play in our political system, and that ANY man who supports that agenda is a friend to the people, and to the freedoms that are slowly being advertised away from us “in the name of liberty”. It would do well for us to take Mr. Dreyfuss’s example and to each promote the teaching of civics in the schools of our own respective communities.
- Posted by JohnI have endorsed two possible candidates for the democratic nominee for president in 2008, one of which is Barack Obama. My third endorsement regardless of party is to agree with Norman Lear.. and that would be a hearty endorsement of Richard Dreyfus regardless of party affiliation. I am a social studies graduate many years ago and I did NOT disagree with anything Mr. Dreyfus had to say on air tonight and was usually uttering a hearty. “Hear, Hear” or actually uttering his next sentence ahead of hearing it! The man is a man of the times! Truly intelligent and having a real handle on a current perspective on our current role in future history! In other words, we live in very critical times and we damned well better speak up and take control as we took a minor step in this recent election or soon it will be too late!
- Posted by Robert FlesherInformation from more than one source is good. Im totally in favour of it, even if people send propaganda. In the aggregate you can find more truth than in one opinion.
This is what speaks loudest to me.
I saw Dreyfus on “Real Time” last night and this brought me to the internet to find out more. I think that it’s okay to have instantaneous news as long as we do take the time to listen to multiple sources, sources with different spin.
Nothing beats seeing something with your own eyes or hearing it with your own ears. It makes good sense to analyze every source of information to be sure you can try and correct for bias inherent in that information.
I think that human beings can strive for objectivity, but will always be subjective to some degree.
- Posted by TriciaI think what dreyfuss said in closing comments on Bill Mahers November 17th , 2006 show is the most thoughtful, important statement about the state of the union that I have ever heard in all the voices publicised in the media today.
- Posted by grace koenigWe need Dreyfuss to continue to speak out in many more forums. He needs to be heard by every single person that calls themselves a member of the free society in which we live.
I was raised by a couple of media gurus. Journalists who believed they had a responsibility to report and depict life that was of interest to others. It is a shame that we have resorted to reporting only what will benefit the bottom line. OJ Simpson on FOX NEWS?!!! COME ON! This kind of journalism is morally repugnant and irresponisble, from a network that practically preaches from the fundamentalist point of view.
I would really like to compliment Mr Dryfus’ efforts to encourage the teaching of civics. Perhaps if our children have the opportunity to learn their civic responsibilities we can counter the attempts of media taint their thinking.
Civics is a good idea and I commend the efforts to come up with some real life solutions to the “quagmire” that has become the US of A.
- Posted by Emily