Trust in major media outlets will never return

As hard as I try, it's impossible to avoid political discussions as the clock ticks down to Nov. 8.

In my lifetime, at least a half dozen presidential elections have been billed as "the most important vote in the history of America."

Those words are being spoken this year and it may well be accurate this time.

If you focus on the real issues of immigration, the economy and terrorism -- with some Supreme Court angst thrown in -- the options are crystal clear and starkly different.

But instead, our focus is on crude and offensive language, aged indiscretions and media bias.

And given the mass media's obsession with maintaining the focus on style, we'll never fully vet the serious and dangerous issues of substance that will shape our future.

Though the outcome of this critical election remains in doubt, what's certain is this -- trust in the major media outlets will never return.

The sole topic that could generate some bipartisan agreement this election cycle is the bias cloaked as neutral news coverage.

Recent revelations only confirm what most of us have suspected all along.

Network television along with large urban newspapers are conducting a well-orchestrated effort to slant and distort those views with which they disagree.

Recognize, too, that this bias applies -- though unequally -- to both liberal and conservative voices.

And once removed, this growing distrust of the mass media may remain a part of our information culture forever.

The thin and critical line between news and opinion is a foundational element to journalism. Or at least it once was.

Perhaps we've reached this low point in our history because this election features two very flawed candidates with much to criticize in both camps.

Social media with all of its flaws and mountains of misinformation has now replaced network television as a primary source of information. I suspect that trend has more to do with the obvious bias of the networks than it does with the reliability of social media.

There is but one outcome certain come Nov. 8. One candidate will win and one will lose.

The real loser however will be the fall of mass media and those voices we once trusted.

Michael Jensen is the publisher of the Sikeston Standard Democrat.