An interesting and thought-provoking essay by the Archbishop of Denver on the media. (HT: Deacon's Bench).I've been watching huge amounts of television lately, confined to a couch or a barco-lounger with a broken ankle. And so I've actually seen the hegemony of the Michael Jackson story in real-time. Now, while I'm not one to dismiss pop culture, the all-Michael, all-the-time saturation coverage struck me as excessive --and disturbing, given the other stories that should command our attention.So, I read the Archbishop's essay with interest. Here's what struck me as an important point: the decision of which news to listen to, to whom we should pay attention, is in fact a moral decision."Heres a simple fact: You and I have just begun a relationship. The moment you started listening to me, we struck a deal. You agreed to give me your attention. I agreed to give you my opinions. Its a pretty common arrangement. But sometimes it can have unhelpful consequences."So how do we/should we/ inform ourselves? Whom do we trust for our news, and why?

Cathleen Kaveny is the Darald and Juliet Libby Professor in the Theology Department and Law School at Boston College.

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