Distorted Media and My Youth

I feel like I just grew up during a time where journalism became a lost art. I am struggling for the words to summarize this feeling accurately. I believe that journalism should be based in facts and occurences. The current Information Age that we live in has shaped the definitions of the words "news", "media", and "journalism" away from what they were a mere 10-15 years ago. In the past we waited for streamlined versions of factual activities that had actually happened, and then we were free to respond to the information given with our own opinion.
Today we are surrounded by opinion. News begins before actions happen, and journalistic accounts can take many forms, few of which are actually based in fact or on a central activity. Confusion in the streams of information that are so quickly made accessible in so many ways acts like pollution in a water stream. Extrapolations on offhand comments become national news events today. There are few resources of trust when it comes to print or electronic media, as The New York Times has proven several times over the past six years. I liked to look at Associated Press pieces as fact based, actual news stories. Friday changed my mind on that one.
I read a nice story from the AP about Barry Bonds' game in Philadelphia on Friday night and how poorly Bonds was sure to be treated. The story upset me as a Philadelphia sports fan and lover of the truth. I know, I shouldn't be naive, and I am not, I don't believe anything I see on television.
The sports fan in me strongly dislikes this article, which puts forth a strong opinion that Philadelphia will be the hardest stop for Bonds on his "Tour of Shame", where he is booed and taunted in every city that he plays in. A couple of poor examples of Philadelphia fan behavior are given, Howard Eskin of all people is quoted and portrayed as a voice of the people. Come on! Grouping all Philly fans together is bad enough, but then crediting the crowd at the Cit this weekend with the booing of Michael Irvin, the booing of a drunken poor Santa Claus impersonator in 1968, and the throwing of a battery at JD Drew in 1998, takes the story from a stretch to discrimination by social group.
Ugh. A local writer. I thought it would have been a New York or West Coast guy with an ax to grind, but the AP writer covers Philly sports.

** to be continued**