The blurring of entertainment and news media has been especially harmful to the blogs of those of us covering foreign issues, like Iran. We have had a more difficult time assembling information on our topic so that we may comment on its coverage.

Ratings driven news has resulted in, "A 1997 Harvard University study found that foreign stories comprised 13.5% of television news in 1995 , as opposed to 45% in the 1970s. Another report found that in 2000, the three major broadcast networks aired 1382 minutes of foreign news--a drop of 65% in just 10 years." -Greg Barnhisel, "Media and Messages"

What this drop in attention to foreign news coverage means for the American people is a less involved and informed public. Because the media is priming the public as to what issues are important in upcoming elections, the public may not see issues of foreign policy, like Iran, as important when casting their vote for national office. With little consideration being given to issues such as these, it could prove disasterous for our foreign policy.