David Milch on the media

David Milch, the creator of the extraordinary Deadwood television series, has spoken out against the way the media treats the public. Speaking like the former Ivy league literature professor that he is, Milch criticised the dumbing down of television journalism and its condescion to its audenience's intelligence. From the Reuter's story:

"Deadwood" creator David Milch accused news media outlets Tuesday of "infantilizing" viewers with their entertainment-style coverage of such events as the September 11 attacks and the war in Iraq.

"I think the influx of information, when it's not organized by any sort of emotional or spiritual principle provided by the media, is a demoralizing and corrosive process," he said during an industry forum luncheon at the Museum of Television & Radio in Beverly Hills.

If you are a fan of Deadwood or NYPD Blue, or are interested in the writing process of one of television's true auteurs, then I cannot recommend more highly the New Yorker profile on Milch by Mark Singer. It is not available officially, but a fan has reproduced it on their LiveJournal page. See also the Salon interview and the recent comparison of Milch and Robert Altman at The House Next Door.