Media Feeding Frenzies
Sparked by the 24/7/365 news network on downstairs...
I am so sick and tired of the news media. What happened to responsible new reporting? Factual reporting? Thorough reporting? My husband says that went out with Walter Cronkite and I think I'd have to agree.
When I was younger, I actually enjoyed listening to the local 6pm news and the national at 6:30. That hour of news along with the morning radio broadcast as I ate breakfast or drove to work, was all I needed to know what was going on in the world. I truly believe I was better versed in the happenings of the world back then than I am now. Why? Media overload.
Ever since the inception of the 24 hour news stations, news reporting has become more and more sensationalized and less and less about the news. It's all about the hype, the morbid, and the grotesque. Face it. That's what pays the salaries of the broadcasters. What's horrible, is that it's the same thing repeated over and over and over ad nauseum. Their motto seems to be 'if you don't have anything new to report, recap what you've said until you DO have something new.' Gag.
I'm so sick of hearing about this reported JonBenet Ramsey killer being found. It's almost as sick an obsession as the child's murder was ten years ago. And what do I think? I think the guy was in deep trouble in Bangkok and was looking for a way to save his skin and get out of the country. He has the knowledge due to supposed research on the case, cop a confession, get extradited, and then when safely back in the good old US, get exonerated. I got that idea from reading two columns in the local newspaper (which is generally only good for lining your cat box.)
I'm also sick of hearing about Mel Gibson and his 'woes'. Please! He got drunk, made anti-Semitic comments, and made and ass of himself in the media. And I could care less if Kate Hudson is getting divorced. And one more interview with Lindsay Lohan or Hilary Duff might send me over the edge.
I think the thing that drove this home this week was the emergency plane landing at Logan. All we heard, just minutes after it occurred, was that a plane was taken down with AF escort and that it was a potential terrorist attack. Nothing about point of origin, destination, nothing. My heart fell because my best friend was flying from Philly to Hartford that morning. A quick look at the clock and I half-way relaxed. It was too early for her scheduled flight. Then I discovered it was a UK/DC flight. Of course, I do have a good friend who could be on one of those if she's been to the UK to see her brother and is returning home to Virginia... My point is that the media loves to incite panic. They cast the bait, hook you, and then slowly and painfully take hours to reel you in. And all of that is done not by responsible investigative reporting, but by speculation and conjecture.
Remember, it's all about 24 hours coverage of news. Anything to keep talking. Anyone to talk to. Whether they have anything valid to say or not. Just keep talking. Or, keep showing archived film footage. Or, as I said early, oh excuse me, this is about the news media..."Let us recap..."
Dawn
I am so sick and tired of the news media. What happened to responsible new reporting? Factual reporting? Thorough reporting? My husband says that went out with Walter Cronkite and I think I'd have to agree.
When I was younger, I actually enjoyed listening to the local 6pm news and the national at 6:30. That hour of news along with the morning radio broadcast as I ate breakfast or drove to work, was all I needed to know what was going on in the world. I truly believe I was better versed in the happenings of the world back then than I am now. Why? Media overload.
Ever since the inception of the 24 hour news stations, news reporting has become more and more sensationalized and less and less about the news. It's all about the hype, the morbid, and the grotesque. Face it. That's what pays the salaries of the broadcasters. What's horrible, is that it's the same thing repeated over and over and over ad nauseum. Their motto seems to be 'if you don't have anything new to report, recap what you've said until you DO have something new.' Gag.
I'm so sick of hearing about this reported JonBenet Ramsey killer being found. It's almost as sick an obsession as the child's murder was ten years ago. And what do I think? I think the guy was in deep trouble in Bangkok and was looking for a way to save his skin and get out of the country. He has the knowledge due to supposed research on the case, cop a confession, get extradited, and then when safely back in the good old US, get exonerated. I got that idea from reading two columns in the local newspaper (which is generally only good for lining your cat box.)
I'm also sick of hearing about Mel Gibson and his 'woes'. Please! He got drunk, made anti-Semitic comments, and made and ass of himself in the media. And I could care less if Kate Hudson is getting divorced. And one more interview with Lindsay Lohan or Hilary Duff might send me over the edge.
I think the thing that drove this home this week was the emergency plane landing at Logan. All we heard, just minutes after it occurred, was that a plane was taken down with AF escort and that it was a potential terrorist attack. Nothing about point of origin, destination, nothing. My heart fell because my best friend was flying from Philly to Hartford that morning. A quick look at the clock and I half-way relaxed. It was too early for her scheduled flight. Then I discovered it was a UK/DC flight. Of course, I do have a good friend who could be on one of those if she's been to the UK to see her brother and is returning home to Virginia... My point is that the media loves to incite panic. They cast the bait, hook you, and then slowly and painfully take hours to reel you in. And all of that is done not by responsible investigative reporting, but by speculation and conjecture.
Remember, it's all about 24 hours coverage of news. Anything to keep talking. Anyone to talk to. Whether they have anything valid to say or not. Just keep talking. Or, keep showing archived film footage. Or, as I said early, oh excuse me, this is about the news media..."Let us recap..."
Dawn
posted by Dawn | 11:12 PM
2 Comments:
I thought of our mutual good friend when that happened, too...
The hyped news can trigger a "down" mood in me real fast...
Its difficult because one wants to stay informed, yet you can't believe or take to heart everything you see or read anymore.
Right on Mom!!
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