The sad state of journalism
I'm saddened and amazed at the reaction that the media is having to the death of Anna Nicole Smith. The 24 hour news "beast" has been feeding on her carcass for the last 20 hours. Lead stories on the radio, the television and on the internet all blare what most people suspected - "Anna Nicole dead - drugs likely involved!"
That got me to thinking about the state of the media today. It seems that the press is more concerned about getting readers and viewers to "feel" about a story, rather than doing the research to tell us the facts of the story. Take a look at the 24 hour news channels or your 10pm news. The lead story is likely to be a story guaranteed to evoke a feeling...."3 children dead because of the flu" was last nights lead. No mention that one child had an underlying medical condition or that one was a newborn whose immune system was not fully developed. The purpose was to scare parents into running out to get their kids a flu shot.
News must be put on the air to be the first to cover the story before any real details of the story are even proven. Never mind if the story is misreported or wrong. Sling it out there and put any retraction to be given at 3 AM Sunday morning or page 6 in the daily news. First is fine if first is followed up with research and in depth analysis, but it rarely is.
More and more they fill time with "tragedy" TV and infotainment. Instead of reporting on legislation pending in DC we see a series of stories on "The Runaway Bride" or Natalie Halloway or Janet Jackson or Nicole Kidman. Hours and hours are spent emoting about the latest celebrity gossip than are spent talking about the dangers of a nuclear Iran or the suffering in Darfur. Cut and dried facts have given way to emotion. Reason and research have given way to reaction and response.
It is to the point where we are ignoring real news behind the sad story of a celebrity who died too young. Our news agencies are failing us. Maybe it's time to turn off the television.
That got me to thinking about the state of the media today. It seems that the press is more concerned about getting readers and viewers to "feel" about a story, rather than doing the research to tell us the facts of the story. Take a look at the 24 hour news channels or your 10pm news. The lead story is likely to be a story guaranteed to evoke a feeling...."3 children dead because of the flu" was last nights lead. No mention that one child had an underlying medical condition or that one was a newborn whose immune system was not fully developed. The purpose was to scare parents into running out to get their kids a flu shot.
News must be put on the air to be the first to cover the story before any real details of the story are even proven. Never mind if the story is misreported or wrong. Sling it out there and put any retraction to be given at 3 AM Sunday morning or page 6 in the daily news. First is fine if first is followed up with research and in depth analysis, but it rarely is.
More and more they fill time with "tragedy" TV and infotainment. Instead of reporting on legislation pending in DC we see a series of stories on "The Runaway Bride" or Natalie Halloway or Janet Jackson or Nicole Kidman. Hours and hours are spent emoting about the latest celebrity gossip than are spent talking about the dangers of a nuclear Iran or the suffering in Darfur. Cut and dried facts have given way to emotion. Reason and research have given way to reaction and response.
It is to the point where we are ignoring real news behind the sad story of a celebrity who died too young. Our news agencies are failing us. Maybe it's time to turn off the television.
Labels: Journalists and Media
posted by The Lady Logician at
3:42 PM
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