An Absurd Proposal. Film @ 11
“Sensationalism is rampant in our consolidated news system, where scandal, celebrity gossip and violence (or the threat of looming violence) lead the headlines. Ever wonder why this is all we see and read and hear? It isn’t simply that scandal and violence are all that’s happening in our communities; in fact, it’s the only news that companies want to cover. . . . It’s no secret that the news—especially local news—often leaves something to be desired. We rarely see coverage of stories that truly matter to our communities, or in-depth reporting that gets to the bottom of an issue, instead of just skimming the surface. . . . I think it’s high time we develop our own vision for what we want our news outlets to cover. After all, the news is supposed to be a public good, keeping us informed and engaged.”
Editor’s Note: This is a scandal!
Today’s Wish-I-Were-Here Photo: Patience
Of Interest: Accident Victim Says, “Thank a Photojournalist”
NOTE: Today’s WORD on Journalism is now on Facebook! Join up and rant daily!
On Sep 14, 2010, at 8:47 AM, Jim S. wrote:
ReplyDeleteWell, Lady..it's cheap and it sells. Now you decide which came first--the public demand or media economics. Morality and objectivity have gone to hell in America--who started it?
J
Dr. Ted Replies:
ReplyDeleteKill that chicken! Um, no, wait. The EGG!...
Even if we demand higher quality news such as news that can benefit our communities, the media will only do what's best for them. What's best for the media is making big bucks. Violence, sex, Hollywood, those are money makers. I'm sure the media is well aware of what is happening in communities but they brush it off. The only thing we can do is take in some of the information that the media gives us, and the rest we brush off.
ReplyDeleteRomina Nedakovic
My comment entered on blog site:
ReplyDeleteObviously AP knows what their subscribers want. And that is the explanation for the choice of stories that AP wants its reporters to cover.
The fault lies not with AP, but with the editors of the various news media outlets, who choose to run the bleed ledes over local news.
If one lives in Podunk, one wants to know what's going on with the school board, the road commission and the local library -- as well as the items in the police blotter. Readers want to know what actions of what officials and local entities are going to affect the readers' everyday lives.
So if the editor of the Podunk Daily Blare prefers to use news space to run an account of Lindsay Lohan's latest lustful addictive affair rather than report that the Podunk school board can't decide whether to fire a local principal, or the Podunk library is going to take "Huckleberry Finn" off its shelves, that is not AP's fault. That's the local newspaper editor's fault -- and by extension, the fault of readers who don't complain and who keep buying/reading the paper in spite of the fact that it isn't doing its job.
I am a longtime copyeditor for a big-city newspaper, and a lifelong newspaper reader. There is much room for improvement, but if that improvement is to come, we must know exactly what needs improving and focus on that.
--JK
Several times I attempted to approach the biggest station in the Harrisburg PA market for a show: would run just once a month; cover municipal issues such as planning, land use, crime prevention. It would have a format similar to that of the old Nightline- First, a set of local headlines, then introductory video followed by interview(s) on set. A similar show could be used to cover education issues, such as funding, physical plant maintenance, various expression issues (such as Confederate flags, etc). Their reax? No one would watch.
ReplyDeleteAs for print, my solution is thus: PAY - yes, pay - for a blogger to cover several local municipalities and school districts. Pay that person well. In return, you will get 1)immediacy, 2)stories that will attract and keep an audience of intelligent news consumers w/spending power, and 3)when big stuff strikes, you will already have the depth of coverage history, contacts and audience.
You know, if you want to survive longer than cardboard in a hurricane, you have to think outside the box. I have yet to see that happen, at least in my neck of the woods.
I had no idea. Let me see; a quick visit to the “topics” desk reveals four items. Fear, sex, children, animals. 90+% of so called “news” involves one of these four. If you’re afraid your child is having sex with animals, then you’ve just been dealt a news royal flush. Congratulations! Film at 11.
ReplyDeleteBud
I really don't know if we can blame the media for covering violence. We're the ones that are paying for it. They just do what sells.
ReplyDeleteBut it's not just violence. I think we like our comedy too.
But deep stuff, stuff that matters to us personally... we'll leave that.
Erica Abbott