Monday, September 19, 2011

HB: I Read the News Today, Oh, Boy

The news. I know I need to read it, watch it, stream it, overwhelm myself with it, but point blank? It pisses me off.

It's not the media folk themselves, as I myself am a journalist in theory/on a diploma abandoned somewhere. The troubling thing is what they are reporting.

There are currently two overwhelming sectors of news reporting which can only be labeled as "Really?" and "Fucking Tragic." Sometimes they blur, especially of Michele Bachmann is involved.

Really?
These stories, like the brilliant Seth and Amy segment on SNL, just make you think/say/scream "Really?" I'm talking about the way-too-much coverage of Kim Kardashian's wedding, the over-introductions at the Tea Party debate, and your garden variety WTF stories. I'm not saying I don't get a laugh out of a Swedish moose that can't hold his alcy, but if you're giving it more than a blip of coverage, you're probably a shitty reporter or in desperate need of a Tumblr account. If I want news that's gonna bust my gut or make me scratch my head, I'll go looking for it on sites like The Onion or the aforementioned and almighty Tumblr. I don't, however, expect to be gunned down repetitively with the same style of stories from real serious respected established news outlets.

Fucking Tragic
I don't have to really explain this aspect of the news, but in case you haven't been paying attention, every night we are regaled of tales that involve death and despair. While it is true this is a reflection of our world, this pain is often extorted for ratings. The other night, the leading story on the 11 p.m. news was about a deadly plane crash at an air show. As if this wasn't awful enough in itself, we were then presented a video of the crash as it happened. It wasn't as widespread as say a 9/11, but it was just as horrifying to see. There are accounts of young soldiers dying around the world, governments that are in shambles, and politicians who are bigoted, crazy, or both. There is a distinct lack of a bright side in our papers and our airwaves. Oh, except for when those Really? stories get a day or six of coverage.

There are still some standouts: Both "The Daily Show" and "The Colbert Report" do a wildly good job at commentating on the goings-on of the world, especially for two shows that are at their base satire, a form of comedy. We have reporters like Anderson Cooper and Brian Williams, but in order to bring us their stories, they have to play off of their personas in many a comedic cameo. The New York Times will always be solid. There will always be shining glimpses of hope in the media, but they will always be overshadowed by these nutso networks (FOX) and stories that either make us want to punch babies or kill ourselves.

I just don't know how to balance being an educated citizen and journalist, and not being depressed or full of rage all the time. I'm constantly searching for a way to fix it because that's my job, but it is also the job of thousands of others out there who simply are not doing it.

7 comments:

  1. The New York Times is a joke, just like Colbert and Daily Show.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Would you prefer another solid publication like the WSJ, Anonymous? Or perhaps The Washington Post? What's your basis for "a joke" and why do you have to hide behind anonymity on a blog about honesty?

    ReplyDelete
  3. Great news - and even better timing! Just moments prior to finding your Facebook link to this post I saw a commercial for Channel 2 News... promising news coverage that isn't sad, depressing, or anger-inducing. "Coming this fall."

    While it isn't written new coverage, the concept in general makes me atwitter with anticipation, though I anticipate disappointment. Since when do miracles occur on local television?

    Another brilliant post on your behalf. Once again you have me imitating a bobble head doll as I nod along in agreement. And then I grin at your returned comment to Anonymous there.

    Really, overall, you end my day in the most perfect way.

    ReplyDelete
  4. ...and thumbs down on my redundancy with the word "anticipate". boooo...

    (I HATE when I'm redundant. *le sigh*)

    ReplyDelete
  5. My Criminology class has been going over this topic and my teacher HATES the usual news coverage. She goes off on a 20 minute rampage about how stupid and uninformed reporters are at least once a week.

    On a positive note, I LOVE YOUR BLOG!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Most people don't think about the system behind covering a news story - the meetings, the decisions, the CHOICES made in what to cover and not cover . . . and then there is the big question of the "how". How they talk to people - how they pry - how they present. So HOW is it we don't get that media presence in and of itself can alter "news" - - - and then of course there is HOW media is used to manipulate political scenarios by political PR machines. Therefore I totally agree that making fun of yourself as a news person (such as Daily, Colbert and the incredible Onion) seems the only place to go to get not just a look at what's happening in the world, but of how "bent" any news story can be.

    ReplyDelete