The media. It's unflinching, unyielding, relentless ability to make a story appear much larger than it actually is. Without regard for the merits of a story, it's "newsworthiness", the media "reports the news".
It was an unsatisfying irony that on the day the Imus controversy peaked, the Duke Lacrosse players were cleared of all wrongdoing. Both examples of a media mainstream completely overflowing its banks. A simple perusal of the Duke investigation, a once-over of the evidence, should have resulted in a braking on the story which rose to national prominence. And now that the evidence has cleared them, who are the victims?
As for Don Imus, he said a stupid thing. But he has a radio show where he can say stupid things. In context, it was, what I call, a Michael Rappaport: A white guy trying to be black. Inevitably, such attempts, never come across as such. But that's all it was. It was a stupid thing to say.
It was not national news. It did not merit the 24/7's ongoing, situation-room, 360 degree coverage. So why was it? Because the 24/7's say it was. And why would they? Because there was nothing else going on that day. Or, really, four days later. Aside, you know, from the daily killings in Iraq, Sudan and Iran. Yet this story takes precedent. This is what Americans need to be informed about. This, and Anna Nicole's baby's father.
Three stupid words, uttered Michael Rappaport style, launched the crusade of Barak and Oprah and Jesse and Al. AP articles appear on ESPN.com saying "Don Imus targeted the Rutgers basketball team -- a team that includes a valedictorian, future lawyer and several outstanding students". ESPN? Targeted? CNN, MSNBC, FOX News all parade the "victims" out for an hour long press conference. It occupies the above the fold top stories on every major news website in the country.
It's called Wagging the Dog. Or Dawg in this case. The 24/7's need something to generate viewers. So they pick up on something that journalism 101 tells them is not newsworthy. They run with it because it has some bite, arguably. Even though it happened four days previously. They create a media blitz. They make fancy graphics. Bring on experts. Throw up the words "Breaking News", even though, again, it had happened four days earlier. They pull sound bites of inflammatory guests, whether or not they're right in what they say, or justified (irony, anyone?). And they yell across tables and satellite feeds. My God do they yell.
And don't get me into why he was even fired A WEEK later. Media pressure anyone? Advertising money being pulled? (which gets into who determines content, advertisers or the company? Remember Quiz Show?) CBS clearly doesn't have a pair.
I work in news. I did anyway, for five years. I changed jobs recently because I could no longer tolerate this penchant for "running with a story" when the facts of the story don't call for it. I prided myself as not going ape over the death of Anna Nicole, even though some of my bosses wanted to call it breaking news. For not going crazy over Duke Lacrosse. For having some objectivity, some critical thinking skills to weigh the merits of a story. But I couldn't do it any longer.
"I don't have the power."
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5 comments:
Now don't get me wrong, I was dying to know who Dannielynn's daddy is, but meanwhile the Decider has extended the length of tour for thousands of servicemen. And this has gone almost unnoticed. It's infuriating.
What is infuriating is the total lack of coverage for all the good our service men and women are accomplishing in Iraq! You will not see that covered in the self-centered, narcissistic media!
This media feeds on the failures of others yet holds itself as the moral compass for all!
It is both an illogical and an immoral position.
And for Al and Jesse...let's talk about extortion with a small attempt of cleaning up gangsta and all its hideous expressions!
I don't think that Imus should have been fired. If every person was fired for saying something stupid. There would be no one working. Everyone would be unemployed. What about our president? He's still in office. I think this whole ordeal was blown way out of proportion. Our local stations here in Cincy say worse things. One station even says the unmentionable black word all the time! And I had never even heard of Imus before this. So who really cares?
Look at the songs that are the top 5 I think on "Billboard Hot Rap Tracks". Just rotten filth and there are many young people that enjoy this garbage. We all have to take a stand and refuse to listen, purchase or mimic this filth.
Let's see, one guy gets an grammy for rapping filth and the other gets the boot for a wrong comment.
Here in Raleigh we went crazy. The day the AG cleared the lacrosse players our first block and half of the second was nothing but Duke Lacrosse. I know that it happened here, but danm that's a lot of coverage.
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