It's another day.
Plastered on the front page of most available newspapers and websites are reports of violence, misfortune, and all of the latest in politics and celebrity scandals. While not particularly pleasant topics, it's become something that all of us expect. You just don't pick up the daily paper or turn on your favorite news channel anymore with the expectation of being uplifted.
It is simple human nature to be curious of the things outside of our own experiences – that's why news exists in the first place, after all. Lately, however, there's been a growing emphasis on reporting the negative aspects in our lives and culture.
We're keenly aware of every celebrity that's died... how could we not be, when there's nearly twenty-four hour coverage on them, and several magazine special editions being released of their life story? Every politician whose tongue gets away from them is submitted to nearly instant scandal and public scorn, often forcing resignation.
Less surprising is that any tragedy that they can sink their claws into is instantly seized upon by the media and reported upon extensively. Who's been murdered today? Who's died in a fire today? Who's been robbed, who's been in a car wreck? Pundits rant at their pulpits on both sides of the table, stirring up not just support for their cause, but actively seeking to create hatred of their opposition.
Frankly, I feel it's all gone a little bit too far. For the sake of ratings and personal profit, we're being subjected to all of the worst of humanity without often being reminded that the good things in life exist.
This, I feel, is every bit as socially damaging – if not more so! - than anything you could point to. I feel that our media is turning a spotlight so brightly on violence, racial and class tensions, political tensions, that it's all that we can see anymore in America.
If you spend your entire day hearing about murderers, racists, thieves, the evils of the opposing political party – what will that do to your perception of your neighbors, or people you pass on the street?
In reporting so extensively on these topics, I almost feel like we're creating the very social problems we're so appalled by and... go figure, then feel compelled to report on.
What do you think?
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ReplyDeleteI do not feel that it is morally correct that our media today only exposes negative publicity. This could have a lasting effect on the next generation because they are only being exposed to the negative aspects. This is almost instilling fear within them because they are being made believe that they are growing up in a pessimistic world.
ReplyDeleteOur society today depends on information and communication to do our daily activities like work, entertainment, health care, and other things.
ReplyDeleteThe most influential of all the media has been the television, we are constantly exposed to thousands of images of violence, sex, celebrities and much more.
The media is largely owned by companies or people that shape our values, beliefs and decisions; unfortunately, these companies are in for business and controversy sells. Though covered more than probably should, violence, drug abuse, stilling…etc are happening in our society today much more than before. It is our responsibility however to be critical thinkers and evaluate the sources, be skeptical about what to believe. The same goes for children exposure to violence and other shows that aren’t appropriate for children as television can play a role in influencing children negatively. Parents should monitor what their children watch o television.
In the last year, I've really started to feel that a lot media outlets have tended toward the more scandalous stories, even if that story has no real substance at all. What's more, they do this at the expense of meaningful reporting.
ReplyDeleteFox news is the perfect example of this type of scandalous-loving news outlet. And really, if you think about it, it is more profitable for them to report in this manner. Most of the viewer's of Fox News eat up their reporting and their hard-line audience relishes in their ridiculous, contrived polls. So really their only pandering to their viewers and increasing their ratings and that leads to more revenue from advertisers.