Lately I have felt the weight of news consumption in the U.S. and determined that news (in this country) likely has nothing to do with relevance or keeping people informed. I would posit that most citizens in the United States consume news the same way they would anything else — as a form of entertainment.
Shouldn’t news pertain to what really matters in your region? In our case, our country, our cities, our neighborhoods, etc. News should be relevant. It should also keep you informed regarding global affairs, with special attention on how our nation is impacted by them (and conversely the impact the U.S. has abroad).
News should be an advocate for positive change, exposing corruption, raising cultural awareness, and serving as an unbiased voice of truth. (I will acknowledge that last bit is laughable — but, it should be how we roll). In other parts of the world, the news just feels different. Even when it encompasses issues within the United States.
Why would the death of Anna Nicole Smith, or O.J. Simpson shaking down sports memorabilia hawkers warrant more heavy rotation airtime than something more informative? Is it because our lives do not depend on it? I guarantee the people in Pakistan consume the news as a matter of life or death. We should be as well — but, the news we consume needs to serve a purpose beyond entertainment.
Perhaps the line between entertainment and news is blurring, or we’ve become entertained by news.
I for one love political news. I hear people talk about how the Presidential race should be shorter, or that it’s become too mean. I disagree, I think that the process is patently American and that we are indeed entertained.
I just watched Fred Thompson a minute ago, not a candidate I’m supporting, and I found his interview very positive and enertaining. I liked it.
There you go again slapping people around with the truth. Don’t you ever stop!
It does drive me nuts what the news pays attention to. The first time this really hit home for me was the famous white bronco chase. Everyone knows what I’m talking about because everyone had to look at it on every channel for weeks. What purpose did that possibly serve anyone who watched it?
There is so much news going on that we don’t see. I saw Eric Rice mention about switching his front page of CNN to the international edition. I tried it for a week and it is amazing the things you learn about but never see on any nightly news program or talked about.
I also long for hyper local news. It is so hard to find out what is happening just outside my doors sometimes. Boston is great, but I don’t live downtown. I want to know what is happening within a 10 mile radius of my house. Very hard to get that.
If news/media corporations were not for profit, would that make them less likely to peddle infotainment as news?
“Newsflash: The medical field has issued a global warning, but did anyone tell you? Find out what household items will kill you in seconds…. tonight at 11.”
Wow! You totally have summed up how I feel about TV. It is just a source of entertainment.
However, in NYC and if you have Time Warner Cable, I watch NY1 religiously. They do not talk about the nonsense of Anna Nicole or celebrity news that much. They give you the facts of what is going on in New York City and the surrounding areas.
Actually almost have the information I put on my blog, I hear on NY1!
It definitely is an education within itself. I wonder if most local news channels subscribe to just giving you the facts of what is going on in the world?!
Happy 2008! Starting off with a BANG!
I think the answer to this problem will come when people start relying on other people, rather than large networks and corporations, to deliver the news. And I think the web has great potential in delivering on that promise.
I’m keeping my fingers crossed for the day when news will be delivered by the people directly involved in it, and delivered to the people that directly want that news.