A brain divided cannot stand (point-counterpoint) (531 hits)
Category: NewsRating: 2 on 2 reviews (Rate this item) (V)
Submitted by RandytheHelpfulPineapple <sopher901.at.excite.com> (View user info) at 2005-07-21 00:42:47 EDT
This article is written from my point of view. Please feel free to continue the debate as I, as you will find in the article, am trying to figure out some sort of conclusion myself.
A point-counterpoint on the legitimacy of the media from within the depths of RandytheHelpfulPineapple's indecisive and armchair-intellectual brain:
Starting arguments:
Idealistic and Angry me: Today I sat on my duff after work and flipped on the television, eager to gain insight into the world around me. I was instead filled with irrelevant stories (read gossip) about a suburban white teenager lost in Aruba. At first I shook it off, thinking that in depth stories like this are a reflection of common cases that occur in America, but then I thought about it. All these murder cases, or missing people cases that air on these cable news networks involve white female suburbanites.
If these news stories are to be a reflection of America, then why are there so few about minorities being murdered or kidnapped?
This brings into question of the legitimacy of the news we are being presented with. The news today is merely entertainment, and knee jerk reactions rather than investigative or informative reporting. The news agencies of America owe a service to the people to keep them informed and sentient of the world around them.
Sympathetic and Realistic me: While the type of news being churned out of these agencies does not appeal to the taste you enjoy, it does appeal to a great deal of Americans. Cable news agencies do not owe a service to inform you on all news stories, nor to experiment with investigative reporting; they owe it to themselves to stay in business. If that means bowing down to the people's short attention span or infatuation with missing white suburbanite women, that's what they have a right to do. If that is the way the majority of the country wish to be informed, pragmaticism dictates that they must be informed that way.
Do you think that these media outlets don't know that it is very important to inform the populace about lesser known world revelations or to test the government's actions with greater precision (whether liberal or conservative)? These are professional journalists that know more than you could ever know about how to properly tell a story, but at the end of the day they have to eat, and this is what America wants to be informed about, so deal.
Point-Counterpoint conversation:
IA: It is true that pragmaticism determines what goes on televisions. Ratings, and glitter but very little substance does not make you accredited in my book. News is here in the first place to help inform us, and they're turning a blind eye.
SR: While you might not think so, millions of others do not. The needs of the many out number the needs of the few. While they might not put out the best quality news, they have to stay in business to keep giving the news to us; quality or not.
IA: But by throwing off their initial requirement we entrusted the media with they have outlived their purpose, correct? If they no longer inform the people properly, and give in to knee jerk stories and buzz words, they are no better than a movie or a sitcom. The fourth arm of government does not operate any more. Instead of the issues, these news networks focus on conflict and wars of words, which let politicians throw focus off of what the real problems are.
SR: Here's a question for you: Would these people that are being "deceived" by these "unethical pundits" even care about the issues if there wasn't conflict to interest them? It seems you are fighting one man war for something no one else wants.
IA: It doesn't matter if no one else wants it; it should be there. If most people don't care to own a gun, does that mean that we shouldn't have guns?
SR: You're exaggerating, and going off point.
IA: Fair enough, here's a question for you then: if America is for some reason infatuated by what time it is at all times, should all these news agencies begin to broadcast video of a clock on a wall?
SR: I see your point, but things aren't in that extreme. News agencies can only go so far down that idealist road before they get cut off the air because of ratings. It's just a fact of life. It's a sad thing but most Americans can't muster the attention span or the empathy to pay as close of attention to the world around them as you desire.
IA: So what have we concluded here? That Americans are apathetic towards current events. Why do you suppose that is? Maybe because there isn't anything to peak their interest due to the sad state the news is in. Maybe some unique reporting, or some well scooped reports would spark some interest, but then again that might not be cost effective.
SR: You're suggesting that the media's laziness towards news is causing America's? That's interesting. Perhaps we should blame Managers when someone loafs at work.
IA: Perhaps you should; Managers should motivate their workers just as these news agencies should peak their audience's interest.
SR: Except when these channels try to peak audience's interests, they lose money.
IA: So higher profit margins dictate what the guardians of the people should put on the air?
SR: In today's society, yeah, pretty much.
IA: Don't you find it the least bit disturbing that these big conglomerates are putting up a veneer-thin façade of being informative and helpful despite misleading their audience?
SR: Business is business; maybe you should watch PBS, comrade.
IA: Maybe I will.
User Reviews
Submitted by RandytheHelpfulPineapple (user info) at 2005-07-21 12:50:36 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
The Daily Show remains a favorite of mine. It'd be a pure news source if it wasn't laced with comedy (though I enjoy that as well).
Perhaps news needs to be laced with something to get America's attention; whether it be comedy or entertainment. Either way I can't understand why there are updates every ten minutes on the case in Aruba, when they could be covering something much more massive and meaningful.
Submitted by Serious_Melvin (user info) at 2005-07-21 02:49:08 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Well written. I was having this kind of discussion today (though not as in-depth). It's kind of ridiculous when an American girl getting kidnapped in Aruba becomes a week-long national news story. The mainstream news in America has become a joke. Oh well, there's always The Daily Show.