I am really beginning to think many of you guys out there don’t want an independent media — you want a damned public relations firm.
I also liked this Matt Taibbi column in the NY Press:
The most absurd aspect of the Newsweek scandal was the whole idea of a “media out of control.” Many people, even allegedly responsible people like Peretz, took the position that the post-Watergate American press is now so sick with self-love and power-lust that it reflexively sheds its ethics whenever it smells blood.
In Santa Maria, California this week, I am one of over 1500 media personnel accredited to cover the Michael Jackson trial, one of the most pointless and idiotic news stories of all time. By the thousands, we chase tornadoes, wring our hands over Brad and Jennifer, film babies fallen in wells, do one-hour interview specials with Scott Peterson’s cellmate. Once every year or so, one or two of us steps out of line to cover some serious matter involving war or corruption or torture. If that’s “out of control,” what would we be if we were really working?
Derek, has anyone in the media ever done a study to see what the demand is for the “Michael Jackson” stories is? I personally could care less about that stuff, and most people I talk to shake their heads wondering why the media obsesses over those “vanity” stories.
Is there really a demand for those stories? Or has the media fallen into a trap of thinking they have to cover them so excessively?
Umm, yeah, there is a huge demand. If you look at the Laci Peterson story, for example, that really boosted ratings and sold a lot of magazines.
You don’t really need to do a study — TV and cable pay very, very close attention to ratings, while magazines looks at newsstand sales.
Keep in mind that the media isn’t monolithic — you get the cable news channels and the morning shows obsessing over these “vanity” stories, as you call them, but they don’t get much play on the evening news. And different newspapers have different approaches.
Color me disgusted then.
Well, to start with, there is a war going on.
You could get some good material and pictures from our military who are in Iraq and Afganistan without leaving your computer. We now have this thing called email and the soldiers over there have a lot of time on their hands. They could tell you all about the day they just spent. What is it like guarding Muslim prisoners? How dangerous is it searching cars for explosives? How can they tell the good guys from the bad guys? The list goes on and on. They could also tell you what they do in their spare time, like teaching English, rebuilding schools, etc.
I don’t see any of these stories in any of the papers.
Good luck getting it past your editor!
Sincerely,
Dave Lucas
Puerto Penasco, Sonora, Mexico
invitation@prodigy.net.mx
Well, I’m not sure how much flavor you can get without leaving your computer. But my editor was over in Iraq for the elections a few months ago, and certainly filed some stories about what life is like for troops. E.g., here, here and here (do a find for “lawton”, it’s that story… ignore the bracketed comments). (There were four or five others, but I can’t find them online… I’d encourage you to check out those links, though. Not all point to my paper, but they were all printed in my paper).
A number of people seem to want fluffy, “good news” stories out of Iraq. Frankly, unless they’ve been there, they can go screw. Independent media, not propaganda.
But we certainly have printed stories about what life is like for the troops in Iraq, and we’ll continue to do so.
I checked there, there and there.
Without leaving my computer I certainly detected the flavor.
“Frankly, unless they’ve been there, they can go screw.” That’s a bitter taste, isn’t it?
Sincerely,
Dave Lucas
Puerto Penasco, Sonora, Mexico
invitation@prodigy.net.mx
I just don’t see it as worth my time debating.
I mean, look: I’ve never been to Iraq, so I can’t say for sure that reporters there are getting the story right or are too negative or too positive. But I don’t think that other people can know that from the comfort of their living room, either.
Ultimately, I’ve been in the newspaper business 10+ years; I’ve worked for four different papers and I’ve freelanced for a wire service. Less experience than some, to be sure, but enough to know that some of what’s said about the press is just bullshit. … I’m not saying we are perfect, don’t make mistakes or shouldn’t be criticized. There’s certainly a lot we do wrong and should do better.
But I also know from first-hand experience that the caricature of reporters painted by so many right-wingers is really far from reality … The constant questioning of motives, etc. I only know one of the correspondents currently in Iraq, but based on everyone I’ve met in the business here in the U.S., I have faith in the overall picture of what’s being reported over there. (I’m also sure they sometimes get details wrong and occasionally mess up stories, as well, though).
I don’t expect people to be persuaded by my experience; I know I’m not making an argument, as much as a declaration. Like I said… it’s not worth debating! Ultimately, I guess, people have to muddle through and figure out on their own where the truth lies.