forty years on

  The news as entertainment. It seems to me that has what it has become. I was listening yesterday as it was pointed out how many missing persons they are that you never hear about. You can't argue with that, it is the straight up truth. The case of Gabby was being used as an example of that. Why was her picture and disappearance all over the news? There was some discussion about that being the case solely because she is white. Yeah, some truth in that as well, although I don't believe that as the prime motivation. No, I think it made the news because it was, and still is, a good drama. Drama sells almost as well as sex. The whole back story is what the news was reporting on. A young couple traveling the nation, he comes home without her, she's missing, he disappears, the body is discovered and now Dog, the bounty hunter, is on the case. Reads like a script. And that is the reason for all of that.

 None of that is meant to detract from the tragedy of Gabby. None of that is intended to minimize a serious problem in America as far as missing people go. All I'm saying is, in order to make the news the story has to be entertaining in some fashion, that seems to be the criteria. The evening news is reflecting social media or maybe it is the other way around. Whichever way it is, that is why there is such a lack of trust in the media. I certainly don't believe everything I read on Facebook and I don't believe most of what is reported on the news. The truth is, simple facts are often boring and people want to be entertained. Good old Walter knew that and that's why his tagline, "and that's the way it is." He said that on air, for the last time, forty years ago. 

  Walter Cronkite explained his use of that phrase. He said his newscast was intended to be a mirror. He tried to reflect back to the audience what they were seeing, hence the phrase, and that's the way it is. It was up to you, the viewer. to figure out just what you were looking at, all Walter did was provide that mirror. It was much the same way as your parents, siblings and friends present the world to you. Yes, you thought that girl was a dream boat until it was shown to you what she really was. The news wasn't always entertaining or favorable to you. Sometimes the news just served to inform you about the reality of the situation. Sometimes that was a real bummer. The truth wasn't spun to favor any agendas. Can't say that about the news cast of today. Today the objective is to tell you what to think, not have you arrive at your own decision. The news today just paints the picture they want you to see. no mirror allowed.

 Aside from journalistic standards, much stricter back then in my opinion, the availability of news was limited. There wasn't all the social media we have today, all the websites, all the television channels. The competition for viewers wasn't nearly as intense. That plays a big part in all of this. Revenue, money rears its' head once again. For that reason we have to focus on what sells. Sensation sells! Whether that sensation is one of anger or pleasure isn't the issue, the issue is selling the product. In short, convincing you what you are seeing is the truth. Hey if I can get a celebrity to endorse whatever, it must be the truth. Whether that celebrity has any expertise in the field in question has no bearing on that. That's the reason you have pop stars and sports figures endorsing everything from political dogma to hemorrhoid creams! Ice T is now selling cold water tide because he is an expert on laundry. 

 Whatever sells the product. Also the reason the news people aren't necessarily journalists anymore, they are entertainers. Don't think so? Take a good look at who is reporting the news. No, really look at them and check their journalistic backgrounds. Have doubts? Take a good look at the meteorologists  today. Are all those those attractive women really weather experts? And the traffic guy is pretty entertaining isn't he? Ours is, doing food reviews for all the businesses that support the television station. And be sure to send in your photos of the weather, wrecks and other amusements, we will mention your name. 

 The news used to be a half hour. The reason was simple enough, that is about as long as you can expect to hold the attention of the general public on something boring. Same reason the ideal class length in schools is thirty minutes. Often they go much longer that's true, but educators say thirty minutes is best. It's true, just stating the facts doesn't take as long. It is your job to determine what those facts mean, that's the learning part of the equation. Repeating what you have been told isn't that difficult. And with that I will close, borrowing a familiar phrase, and that's the way it is. Forty years on and we are in trouble for certain. If you voted for this, look in that mirror! What caused this?