TV Journalism as Entertainment

As much as I disdain the nightly network news, I still find myself watching it by default while my wife and I have our evening cocktail and dinner. I don't know why I continue to subject myself to this media abuse, it's lack of substance aggravates no end. Often not for what they report but for what they neglect.

For example, several important still-ongoing stories have dropped out of the media consciousness. They had us trembling in fear over that radiation from the damaged Japanese nuclear plant was wafting over the continental US. As far as I know, the the problem persists. We also know nothing of what is going on in Iraq, and meager discussion of Afghanistan only resurfaced due to the killing of bin Laden. And in spite of record tornadoes, record heat, warming of the gulf, Global Climate Change is apparently a dead issue to the media, as are jobs, or the lack thereof.

On the other hand we are continually treated to the blather of Sarah Palin. She holds no political office... remember she QUIT her position as governor. Yet the media seems to be stumbling over each other thinking she has something significant to contribute to public discourse. The news described how the press was "chasing to keep up" with her latest bus tour - why? I would love to see the press ignore her, but then it's kind of like when there is a car wreck on the freeway... you simply can't NOT slow down and look.

I have always believed that the continual coverage of the Tea Party "movement" gave legitimacy to what would in the past (and higher journalistic standards) have been disregarded as the lunatic fringe and largely ignored. In Portland, "Hands Across Hawthorne" drew HUNDREDS of people to protest the attack of two homosexual men on the Hawthorne bridge; elsewhere in town, TEN people showed up for a Tea Party rally. Guess which stories received news coverage and which one ignored! I am not sure precisely when being stupid became in vogue.

Continual news coverage may even be harmful to one's health. One of my good friends was advised by his physician to limit his viewing of cable network news where every story is presented in "immediate crises" mode 24/7. He was having trouble sleeping at night.

I used to watch the CBS program "60 Minutes" regularly but I am seriously thinking of tuning in "America's Funniest Videos" during that time slot. Hmmm, I'm under enough stress already.

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The following likely would never be produced in the US as it doesn't involve someone getting hit in the groin - leave it to the Brits to come up with a scathing critique of todays television journalism. Enjoy.

Driving Up Fear

My wife and I have owned five Toyota vehicles; our two current cars are Toyotas. If I listen to the news media I would be convinced that I should be taking out life insurance policies if I am to continue driving a Toyota. “If it bleeds, it leads” is an old news adage that rings particularly salient in today’s “you’re gonna die any minute” news environment.

The Media is salivating over the incidents of Toyota stuck accelerator pedals; the public cannot get enough and the news media knows it. But like so many things that garner the public’s attention, they do so because of their rarity. We are horrified at the stranger abduction of a child, yet the vast majority of abducted children are taken by a non-custodial parent. That isn’t news. Likewise, 40,000 people die each year in motor vehicle accidents. But what makes it into the news; the 19 people who died in stuck Toyota accelerator accidents.


So in the news yesterday is this guy who claims his Prius, (a model year that is NOT part of the heretofore acceleration recall class), accelerated out of his control necessitating a California Highway Patrol cruiser intercede to stop his car. You can read the article here.

Ok, I am going to go out on a limb here and document my skepticism on this guy’s particular claim. I am going on record that an investigation will reveal that this guy faked this incident for the purpose of gaining personal wealth through litigation. Here it is, my wager time stamped and documented on this blog. This incident smells like a stunt – so stay tuned.

In the mean time people are now wanting to trade in their Toyotas for a Ford. Good luck with that. Let me know how much you paid in maintenance to keep your Ford running for 200,000 miles.