As sad as it may be, many people in this country are illiterate, and many more who are literate choose not to read for some poorly thought-out reason. This leaves credible forms of information to radio and television, and since most people nowadays can hardly listen to their own consciences, that narrows it down to television. Due to these reasons, I can’t help but wonder if TV news networks actually take the responsibility and integrity that their profession carries with it seriously. Personally, it seems as though these networks are more concerned with ratings than reliable news work.
First, let me start with some certain “headline” news networks, which focus on only a handful of the most ridiculous, pointless stories that a tabloid wouldn’t even print. Certainly, Anna Nicole Smith’s death deeply affects us all, but I don’t think it really warrants a segment every 10 minutes for an entire week. I now know more about what was in Smith’s fridge in the Bahamas than I do about Barack Obama’s bid for presidential candidacy. This makes me question both the networks’ reasons for prioritizing their information this way, and what our society values as important. However, I can’t say that these networks focus solely on nonsensical celebrity scandals and other mind-numbing drivel. They also force a healthy dose of fear mongering on anyone who dares stare at the screen for more than five minutes.
The other major problem I have with TV news networks is the reporters and anchors themselves. The news has turned into a way for certain people to improve their own images or to put a slant on the news to benefit a party of their choice. Case in point is a certain “news reporter” with the initials A.C., who, when Hurricane Katrina hit, jumped at the opportunity to promote his image as a man among mice. This certain “reporter” appeared not reporting any news, but holding a child and speaking of how he was helping when so many weren’t. Also, it is common knowledge that certain big-name news networks have taken political affiliations and no longer report stories objectively and in a non-partisan manner.
In this age, when people are waging a crusade against all intelligence for the purpose of filling a wallet or remaining up to par in pop-culture trivia games, I urge people to wake up and see through the fog being placed on the minds of Americans, the fog of celebrity pop culture. Take the time to realize what is truly important and indulge your literary side with one of the last true vestiges of credible reporting and information exchange, a newspaper.