2008 Woodie Awards
Who's Anna Nicole's baby's daddy?
Muhlenberg Weekly Executive Board
Issue date: 2/15/07 Section: Op/Ed
- Page 1 of 1
The media has shaped or should we say misshaped so many of our notions on life and how to live it. From what we wear, what we sing, watch, eat or not eat, think and how we act, the media has twisted and distorted natural behavior and individual thought. The news is a source one would think would be free from such influences; though a type of media in its printed, televised, broadcasted and online forms, the news appears to negate conglomerate media's oppressive and dominating conformist ideals. However, appearances can be deceiving.
We're not stupid or at least, we're in college, we shouldn't be. We know certain newspapers slant stories and certain TV networks cast certain politicians in a better light over others. Yet, we rely on the news to deliver hard-hitting and accurate information on national and worldwide events, free of bias and manipulation. It's disappointing when the news becomes more focused on celeb outbursts and scandals rather than reporting on the genocide in Darfur or the upcoming presidential nominations. Is the news hurting so much for an enraptured audience that it has to stoop to cover Donald Trump's "fat slob" comments or Rosie O'Donnell's comb-forward coif insults? When did the news become an outlet for sensational celebrity updates? "Who is Anna Nicole's baby's father?" is now headline news and her death seemed to shock the world as much as a president's assassination.
The news hasn't lost its "informative" nature, only its standards on coverage. To some, Miss America's fall into the abyss of substance abuse and resulting rehab would seem like a huge kink in the rhythmic clockwork of everyday life. However, for those of us not enthralled by the beauty queen's lapse in behavioral restraint, we are left wanting more. Perhaps this is the new wave of news reporting or more likely, maybe news has finally been corrupted by its medial roots. But one thing is for certain, these editors are looking for something deeper than a pop culture update when we turn on the 10:00 p.m. news, hopefully you are too.
Do we really care who the father of Anna Nicole's baby really is, or is this yet another concocted message the media delivers to our televisions, inboxes, homepages and cell phones telling us to care? It's time to demand a return to issues that matter.
We're not stupid or at least, we're in college, we shouldn't be. We know certain newspapers slant stories and certain TV networks cast certain politicians in a better light over others. Yet, we rely on the news to deliver hard-hitting and accurate information on national and worldwide events, free of bias and manipulation. It's disappointing when the news becomes more focused on celeb outbursts and scandals rather than reporting on the genocide in Darfur or the upcoming presidential nominations. Is the news hurting so much for an enraptured audience that it has to stoop to cover Donald Trump's "fat slob" comments or Rosie O'Donnell's comb-forward coif insults? When did the news become an outlet for sensational celebrity updates? "Who is Anna Nicole's baby's father?" is now headline news and her death seemed to shock the world as much as a president's assassination.
The news hasn't lost its "informative" nature, only its standards on coverage. To some, Miss America's fall into the abyss of substance abuse and resulting rehab would seem like a huge kink in the rhythmic clockwork of everyday life. However, for those of us not enthralled by the beauty queen's lapse in behavioral restraint, we are left wanting more. Perhaps this is the new wave of news reporting or more likely, maybe news has finally been corrupted by its medial roots. But one thing is for certain, these editors are looking for something deeper than a pop culture update when we turn on the 10:00 p.m. news, hopefully you are too.
Do we really care who the father of Anna Nicole's baby really is, or is this yet another concocted message the media delivers to our televisions, inboxes, homepages and cell phones telling us to care? It's time to demand a return to issues that matter.