One of the campaign tasks I find most challenging is figuring out which of the zillions of issues out there to bark about. I blame this on technology. The 24-7 news frenzy has to have something to barf up; that means a lot of comments and events get exaggerated, twisted and sensationalized. Talk about the tail wagging the dog!
It’s not all the media’s fault. The anonymity and ubiquity of the internet also are to blame. (Yes, I know some of these are big words for a dog, but because of my species, I have to work twice as hard to get people to take my campaign seriously.)
Have you read the hatred spewing out on some of these online comment boards? I can tell you, the worst of it is not from conservatives. The most offensive name-calling, vitriolic rhetoric is coming from so-called “tolerant” liberals. When I read this stuff, I wonder if we can ever be one nation under God.
Of course, it’s one thing for people to verbally bite each other on an anonymous forum in the name of public discourse. But, as a candidate for Congress, I draw the line at our representatives and senators standing up on the floor of their chamber and reading lies and gutter talk into the Congressional Record. Are the words of Rep. Alan Grayson (D-Fla.) really the legacy we want to leave as the archives of our time?
Arf! Here’s where the media come back in. Grayson has learned that as a freshman rep without rock-star status, he gets no attention when he’s just doing his job. Nope, the only time he gets his 15 minutes of fame is to engage in Hugo Chavez-inspired speeches. If the media would stop rewarding him with mic time, he’d focus on his job instead of his sound bites (pun intended).
I can assure you that if I’m elected to Congress, I won’t have to pull a Grayson to get my 15 minutes.
I’m Joey. I’m a rock-star dog. And I approved this blog – even though it doesn't carry the White House seal of approval.
Showing posts with label media. Show all posts
Showing posts with label media. Show all posts
Sunday, November 1, 2009
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Victims of the 24/7 News Cycle
The death of the city newspaper often is blamed on the economy. But what really killed it is the 24/7 news cycle created by CNN and the Internet. By time a newspaper is printed, its news is already history.
Another victim of the 24/7 news cycle is good, solid reporting. Since this cycle is driven by a constant supply of new information, the emphasis is on producing words -- not on investigating truth. As a result, sound bites have become the golden currency of the media. And words really do speak louder than action.
Think about it. A government official eloquently reads a speech written by a professional speech writer. But before a reporter has a chance to match the official's action with his words, the news cycle has moved on to the next sound bite. Most people, yielding to short attention spans and the desire for novelty, don't care that the official's speech doesn't align with his life. And if those few people who do care try to point out the contradictions, they're ignored, ridiculed or considered irrelevant dinosaurs.
Thus, someone like Al Gore, for instance, can become the guru of the green movement even though his carbon footprint is bigger than that of Paul Bunyan.
Another victim of the 24/7 news cycle is good, solid reporting. Since this cycle is driven by a constant supply of new information, the emphasis is on producing words -- not on investigating truth. As a result, sound bites have become the golden currency of the media. And words really do speak louder than action.
Think about it. A government official eloquently reads a speech written by a professional speech writer. But before a reporter has a chance to match the official's action with his words, the news cycle has moved on to the next sound bite. Most people, yielding to short attention spans and the desire for novelty, don't care that the official's speech doesn't align with his life. And if those few people who do care try to point out the contradictions, they're ignored, ridiculed or considered irrelevant dinosaurs.
Thus, someone like Al Gore, for instance, can become the guru of the green movement even though his carbon footprint is bigger than that of Paul Bunyan.
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Journalism 101
It's easy to blame the amorphous media for spinning the facts and burying the truth. And, a lot of times, they deserve the blame. However, we have to share some of the blame as we tend to be passive media feeders rather than interactive thinkers who question what we hear and form our own opinions instead of relying on others to shape our views.
One of the topics we discussed in my introductory journalism classes -- yes, as a matter of full disclosure, I must admit that I am a journalist and, perhaps worse yet, I have taught university journalism courses -- was whether the media reflect society or shape it. Throughout the course of American history, it has done both. For much of the 20th century, journalists at least gave lip service to trying to be objective or fair (they're not one and the same). But today, "community" or "citizen" journalism rules. With the advent of the Internet, the idea of balance and fairness in reporting has become antiquated. From CNN's iReports to local media on-the-spot viewer reports to YouTube, everyone has a chance to spin his or her personal view of the world.
My advice to all of my students: Don't be a passive news junkie. If you're not arguing with the news anchors and commentators -- be they Anderson Cooper, Campbell Brown, Katie Couric Brian Williams or Bill O'Reilly -- you're not using your God-given brain. Don't let someone else form your opinion for you. Do the research, and make up your own mind. And then let yourself be heard -- through comments on blogs, other social media, letters or comments to the media, letters or email to your elected officials, community organizations, etc.
We can't change our world if we don't first influence it. And we can't influence it if we keep our mouths shut. Speak up.
One of the topics we discussed in my introductory journalism classes -- yes, as a matter of full disclosure, I must admit that I am a journalist and, perhaps worse yet, I have taught university journalism courses -- was whether the media reflect society or shape it. Throughout the course of American history, it has done both. For much of the 20th century, journalists at least gave lip service to trying to be objective or fair (they're not one and the same). But today, "community" or "citizen" journalism rules. With the advent of the Internet, the idea of balance and fairness in reporting has become antiquated. From CNN's iReports to local media on-the-spot viewer reports to YouTube, everyone has a chance to spin his or her personal view of the world.
My advice to all of my students: Don't be a passive news junkie. If you're not arguing with the news anchors and commentators -- be they Anderson Cooper, Campbell Brown, Katie Couric Brian Williams or Bill O'Reilly -- you're not using your God-given brain. Don't let someone else form your opinion for you. Do the research, and make up your own mind. And then let yourself be heard -- through comments on blogs, other social media, letters or comments to the media, letters or email to your elected officials, community organizations, etc.
We can't change our world if we don't first influence it. And we can't influence it if we keep our mouths shut. Speak up.
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