Broadcast Journalism Has Reached a New Low
We live in an age when the quality of news reporting by the mainstream television media has stooped to new lows. It is an era where instead of reporting a story, television media now make the story. It is an era where the media allows itself to be manipulated by those who wish to use it for their personal gain. And as a result, what ultimately happens is that we, as Americans, are less informed about the state of our world than we should be.
The manner in which the television media handled the death of entertainer Michael Jackson demonstrated that American television journalism has been brought to new lows. In the nearly two week period between the death of Jackson and his media-event memorial service, and even continuing after that, broadcast journalism allowed itself to be manipulated by the Jackson family to the exclusion of nearly every other newsworthy event which took place in our country during that same time period. CNN, for example, took the story to new lows by making it the focus of its evening and night-time news programming with nonstop coverage of every little development in the Jackson case. Major networks were not far behind. Nearly each of them featured Jackson or his death as the subject matter of their television news magazines. The culmination of all this media frenzy was the two-and-a-half hour memorial service which was broadcast live on all three networks, without interruption. In the history of American broadcast journalism, it is virtually unheard of to devote that type of coverage to a funeral or memorial service for anyone, with the exception of a U.S. President.
Michael Jackson was a private citizen, not a public figure. While it is a fact that Jackson may have been in the public eye for much of his life, it is also a fact that until recently, he had been living as an American expatriate in, of all places, Bahrain. Jackson only returned recently to this country and that was to enable him to prepare for a concert tour scheduled to take place in Britain, not the U.S. There was certainly nothing which Jackson had done during the last phase of his career to reinsert himself back into American public life, and even if he had, it certainly would not have warranted the kind of coverage which the broadcast media gave to him upon his death.
During the past two weeks many significant events took place in our world that were worthy of reporting. American soldiers continued to die in Iraq. Economic issues continued to plague our country. Thousands of Americans lost their jobs, their homes, and their health insurance coverage. Matters were continuing to develop in the Middle East, the President was promoting his health care reform bill, North Korea was rattling its nuclear sabers, just to name a few. We weren't told much about those events, and if we wanted to know about them, we had to make a concerted effort to find any information about them in the broadcast media. The information that we did get, consisted of nothing more than a few snippets here and there, nothing like the coverage that was given to the deceased Jackson. While some of us were concerned about matters affecting the environment, or the job market, we were instead fed a never ending diet of details about such irrelevant items as where Jackson's body may have been at any particular moment, or whether his funeral would take place at Neverland or another venue.
Broadcast journalistic standards met a new low in the past two weeks. Rather than reporting the news and educating Americans about issues that affect us today and into the future, the networks allowed themselves to be used by the Jackson family and concert promoter AEG to promote interest in Jackson. By releasing details of the potential funeral arrangements in bits and pieces, by sending out announcements that he may be interred here or there, that there may or may not be a memorial service, by preserving Jackson's body for what seemed to be an untoward period of time before burial, the family obtained unprecedented exposure, culminating in their ability to obtain uninterrupted network coverage of Jackson's memorial service broadcast around the world at no cost whatsoever.
This is not to say that the death of Jackson wasn't a newsworthy event, it certainly was. It is to say, that it did not warrant the amount of coverage it received, and it was not an event that should have consumed the majority of news coverage by the broadcast media for the past two weeks. By giving it that coverage, broadcast journalism in America has shown that rather than keeping the public informed about newsworthy events, it is willing to sensationalize whatever story will bring in the most viewers. Without even realizing it, those viewers have been hoodwinked. The news hasn't really been reported.
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I agree with your point about the media is more about pushing a story than telling the news. But how is the media obsessing over every little thing Michael Jackson his family fault? I think the problem lies with the media and what they feel they can use to push a story. They seem to be in the business of manipulating our emotions rather than just giving the news and allowing us to come to our own conclusion.
To add, it was AEG that put on that ceremony, not the family. I understand your point... there are other issues at hand, but Michael was more than what the tabloids called him. Other than his music and dancing, his contributions to charity are unparalleled.... that's a big reason why there's so much love for him in spite of all that happened (in my opinion).
But back to the family... I think they only did like a Press conference or two. It was the media and networks that decided to report on the Jackson's 24/7.
If you're a major advertiser you control the news.
The situation at hand is even more dire than the article depicts.
I work for a veteran centered, anti-war non-profit and let me assure you, in the echo chambers of the vox populi the war does not exist. I field too many requests from kids (most way younger than I and I'm only 29) who have come home after repeatedly being "stop lossed" (read: backdoor draft) and just can't handle what have become their disassociated lifes. Kids that are being called back out and beg for someone to help them find a way out. One recent request was a call from a woman whose son had just come back with severe PTSD and had gotten into a nasty altercation with police. She begged me to provide her with any resources that I had to not only help his legal troubles, but to get him the mental health care that he desperately needed.
But, again, there is no war....that died last year when the economy collapsed. War doesn't make for ratings. War doesn't sell cars or pills or whatever advertisements fill the commercial vacuum. I suppose that you can only wedge spliced clips between the real coverage of Jacko or Idol or Jon and Kate nonsense.
well said.
vox populi, the voice of the people. I like that.
Embedded journalists being uncritical stenographers for the Defense Deptartment in the run up to the war was not a new low.
Endless loops of every Reverend Wright utterance including his improvised press conference at the Press Club that was not a new low.
Running Rush Limbaugh's conservative pep rally without a commercial break was not a new low.
FOX news full promotional might being thrown behind anti-government tea parties was not a new low.
It is only now, years after the neverending wakes for Princess Diana and Ronald Reagan, that we have reached a new low when the "networks allowed themselves to be used by the Jackson family" in the coverage of a global figure that we have reached a new low.
Yeah I buy that.
Yes Broadcast is lame that why it nice to see online step-up...like there coverage of Michael Jackson too.
got to love it
Kill Your Television.
Thank you, Mr. Silberberg. I feel the same way. I couldn't believe it - every time
I turned on CNN, there it was- Michael Jackson. Every single little detail, quote
and rumor. MSNBC was not as bad, thankfully.
Excellent post, Mr Silberberg.
Back in February 2007 I came home one day and turned on MSNBC for some news. It was live coverage of the Anna Nicole Smith body custody hearing.
I switched to CNN. Same thing.
I tried CNN-Headline News, thinking that their rapid review of the headlines format would preclude live coverage of this non-story. I was wrong.
At that point, I couldn't help but turn on Fox (I know, I took a shower after). I knew what I'd see, but I just had to be sure. Live coverage of same.
That was the last time I've ever gone to the TV set for news. And I can see by your post, Mr Silberberg, that I haven't missed a thing.
Anyone who continues to subject themselves to broadcast media deserves what they get: much ado about the irrelevant interrupted frequently by commercials that, if possible, are even more insipid, annoying and vapid. Long live teh internets, which in most industrialized countries are faster and cost less than in the US.
Michael Jackson: Still Dead.
News at 11:00
LOL.
News reporting allows you to see the mind set of the country, a bunch if idiots.
News reporting is the poisonist food that feeds. Many chose to feast , others remove themselves from the table.
CORRECTION; MJ WAS A PUBLIC FIGURE BUT THE WAY THE MEDIA EXPLOITED HIS DEATH IS DISGUSTING! THE MEDIA ARE LIKE VULTURES! LET MJ REST IN PEACE, FROM THE LOOKS OF THINGS GOING ON AROUND THE WORLD HE IS IN A BETTER PLACE! PLEASE JOIN THE INTERNATIONAL BOYCOTT OF NEW MEDIA!
If we join do we have to write in all caps, or is that just your personal preference?
CORRECTION: You want to boycott "Old Media". New Media encompasses the Internet and other Digital means of information. TV/Radio have been traditionally called the "Old Media".
TV News is a No Holds Barred Circus of Pumped-up nonsense with a few relevant News Stories du jour.
"Michael Jackson will only die once"
"Buried along with stars like Betty White"
On top of shirking from responsibility, there's nothing being done to those who are making-up lies.
Hannity ought to be in Jail for the defamation-job he did on the President.
There are no Old Schooled Producers.
If there were; this crap wouldn't be happening.
but betty white is still alive, right?
As much as I agree with you...
I remember CNN's 24/7 coverage of "Will Paris Hilton Go To Jail" and "Britney... the Mess."
I'm sure there have been other stories pre-dating those.
You'd think that with the media giving Mr Jackson such a massive send-off the family would at least foot the bill for the actual memorial.
I pray to God that Britney is in good health.
Could not agree more. Sorry to say, but my cynicism began to kick in early watching Jermaine Jackson relaxing in a chair while being interviewed by Larry King. Then some wag made mention that perhaps Jermaine had been able to pump up his career owing to his rendition of "Smile" at the memorial. Joe Jackson touting his record label. Corey Hiam making an appearance to discuss an old association with Jackson. Brooke Shields who had not seen him in 17 years. Janet taken the time away from her "mourning" to appear at an award show to make a speech. Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton fighting over possession of the mic.
And non stop, over the top retrospectives, speculations, accusations, tributes, playing on hour after hour. It was fast becoming an audition for some and an informercial for others. Give it a rest!
I know! It is absolutely repulsive the way that the media and his family members (all of whom he didn't keep in touch with) have exploited the situation. I saw a clip somewhere where Joe J. says something about getting the children in the biz.....I wanted to punch him!!
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