“We have met the enemy and he is us.” – Pogo, aka Walt Kelly
The sun is setting on journalism being anything more than paparazzi to celebrities, especially those who are not good examples for anyone. — Photo by Pat Bean
It’s All Our Own Fault
How many of us have read more about Miley Cyrus than about the real possibility of going to war against Syria?
Millions more, according to CNN Managing Editor Meredith Artley, who supported her words with facts that were her excuse for making Miley Cyrus’ disgraceful behavior the top CNN story last week.
The truth pains me.
I started my journalism career back when hard-working reporters kept a bottle of Black Velvet (they couldn’t afford the good stuff) stuck in the back of a desk drawer, and when demanding city editors chomped on a cigar as they chewed me, or other reporters out, for not digging deep enough for our stories.
It was the era when journalists were trying to bring the truth about the Vietnam War to the public, the days of Watergate reporting. I, personally, wrote stories about the pain of a mother who had lost her son in Vietnam, of tough environmental issues that may have made a difference, and stories about an Idaho congressman who was kiting checks – and felt victorious when he was not re-elected.
Newsrooms, during my 37-year career, got politically correct. The booze and the cigars were banished, which was probably a good thing. But what pains me is that celebrities have escaped from the back entertainment pages to dominate Page One headlines. It was already starting when I retired almost 10 years ago. And it gets more blatant every day that passes.
That it is happening is “Bullshit,” said the CNN managing editor. “We know it and you know it. We also know that you are probably dumb enough … to click on the stupid bullshit anyway, and that you will continue to do it … You want to know how many more page views the Miley Cyrus thing got than our article on the wildfires ravaging Yosemite? Like 6 gazillion more. That’s on you, not us.”
For CNN, those millions of page views add up to millions of dollars. And that’s the reason for the media now giving people what they want instead of what they need to know. I wish it were different. But it’s not.
Pogo said it perfectly. The enemy is us, and we have no one else to blame. Well, I, for one, am going to boycott all front-page entertainment news from this day forward – and make my hits count for more important news.
Who will join me?
Bean’s Pat: Jesus and the $20 Bill http://tinyurl.com/k3o5mrj Great memoir story by one of my favorite bloggers.
Pat Bean's blog 
I’m with you on this. Disconnected the TV a couple of years ago and haven’t really missed it that much. Read NY Times online and focus on the things I want to know about rather than what the media thinks I should know. I try to focus on the positive instead of the negative. There are so many “good news” stories out there that need to be publicized and keep us inspired and uplifted. The “news” hasn’t changed that much in 5,000 years as far as I can see. Somewhere there is a war going on, somewhere else a natural disaster, famine in another place, crooked public officials and businessmen. I remember when I was 16, my aunt gave me a copy of the front page from the Boston Globe. All the stories were the same stories as what was going at that time – just the names and locations were different.
Thanks Deborah for such a thoughtful reply. I don’t own a TV, and usually get my daily news from the New York Times, whose lead stories still sometimes actually happen to be the most important news of the deay
I’m with you, Pat!
Glad to hear that Mary Ann
I will join you… Who freaking Cares about Miley Cyrus Anyway??
Signed, Livid in Austin Nancilynn Please excuse typos-sent from Iphone
Sadly 6 gazillion readers. And I take this personally that the media is pandering to them.
Hope your rant is heard far and wide. I’m on board as much as I pick and choose what news item(s) I want to follow. Even online it’s frustrating that the major news stories that pop up are usually trite, insignificant affairs. But then people do click on those petty stories and tweet about them and discuss them ad nauseum. It will only stop if we stop.
You are so right, WriteWay. So join the boycott.
I’m with you!
Thanks Marian
I have pretty much stopped watching the news news since it is over run with celebrity crapola! There are times where it goes on and on in the news for weeks if not months too – give it up already. Great Post:)
Thanks Craves Adventure. I try to stay away from the soap box on my blog, but this issue is dear to my heart.
Well, for what it’s worth, I have no idea what Miley Cyrus did except for conjecture “ripped from the headlines” and I haven’t read much about Syria, either, because it’s Viet Nam/Iraq/Afghanistan all over again, just different faces and languages. Sigh. Pogo was soo, soo right.
Sadly I was one of the 6 gazillion who clicked the link. But no more. Enough is enough.
I’m with you, Pat. A culture of celebrity is not where I want to live. I’ve also noticed that the national news on more than one station is an exact replica of the broadcast on another station, same photos, same interviewees, same order of stories. Where have the real reporters gone? But you and Pogo are right. It’s on us, the collective us, which saddens me even more for the state of our nation.
The media has become afraid of being out of step … and that’s where they belong. Thanks for commenting Barbara.
Um, I never look at the entertainment page. Well, almost never. I don’t give a rat’s tuckus about Ms. Cyrus and only know about her since she’s been forced on the public.
By the way, I thought Black Velvet was the good stuff. That explains a lot.
I hope you keep commenting Bob. Your thoughts always brighten my day. I guess in my book Jack Daniels is the good stuff, And I like your rat’s tuckus by the way.
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Thanks for this pat, Pat. And the prior one that I missed as well. Sometimes my bulb just flickers.
Flickering is good Mike. Makes life more interesting.
[…] reading, Pat Bean’s post about the difference between news and “entertainment news” (sic). And she uses one of […]
Yikes! Sad but true. America gone stupid. Only do it if it is easy and does not take thought. Not a good method of approach. On to the next generation. What will it be? Still you have to try and enjoy the journey.
Have a great day!