According to the media the India is hysterical about the murder of an Indian male in Melbourne. Australia is hysterical about a satirical cartoon printed in an Indian newspaper. Is anyone surprised in a world where the news services are more interested in the emotions than the facts of any story? Even then it is not the actual emotions or even multiple emotions. Modern media can only cope with one emotion at a time, in the case hysteria, and they will tell what emotional response we the viewing/reading public should experience.
Reporting has become so subjective that news has become current affairs, current affairs has become gossip and gossip has become monopolised by and exaggerated flamboyant American homosexual stereotype. Ironically satirical talk and news shows have become the most reliable source of factual news.
The media loves hysteria even in the absence of any frenetic activity. As we start a new year and possibly a new decade (there is no room to entertain the decade debate here), I would like to suggest some “news” items that we will be told are of great importance regardless of actual significance.
• A performing artist with a reputation of substance use will die. The artists will instantly become the best ever performer within their chosen genre despite any previous reviews to the contrary. Any legal, social or personal challenges the celebrity faced whilst living will be forgotten as quickly as the media scrum forms outside the medical centre to which the body was taken. The public will of course be expected to proclaim never ending love, and hold candle lit vigils even though they have never met the person and having limited knowledge of their performing or personal history.
• A politician will have an affair. This is shocking, even though it will have little to no bearing on their performance as an elected official (if anything it might actually make an improvement) Are we meant to be shocked that they are having an affair or simply that they are having sex? Politicians are like parents. We are all sure that they have all had sex at some stage in their lives but we do not want any details or any hint that they are still having sex.
• A burglar who, in an opportunistic crime, steals a child’s bike will not make the news at all.
• A burglar who, in an opportunistic crime, steals a disabled child’s bike will be labelled cowardly, callous and brazen. The public will be told to be disgusted and to be over come with heartfelt sympathy. This emotion is to more intense if a burglary in the days before Christmas net the thief a families presents. The feeling of surprise is also required in this instance. I am always surprised that the media is surprised that theft at Christmas time results in the steal of Christmas presents. Despite insurance covering the cost of stolen properties the media will enjoy telling of the public outpouring of generosity in buying replacement objects. We will be told to shed tears of joy at this eventuality.
• Australians serving in wars will die. This is terribly sad and reason for withdrawing all troops. The death of “enemy” combatants is a celebratory news story. The death or injury of innocent locals trying to live an ordinary live within the war zone is either unfortunate or simply forgotten.
• An international disaster whether it be natural, terrorist or human/mechanical failure will only truly be devastating if an Australian lost his/her life in the disaster. Without the Australian connection the disaster which my have affected or ended the lives of hundreds of thousands of people will otherwise be reported as a mere moment of interest.
• A human rights atrocity will be reported, we will of course be offended. Politicians on our behalf will be called on to vent our collective outrage. As such they will condemn the action and in the worst cases place diplomatic and trade restrictions. We will now feel relief that the strongest possible vocabulary was used on official government letterhead, and our consciences can be clear
• Parents will be made to feel guilty. What ever they are doing it will be wrong and have the potential to lead to death, learning difficulties social ostracism or even worse, obesity. The reason for this guilt will of course change weekly (if not sooner) and will soon contradict itself. Wearing hats as a child can lead to baldness in old age. Wearing hats keeps the brain warm leading to higher IQ.
• Any public event is exciting, spectacular and the most fun one could ever have. The fun one can have at any particular event is exponentially proportionate to the level of sponsorship the reporting media outlet has committed to said event. Like a musical where all of the characters burst forth on a seemingly spontaneous yet amazingly choreographed song and dance number complete with 6 part harmonies, the crowd in the back ground of any live cross to an event will cheer or sing or dance or laugh or clap or all of the above just as the journalist finishes their report. In the case of morning television, despite the report telling of large crowd numbers, the camera will show an excited crowd that contains only 20 or so people who look more like they are out for their morning constitutional than attending an event. This group of 20 people will also clearly be the only people in the vicinity. It is exciting!
No comments:
Post a Comment