If I wanted I could probably make an argument that journalism and sensationalism are one and the same thing. Kami's article is a good example but it was so vivid on ABC's news feature this morning about the space shuttle. The caption was "Spacewalk to save shuttle". I was like what?...the shuttle is in some mortal danger?...something happened overnight that the machine is gonna go boom? As it turns out, the shuttle has some spacers between its tiles that have come out a bit and so the crew needs to cut them off so as to prevent what they call a blow torch effect on re-entry. According to the mission people it is precautionary. I guess they aren't taking any chances with the last event still fresh in everybody's mind. But if you read the caption and you had family up there you may have had a coronary.
Another case in point is the Halloway girl. I think CNN and Fox have milked this story to the limit. If you watched long enough you could probably figure out what her mom has for breakfast lunch and dinner and probably what time she goes to the bathroom.
It's no longer about getting the truth out to the masses, it's about getting the masses to come to you at all cost. I know it's a difficult task but could those of you in journalism try to make a difference. Stretching the truth to breaking point has become long in the tooth.
Our media here takes delight in being brutally frank, which is the other extreme. We have had horrifying pictures of murder scenes and car accidents splattered across television that would turn the hardest of stomachs. At one stage, one wondered if the practice wasn't to show the dead bodies being hauled around and then apologise for not being sensitive. That has been tempered to a great extent these days.
Which brings me to the question I posed earlier... Is journalism merely sensationalism?
9 comments:
Journalism shouldn't be sensationalism, but it often times is. If it bleeds, it leads, that the theme for many news organizations. We the public, have to read between the fine lines to find out what is news and what isn't.
the halliway thing get pun my last nerve and what gets me is that everytime i channel surfing it seems like cnn duz wait till that exact moment to have something about her and then i watch and then i get vex.
I don't believe journalism should be about sensationalism but at the end of the day many forms of media have started giving their readers/viewers/listeners what they want. We might not agree that Halloway deserves as much coverage but if it wasn't spelling ratings I'm sure the networks wouldn't be running with it.
The downshot of that though is that we miss out on a lot of newsworthy things that are happening out there whether because the media is afraid their respective audiences won't like it or because other things are taking up too much time.
Jamaica is an amazing case. Watching the news or even reading or listening to it for that matter is definitely a de-sensitizing experience... we don't seem to flinch from anything anymore because we're exposed to all sorts of graphic content from the get go.
Lawks, let me shut up... this is your blog not mine! LOL
Like your blog. Dem article de cool still. Keep it up.
Here's the link to my blog and my website:
blog http://stunner101.blogspot.com
website http://scenesofjamaica.50megs.com
I would love if you added me to your list of links as and I reciprocate the favour.
As a former media person, the answer to your question is no. Unfortunately we are in the age of sensationalist journalism; and if it's any consolation to you, because it sure isn't to me, the news reports are often obscenely graphic in SLU as well.
Journalism is all about sensationalism now for true. The only way to get a somewhat objective picture is to look at a wide variety of sources for your information and be highly skeptical of all that you read.
thanks all. Welcome Stunner. The links you see here are for the most part Caribbean bloggers with the exception of one or two. Feel free to visit their sites as well. I will add your link shortly.
These days journalism and sensationalism means the same thing. As far mi si it is all about ratings and who can catch everybodies attention the best su some money can mek. If you remember when this whole Iraq invasion did start how di one CNN did gwaan and now with the shuttle, dem jus ride the wave.Get a one story, get the people all worked up and maintain the hype as long as possible at all cost till them milk all the money them can get.
Sensationlism is part of the parcel.But I admit to watching FOX coverage of Nathalee Holloway as I am guaranteed a laugh at some of the questions-altho the situation is a serious thing
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