Maybe it's just me, but it seems like there is increasingly more sensationalism in TV journalism. Every time I watch the six o' clock news there are teasers on for the next evening's special reports, and they're usually presented in a way that invokes certain emotions in viewers. I know that it's good business to make viewers feel like they need to watch a special report, but when the emotions that are being appealed to are fear, distrust and anger, it doesn't always seem right. News programs seem to make mountains out of molehills when it comes to informing their viewers about issues affecting them - especially when it has to do with health or kids. I'd imagine that just watching the news can be a stressful experience for someone that buys into what is often unnecessary hype.

Posted by at 11:53 PM | Permalink

Maybe things have always been this way, I don't know. It just seems to me that large corporations and prominent social figures are able to spew lies that are repeated by the media and taken by the public to be the truth. These are often things that should obviously be realized as lies, yet the "real press" leaves accountability to the comedians.

Take, for example, the beloved Recording Industry Association of America. They've always been quick to point to declining music sales, and rather than verify the story, the media jumps all over it. Does anyone bother to find out where sales are really going? Or why? How about even looking for a two year old study that shows the RIAA are huge liars?

No. Nothing.

It's not just this, either. In my first year of university, I marvelled at all the ways that companies set themselves up to fully take advantage of the students, despite them being so highly impoverished. In high school, I saw a never-aired documentary on ways the World Bank is keeping countries in debt because it's bad business to do otherwise.

All this, and so much more, but what's in today's newspaper?

Celebrities.

Corporate esteem.

Even Spelling Bees.

I'm not saying there isn't news to report. I just think we're wasting a lot of space that could take real stories a lot further.

We need to hold some feet to the fire.

Posted by at 07:55 AM | Permalink

http://www.cbc.ca/thelens/program_040406.html

CBC "The Lens" documentary on the currently ballyhooed seal hunt.

Tuesday April 4, 2006 at 10pm ET/PT
repeating Saturday April 8 at 10pm ET/PT

Posted by at 07:52 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)