The "News"

I'd like to share a few thoughts about the mainstream media. Don't worry, this isn't political. There is more than enough punditry available elsewhere. Admittedly, some of what's gone wrong with our media has been politically fueled. Maybe it's the need to fill 24-hour news channels with "news", but as I've said before, it has become reality TV.

First, about the "Octomom". In an apparent need for attention, Nadya Suleman has conceived and delivered fourteen (14) children through in-vetro fertilization (IVF). Eight of those children are from her most recent pregnancy. IVF is a procedure that allows many families to have children who would have otherwise been unable to. It is not, however, a procedure designed to impregnate a single woman who is already receiving welfare and food stamps. I'm no marriage counselor or psychologist, but I can see why this woman is single. Nadya filed paperwork recently to trademark the word Octomom and has allegedly signed with a U.K. company for a reality show. Where am I going with this? The Media has taken her story and gotten far too many miles out of it. It seems as though we can't hear enough about this story. There's the reality that some people actually care, and the perception that even more want to.

Interesting sidenote: Ironically, Suleman holds a B.S. in child & adolescent development, and was pursuing a Master's degree in counseling until 2008.

FOX, CNN, NBC, CBS, ABC, and various print outlets are acting as the enablers in some conveluted co-dependency surrounding Ms. Suleman and her attention addiction. Want to help her? Stop feeding her addiction. It's no different than alcoholism, drug abuse, or gambling. As long as people play into it, the addict continues to be supported. As long as the addict feels support, she uses. This woman needs an intervention. CUT HER OFF. Don't air her footage, don't return her calls. If the children are in danger, send in the proper authorities. Let me know after the problem has been fixed, no sooner. I don't want to hear it. I'd much rather see footage of Captain Richard Phillips returning home alive, and the interviews that will inevitably ensue.

Next up? Politics. I know I said this wasn't political, and it's not. It's about the Media. We just got through the longest Presidential race in U.S. History. Why? Because the media promoted it. They were talking about "who's next" as far back as 2005. That was the year Bush took the Oath the second time. I don't need to speak about the candidates except to say this. Hillary selfishly hung on way too long because of the abundance of "spotlights". Sarah Palin was a media event, in and of herself.

In other political arenas, I have a few examples of media over-influence.
-Kindergarten Cop is the Governor of California
-Al Franken (Stuart Smalley for the SNL fans) won a Senate seat after 7 months of counting and re-counting votes.
-Jon Stuart, a political satirist for Comedy Central, tends to ask harder questions than the real reporters do.

While I don't blame the "newsmakers" for the financial crisis, I can say with some confidence that they aren't helping. I'm no economist. In fact, I'm not great with math to begin with. However, if you tell people to be afraid, they will be very afraid. As long as our nightly newscast and the front pages of every rag in the country are screaming financial trouble, people will not spend their money. Is there a major recession? Absolutely. Will it go away overnight? Absolutely not. Would it go away faster if without the media frenzy? I'd bet a dollar it would.

Finally, fear. On just about any topic, our Media has become the source of fear. I remember when a Fox News Alerts were reserved for things like actual terrorist attacks. That same tag-line is now followed by such things as "Blogojavich won't step down", and "Gay Marriage passes in Iowa". These aren't news alerts, they're news stories. The word alert instills fear and discomfort. It isn't just Fox, they're just an easy example. Even on the local news we hear teasers like, "Are you safe in your own house? We'll tell you about it at eleven." Really? How about now? If there's really something to fear, shouldn't they tell us immediately?

"Coming up at six, your kids could be in danger."

"Is cancer hiding in your workplace? We'll tell you what we found at ten."

You know what? I've had it. Unfortunately, I can't escape it. Tomorrow morning, I'll wake up, pour a cup of coffee, and settle in for my morning dose of "news". I use the term lightly, by the way.