Getting desensitized to news media does not happen overnight....it follows a long winding road which starts with promise and ends with distaste. For some, it starts with morning news shows in the nineties, through which wide-eyed ingenues drank up sights and sounds of a new and exciting world. Not ones who cared for mindless soaps, they get hooked instead to these vaudeville style shows that for three hours would give them a slice of americana. So, they go through a plethora of emotions at the OJ Simpson trial, the Oklahoma city bombings, Princess Di's divorce and subsequent death, Mother Teresa's passing, a sheep called Dolly, Jon Benet Ramsey's murder, the Unabomber, the Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa run chase, the Clinton-Lewinsky saga, Ricky Martin fever, Columbine, El Nino, the tragedy of Flight 800 and the Y2K non-event among many others, with the whole nation.
Then the 2000's roll around and the shine begins to wear off a tad. There is a realization that news is cyclical. The Gulf war and Saddam Hussein gives way to Iraq war and Saddam Hussein to Afghanistan and Osama Bin Laden to Libya and Gaddafi, Somalia to Darfur, Bill Clinton to Gary Condit to Eliot Spitzer to John Edwards, heck, even the McCaughey septuplets in 1997 to the Suleman octuplets in 2009. In a bizarre dance, the people and places change but the news in essence remains the same and news reporting seems more sensational. Add celebrity news to this melee and it only gets worse. The 21st century ushers in the new era of "being famous for being famous" with hall of famers like Paris Hilton, Richard Hatch, the balloon boy and others. This is also the time that weather emerges as a serious newsmaker, unleashing earthquakes, tsunamis, hurricanes and tornadoes at the drop of a hat.
These days, there is a reluctance to watch any TV in the morning, except a quick weather watch to decide how to clothe the kids for school. World news is too depressing and the lesser said about local news, the better. Mornings must be positive and joyful so that the feeling reverberates through the whole day and news certainly does not help this cause. Has news has gotten more disturbing or has tolerance for it declined? Why this reluctance to switch on the TV today when every news channel will be talking about Osama's death and why the saturation with the royal wedding or Heidi Montag's multiple surgeries?
Why be upset at the news-makers when the news itself is so disturbing? They just hold a mirror to our face every minute, every hour, every day. If anything, they try and inject some humor into the whole thing. If not for media circus, Lindsay Lohan would be just another loser and the royal hat fashion would be just another faux-pas.
Then the 2000's roll around and the shine begins to wear off a tad. There is a realization that news is cyclical. The Gulf war and Saddam Hussein gives way to Iraq war and Saddam Hussein to Afghanistan and Osama Bin Laden to Libya and Gaddafi, Somalia to Darfur, Bill Clinton to Gary Condit to Eliot Spitzer to John Edwards, heck, even the McCaughey septuplets in 1997 to the Suleman octuplets in 2009. In a bizarre dance, the people and places change but the news in essence remains the same and news reporting seems more sensational. Add celebrity news to this melee and it only gets worse. The 21st century ushers in the new era of "being famous for being famous" with hall of famers like Paris Hilton, Richard Hatch, the balloon boy and others. This is also the time that weather emerges as a serious newsmaker, unleashing earthquakes, tsunamis, hurricanes and tornadoes at the drop of a hat.
These days, there is a reluctance to watch any TV in the morning, except a quick weather watch to decide how to clothe the kids for school. World news is too depressing and the lesser said about local news, the better. Mornings must be positive and joyful so that the feeling reverberates through the whole day and news certainly does not help this cause. Has news has gotten more disturbing or has tolerance for it declined? Why this reluctance to switch on the TV today when every news channel will be talking about Osama's death and why the saturation with the royal wedding or Heidi Montag's multiple surgeries?
Why be upset at the news-makers when the news itself is so disturbing? They just hold a mirror to our face every minute, every hour, every day. If anything, they try and inject some humor into the whole thing. If not for media circus, Lindsay Lohan would be just another loser and the royal hat fashion would be just another faux-pas.
Well said Priya!. I hardly watch any TV anymore. However, like you stated, I ritualistically turn on the TV every morning to watch the weather channel to decide on what clothes should I put on Divya's back!.
ReplyDeleteThere is no real news anymore and that is kinda sad.
My only concern at this point is how long do I have to endure the security check at the airport during my next trip!
My sentiments exactly. Lets all go back to the good old days of waking up to to MSS' Suprabhatham or Vishnusahasranamam. Knowing whats happening around the world is one thing. Being bombarded by it from your very waking moment is another thing. Nicely written Priya!
ReplyDelete.....Sita
@ Simi, you better get used to it girl.....long lines and flight woes are here to stay!
ReplyDelete@ Chandra....some days, I have a splitting headache at the end of the day from all the negativity!