While watching some footage on Hurricane Irma wreaking its havoc through the Caribbean and the USA in September 2017, the television broadcasters were lamenting that the radio broadcasters were ‘losing’ and ‘losing out’ because people were tuning into their TVs for the coverage the visuals of TV offer, rather than listening to radios. Immediately, I furrowed my brow.
Since when did news become about winning and losing? Isn’t news for all? Isn’t it actually a service for everybody, equally?
Why have we made providing news a competition?
What is newsworthy is that our worldwide media has become about advertising deals and making money based on readership/viewership levels – the going rate for a commercial during the 2017 USA Superbowl was US $5.02 million (1). It’s based on clicks and shares on social media, achieved all the more depending on the degree of drama, sensationalism, scandal, ability to stay front page for longer etc. The more terrorising, horror-full, exposing, painful, weird, attention seeking, alarming or impactful the reporters/journalists can make a story, the better.
Many media outlets stand behind the motto: ‘People deserve to know.’ But so often this gives rise to the ‘dog eat dog,’ or ‘cat and mouse’ chase style of journalism we have that seems to far outweigh the simple bringing of news and information for the awareness of humanity. People do deserve to know, but we need to take it further and say instead, ‘People deserve to have the truth.’
We have awards for best or most courageous journalist; awards for frequency and variety of topics covered by one journalist; awards for breaking news within 36 hours of the story breaking; best investigative journalist awards and best in-print or online reporting.
We have prizes given for the stories that impact multiple parts of society; prizes for best in health care reporting; for ‘intrepid’ reporting on conflict, corruption or human rights transgressions; prizes for reporting on corruption, women’s rights and refugees; and prizes for best environmental journalism.
And we have awards to “honour journalists who risk everything to bring us the news” and for those who “persevere under the most difficult circumstances” (2). To me this begs the question: why have we made it good and desirable and now even necessary to ‘risk everything’ for a story? Why are we worth so little as human beings that we have made it acceptable to risk our health or life for recognition?
The news isn’t all bad though. Some of these awards can be useful and relative to the industry of reporting, (good/truthful) news opening our eyes to things that otherwise might stay hidden. News has the ability to bring people together through the shared knowledge of aspects of life. If only this was all news was used for.
So what if we were to (only ever) honour and celebrate journalists/media outlets through an appreciation of their respectfulness, decency and dedication in providing true stories for the public?
Let us not base our recognition on rewarding journalists’ behaviours, at times outrageous. So often these behaviours aren’t all that lovely. Let’s now look at an example of the difference between the reporting of modern day news versus how it was done some 70 years ago.
In the Samford Museum (Queensland, AUS) there is a wall of old newspaper clippings from the 1947 train crash when a train derailed between the Ferny Grove and Camp Mountain stations.
The newspapers from the day cover the accident quite graphically and in great detail. You get to understand that this was definitely a catastrophic event that killed 16 people, injuring 38 more. But you get this from the facts, not from the author’s opinion or use of emotive language. The story was covered thoroughly to provide a true account of what happened, with no words like ‘inexcusable,’ ‘shocking’ or ‘appalling’ needed; no need for a call to action from readers. Simply, the paper told the story as it happened. Punishments or damning those responsible wasn’t called for, as that was not the responsibility of news in those days.
If we were to read a report of the exact same incident in a newspaper today, we would get the facts, yes, but they would be some 20% or so of the story, – the rest given over to hypothesizing, calling for castigations of those responsible or criticising/critiquing the system that allowed the accident to occur.
Journalism these days strives to inflame the reader, to garner a response, so much so that it appears we have become almost numb to horror, needing the most reeling story to elicit a response. We have become overstimulated through emotion.
And so about this numbness to horror. Because we have become desensitised, are we choosing to not feel the pain of what we are exposed to until it becomes so, so bad? Are We, the readers or consumers of media, actually the ones asking for more and more sensationalism for our news?
Is it because We demand this style of journalism first that we are then supplied or fed the lies and half-truths we call news? Perhaps it is Us that is both the cause and the problem.
If this is indeed the case, and I do suggest that it is, then we will continue to go around and around, most likely sinking lower and lower into the stakes of indecency as We demand and are supplied what we call for. Ask, and you shall receive. When will we have had enough?
Enter Universal Medicine in the News: The True History. This is a website written by people who have first-hand experience of press abuse and has been written “to restore journalism to the decency of its purpose” (3).
Any person or any business who has ever been written about where the journalist has omitted the finer details, embellished the story to attract a wider audience (“don’t let the truth get in the way of a good story,” they say), or plainly made up ‘facts’ because the true story didn’t seem enticing enough, has been abused by the press. I dare say there would be billions out there that this has happened to.
Over time we have learned to not believe everything we read in the papers. But why should this be so? I want to be able to see truth in everything I read. Why should I have to discern what’s true or not, reading with skepticism or doubt, knowing facts may not have been verified, skimming through the emotive words and phrases to get to the real truth?
The call to action from this article is for people to reach that point too of being sick and tired of everything the majority of the media industry stands for today and ask for it to change. Because we have the situation now that money talks – readership levels and consequent advertising dollars mean the difference between the survival of a publication or not – we-the-consumers are in the perfect position to demand change.
If We choose to remain deliberately ignorant to the harm being caused through the media industry, then We remain part of the cause.
If We ALL choose to not face the fact that We are asking for what the media presents, then We ALL remain part of the cause.
If We ALL are not part of the answer – the change we want to see – then We ALL remain part of the cause. What we are silent about is what we accept.
For a week or two or permanently, don’t buy, tune in, subscribe, like, share, engage in the fodder available out there and see what happens…
By Suzanne Anderssen, B.Com, Dip Av, parent, writer, Brisbane, Australia
References:
- org. (2017). The History of Super Bowl Commercial Costs. [online] Available at: https://www.ama.org/publications/marketingnews/pages/history-of-super-bowl-commercial-costs.aspx [Accessed 30 Dec. 2017].
- Free Press Award Nominees (2017). [online] Available at: https://www.freepressunlimited.org/en/free-press-awards-nominees [Accessed 30 Dec. 2017].
- Universal Medicine in the News: The True History. (2017). Universal Medicine in the News: The True History. [online] Available at: https://www.universalmedicine.news [Accessed 30 Dec. 2017].
Further Reading:
Cyber abuse @ one’s fingertips
A Convenient Truth Most Foul: Journalism
Media Reform
Religious freedoms
349 Comments
“Journalism these days strives to inflame the reader” Truth is drowned out when we seek drama and sensationalism.
Thank you Suzanne, what you have shared is front-page-news but to do that the journalists would have to admit their error-full-ways.
Distorted news coverage of an organisation that I know a lot about has opened my eyes to the corruption that’s eaten through the media. I used to listen to the news whilst driving to work but now it leaves a bitter taste. It’s not that I hadn’t noticed this bitter taste before, I’d just ignored it. News offers only more disharmony of that which is it reporting.
Ah don’t get me started on the media!
This medium has the opportunity to do so much true good yet the media has to this day contributed to the demise of humanities respect and standards towards one and other.
I agree Suzanne, ‘ I want to be able to see truth in everything I read.’
Medicine in life – ‘say it how it is’ – no drama, no stimulation, no emotion, no reaction – facts just as it is and delivered with absolute love. What a breath of fresh air, a livingness in which I do my best to commit to.
Thank you for bringing this to our attention Suzanne, the decline in mainstream commercial media & the increase of hype & emotion has been slow and steady. Sometimes we have to go back to another era such as your example of the reporting on the train crash before we see the difference so starkly. The media seems to have gone from a slant to a spin to fabricating a whole back story and taking things completely out of context not to mention omitting the facts that don’t suit the dramatic story and sensational headline. Some journalists are out and out bullies ambushing and attacking people inciting an emotional outburst; which is their goal rather than the truth.
I agree we do have to look at our part in this and be honest have we chosen to ignore the truth in favor over an emotive story?
The ugly truth is that the general media today reports lies, we know it and we do not question it. We allow the corruption of true standards that honor and represent us all to continue to spread to all aspects of life, through our unwillingness to stand up and speak out about what we know and can feel is not true in our day to day lives.
The whole set up of the media is around drama and sensationalism. it has become the new TV – we all want excitement in our lives – and so the papers are reflecting this. But in doing so we have stripped journalism from the truth of the role – the unbiased reporting that once was.
The fact that news in the media has now become about competition for readers and viewers etc, shows a real degeneration of respect for the human being that has to endure such an imposition. And yet, it is we, the very same human beings who still continue to seek, buy and view that very same imposing media. And so, who or where is the degeneration coming from? Is it the seeker or the provider?
Yes, Suzanne. If we are living a reduced, contracted, sold out or loveless version of ourselves, how can we expect to see that reflected in every aspect of society? When we raise the standards in our own lives, we will see greater integrity and truth across the board.
I love what you share here Janet, not blaming, just bringing back the responsibility to self and us stepping up.
When news becomes a competition of how many viewers/listeners they get, it loses the purity of what news should be about – simply connecting people and keeping everyone on the same page. I wonder if competition and chasing an audience would disappear if all media was ‘free to air’ or if it is too firmly ingrained at the moment.
It goes to show that we like to react and not respond to what the news reports. We like to distance ourselves from the actual facts of what is going on so that we can stay in the city modern of our own creation and not take responsibility for how that has impacted on others.
There seems to be no accountability for this type of behaviour by the media and its Journalists, it is obvious that their code of ethics has no power at all to call for an immediate change to all the lies, mistruths, fabrication, and underreporting that goes on where lives and businesses are unfairly treated, when money and power take hold corruption enters.
It seems that the media profession does not take responsibility for how it writes, as in the tone and the words they use, which are often divisive. There had to be a choice that was made at some point to change the face of journalism into a competition, on the back of making someone a lot of money and at the expense of the reputation of the newspaper or news station.
People deserve the truth. We deserve the truth. We deserve by Living Truth in our every day. Starting from the truthful way of putting energy into media that only speaks truth and to live truth in our own lives.
“If We choose to remain deliberately ignorant to the harm being caused through the media industry, then We remain part of the cause.” well said. yet as a society, we clearly show we want the drama over the truth. Although that is starting to change.
Where there is competition there is no love. Putting someone else down in any way shape or form does not constitute love.
Imagine if we recorded all the thoughts we have and had them published! This would make the media seem restrained I think. But the chilling fact is our thoughts are communicated to the world through energy just as stories are printed. So we really ought to care what we put out there.
The media is a micro version of what we think we can hide in our thoughts. And why would these thoughts bombard our every day, what are our movements and our body really feeling to come to this result?
Beautiful Suzanne, many points reached from the angle of truth. That is: being honest about the cause is the beginning of changing things around. So far our honesty is key to actual change, not temporal lift up’s !
I have recently been doing research into another aspect, which is journalists and reports working on exposing big topics or using their role to speak out in governments or topics highly controlled and how much they are at risk of being silenced. In the press today was the news that a Russian reported was the victim of an assassination and had to fake his death – then he rocked up at his press conference that was to discuss his death, in order to expose the control of the news and what gets reported. We need to have a press that is accountable from every angle – free to report the truth but trusted to not create panic, bars or keep areas quiet by over reporting other topics.
We live our lives in a hurricane of lies – yet what we don’t want to see is it’s just a refelection of the tornado we allow inside of false ideals and beliefs. Return to stillness within and you will see the simplicity and clarity come back to you.
Jospeh I love this, from the stillness that is within everything becomes simple and life becomes full. Let go of the simpleness and choose the lies and our lives are like a hurricane indeed.
I was home alone last night and decided to watch the news and see what was happening in the world. There had just been a, what was being called a terrorist attach in Belgium and I was saddened by the way it was reported as it was all about hype and sensationalism or that is how it felt anyway, which made me realise why I had stopped watching the news a while back.
Given the quality of the stories presented by media, how they tell the story and what part of the story they tell and then not tell. We really need to ask ourselves about a free press. In western counties certainly we pride ourselves in a free press. But how free is it, when they determine which stories are not and which are not and whether or not that feel its ok to abuse someone in that process or set someone up so the community have a field day with their opinions, without even knowing what the truth is. At least in developing counties they are honest about the quality of their media organisations. Its very much hidden in western countries, plus the antipathy of the community adds to this.
Just effecting on the competition in journalism, it seems that the focus is on the journalist who gets the big breakthrough story, rather than what the story is showing us as a community. Obviously things within the community need to be highlighted and known but we are not taking these conversations deeper and asking, what does this mean for me and our community? Why is this happening? We simply move onto waiting for the next big story.
The difference described between current affairs and how they were reported decades ago is stark. We are given media that has to grab our attention span long enough for us to provide an advert, and the next click. Constant stimulation is the name of the game and we are becoming desensitised. I see this in many children’s TV programmes – they are like a hit of adrenaline they are so full-on. We are missing out on a natural way of relating and being with one another that doesn’t need drama or competition. If we keep buying into sensationalized media then that’s what will be produced.
To get to a point where we appreciate the truth in journalism means that we have to want this as our new standard. But so many of us feed the circulation of gossip that we end up with where we are at the moment – lost in what the media presents with a blurred line of reality.
I absolutely agree that we all ‘deserve to the have the truth’, from every angle. Our obedience to claim this authority to live truth, should be what impulses us to live, to call for more truth in every aspect in our lives and say ‘no’ to the normalisation of lies, abuse, corruption, drama and emotional stimulation that is what currently dominates the direction of our lifestyles. Yes, this is our responsibility, one we cannot escape and one that when we resist leave us to allow ‘all that is not of truth’ to enter our lives and become the (sub)standards we live with.
It’s truly shocking what titles and articles the media can publish, that would be considered slanderous or offensive if spoken aloud but because it’s ‘the news’ we accept the tone, and not only this but purchase and feed into these publications, demanding more to keep us up to date and give us topics to make small talk about without fully understanding the depth to which national events, disasters and ‘news’ are significant of the state of our society.
Interesting to read how reporting has changed – from the very real graphics to the factual writing, and now it is very much about suggestive images and gossip journalism. What a shame that we as a society have asked to be lied to. But then again, what if that is what we are all more comfortable receiving? Could we handle all the unbiased facts and countless tragedies that happen on a moment by moment basis?
We use the media and news as a basis to formulate opinions on and as SO many conversation starters, but in doing so we give them more power which is often, as you’ve shared, abused and manipulated.
It’s clear that the media report on stories that the readers want to hear, and if there are not these stories they make them up i.e. lie. But someone can only lie if the people they are lying to are happy to receive those lies.
When the chips are down it seems that it is acceptable that anything goes in order to survive. Sensationalised stories to stimulate people’s emotions and stir them up are the go to – readers trained to want more highs and lows. That the paper itself and its ratings have become news says how lost we are. There are loads of stories of people and everyday miracles that inspire. It’s the difference between consuming crisps and sweets for dinner or a nourishing meal prepared with integrity and love.
‘ ‘People deserve to have the truth.’’ So true and so far from what we’ve got. When I first heard about the phenomenon of fake news I had quite a child-like response of how can this be? But then we’ve always had attempts to manipulate us from those who would like to keep us from connecting with one another, stirring up emotions so we carry on fighting. If we stepped away from pointing the finger and blaming one another and were to commit to understanding each other and saying no to any abuse from any side then the fake news would lose its hold to incite us to actions made in retaliation or anger.
Recently I watched a short video about two seaside towns and how they are struggling to build a sense of community, both towns were quite impoverished, with high unemployment. One of the towns has started up a newspaper and they are only reporting on positive things and the newspaper editor said that he was sick of all the negativity that is reported daily and made into something newsworthy to sell. This particular paper was going to base itself off the community and report the positive as they felt there was a lot to be positive about. And interestingly again it was the young people of the community that said if they wanted anything done then they had to come together as a collective to get it done and not rely on outside sources to come in and save them.
It was commented at work once that I always take the conversation deeper and sometimes this isn’t welcome. The media as it currently stands is a great distraction and numbing tool or inciting of emotions which again is distraction and this is what people want when there is no connection to truth or the place of truth which is our body. I find myself dipping into a lull and stupor when I scroll through new feeds and it feels horrible but now I have the comparison between connection and disconnection. ‘Deeper’ conversations can be energising.
I have often wondered why it is deemed acceptable for journalists to risk their life for a story. Indeed many war reporters have died in war zones or as part of a terrorist attack. But without demand there wouldn’t be a supply. It is us the public who want to know what’s happening in the world, and rightly so – but to the extent that some journalists die in the attempt cannot be right, surely. However, do we even get truth delivered to us, or is it the spin put out upon the story by the various media owners and editors?
It’s evident that when you read any article you are getting much more than just ‘the facts’. Behind each story is a myriad of agendas, strategic planning and emotion in order to make an impact on a reader, and it’s important to read news with an understanding that in every case there is more going on than in front of you on the screen.
‘Is it because we demand this style of journalism first that we are then supplied or fed the lies and half-truths that we call news?’ So true Suzanne, it is a case of supply and demand and we have settled for a lot of news outlets that clearly have little or no interest in reporting facts or delivering the truth. We each have a responsibility to call this out and take action if we ever really want to see any true change.
We are being fed what the majority of humanity are looking for, it is time we called out for truth instead of the sensationalism offered by our media, stop the demand and the supply will dry up,
Journalism has lost any credibility it once had, and sooner or later people will start to realise that.
Thank you for that powerful blog Suzanne! We are never victims of any circumstances or behaviours. We in fact create them – to look at moments in our lives whenever we are searching rather for sensation than the simple truth – (gossiping instead of talking from observance e.g.) , will make a difference. As we are stopping to add energy into the pool of incitement.
The media sets what we consider the truth and reality – if its not being reported by them, it isn’t happening.
Rebecca, spot on even though most of us don’t embrace the truth that we know and still see that the media is full of lies, we in 99.99% of cases accept the media as truth, we don’t question what is printed and we don’t stop to feel is that information really true or is it the whole truth?
The moment we believe what we get presented and don´t look for the absolute truth, we are puppets of this energy.
It is a constant manipulation that we allow and that numbs all our senses.
There is a snowball effect where the media has gotten so out of hand that anyone can call themselves a journalist or even ‘investigative journalist’ giving themselves license to sell their personal opinions, grudges and views as truth without any form of back up or unbiased checking. And then once published it is blindly copied again and again by so called other ‘journalist’ without any fact checking or even knowing where the information is sourced from. And once it has been copied enough times the so called ‘truth’ is established no matter how big the lie it came from is.
Good point Carolien. Accepting something as truth because someone told you so, or because it was written in a paper doesn’t make it so. Indeed reports on ‘evidence based’ medicine are now being called into question due to spin and conflicts of interest in some areas. We can’t – and shouldn’t – believe all that is put in print or on various other media outlets. I have personal experience of twisted facts about a peace group demonstration I was in many years ago now, being written about in a local paper – much of which wasn’t true.
Only if we make the news sensationalised, dramatised, stirring up our emotions and calling to blame anyone but ourselves can we use it to comfortably compare to our own situations and feel we are doing ok. Without this, and with plain facts the truth of our way of life and it’s consequences would become very difficult to ignore.
The truth is that we all know that we rarely get the full truth of what’s going on through the media yet we’ve accepted it as ‘just how it is’. Blogs like this ask some great questions about why we’ve accepted such a low baseline of standards and responsible reporting – and that it starts with us, speaking our own truth, and bringing that truth and integrity into every conversation.
Bryony exactly our need for a fix in whatever way that is, and in this case through the media, means we overlook the lies and untruth and swallow whole the story to relieve us of what is going on.
If the surface talk and gossip is all we put out and talk about, then of course the media are going to regurgitate this and this is what we are talking about. The Media are only a part of the cycle of lies and our daily conversations are another part.
We are part of the system that churns out harmful, disrespectful and salacious gossip that is called journalism, but it is not at all true journalism, Journalism offers the facts, not misinterpretation and a smoke screen to add salacious flavour to what is represented.
This is a great point to consider “If We ALL choose to not face the fact that We are asking for what the media presents, then We ALL remain part of the cause.” as so often we complain about the media but rarely do we stop and see our part in it.
Truth is forever empowering. We have the power to choose, to create, to be responsible of the consequences, to be honest, to choose again.
Yes we have made the media a competition and a cut throat one at that! It’s all about sales and extravagant headlines, rather than what I imagine was the original intention of keeping people informed and connected. Although things appear to be much worse now, misrepresentation, slander, silencing of non-dominant opinions have been around for quite a while.
I love to feel the fact that we are all in this together and that when there is something disharmonious this means we also have to see our part in it, for there to be a salesman there need to be buyers with willing hands to buy. It also shows the fact that we can also only come out of this together as we have much power to change things even if just one starts to change.
I had not ever really considered just how much the news making / journalism industry had become about competition and about making money. Which is I am sure very frustrating for those who simply want to report on what is happening. There are many people who work with integrity and care in their jobs as journalists, but it must feel at times like they fighting a tiger or swimming upstream when it comes to working with the media. And where is their support? Because if the general population is buying in to the media circus, then we are not saying that that is what we want, as opposed to the truth?
The media landscape is beginning to open up like never before. With more independent news publications and opportunities for anyone really to start their own blog site, news story or publication. With this, news organisations can often rely on poorly researched information for their stories. We know, as consumers, of media that we do not receive the whole story, but we still consume it anyway and at times really lap it up.
I used to watch the evening news BB1 on a nightly basis and it took me a long time to actually feel the real reason why I did it, I kidded myself that I wasn’t just sitting there taking in rubbish mind numbing waste of time stuff, but watching the news, staying in touch with the world. It is all the same distracting stuff though and wouldn’t be so bad if it was all uncensored and true rather than the sensationalised bull we get to watch.
So true that we award the ‘best’ and more ‘captivating’ story but don’t stop to question what the truest story is.
To see what makes headline news these days , usually the lowest of the low and sensational rubbish that so many of us get drawn into reading ! I was looking at a magazine in a waiting room only today, that I can honestly, say there was not one item that I would have chosen to read in those few minutes that waited for my appointment. Sad but true!
Wouldn’t it be refreshing if we got to read news that was purely factual with the soul purpose of enlightening humanity? Unfortunately this does not happen much, mainly we get news that has an agenda. It’s all about adding a spin and often about blame never about inspiring true accountability and responsibility. We complain about the media but collectively we have allowed it happen.
Fast forward to the future, hopefully sooner rather than later, where we have a true soulful news channel which provides all of this and I reckon the human race is almost ready for it as there are a lot of people out there that are fed up with what we are being fed daily.
Commercialization is a movement that is going on for some time and is the one of the nails in the coffin of today’s societies. Like in this article, the media is not needed to bring that anymore what it is intended to do, to bring the news to all people untainted, just the facts. But now the media cannot procedure this level of decency and integrity anymore as it is driven by the need of increasing revenues and increasing market shares and in this pursuit it is inflaming and exciting readers to buy more of the same but in the core do not bring any good for the people.
We’ve become so drawn to sensationalism that even journalist awards are about who took the most risk rather than who brought truth to the news. Something to consider and reflect on – the way society feeds the industry is everything but truth.
As soon as the media changed to being about getting the most viewers or ‘hits’ because of advertising and other competitive reasons, then of course this will change how they report the news and it is no longer about reporting the facts but about selling a product or providing something entertaining. This puts a massive slant or bias on how the news is reported and frankly the temptation is too great it seems for the media to not twist or beat up a story so that more viewers are captured and therefore more money is made. There therefore needs to be a fundamental shift in the basis of the news
Yes Andrew, a major fundamental shift is needed indeed and to how I see it, it wil come from the readers that one day will en masse say enough is enough and will stop buying the news that is not saying anything else than the shareholders value.
If news is there to sell something it is no longer news, it is sensationalist fiction disguised as “in the publics best interest”.
True, nothing is of true expression if the ones expressing wants something from the ones receiving. If there is any hidden agenda, truth is bastardised no matter how great it sounds.
It is indeed an indictment on the industry when we have learned to not believe everything we read in the newspapers. I find it a very sorry admission and state for humanity, that we cannot rely on these forms of communication to deliver us truth.
The media is like an empire unto itself; people don’t seem to count that much, only stories and recognition for the fastest, most graphic, most enticing, most stirring tales that get embellished and sensationalised no end to capture the readers’ attention and whip up evermore emotions.
I agree Susan. News has become a business based around what sells and who has the power to influence it. This reflects back to us all what society is asking for or is happy to accept by way of news. When we all start asking for truth then things will change.
The way we currently live we repeat lies like mantras about the world and ourselves. These thoughts we allow erode our natural knowing of true beauty. Is it any wonder then that the media operates this way too? Change our inner tabloid and we may find the outer reports may change too. Thank you Suzanne.
I hear from so many people that they do not trust what is printed in the media. Yet despite of this most of us are very willing to spread the information we read as ‘fact’. It seems such information is kind of used as a safe entry to start a conversation with people, like talking about the weather – safe because then no-one has to talk about themselves.
But the question is how safe and how okay is it that we are so flippantly circulating and spreading false information which is also often at the expense of one person or another? And is it a surprise that our media continues to deliver the same quality of nonsense?
Gossip is an ugly thing, it’s completely poisonous, yet what you’re asking us to consider here is the absolute value and healing that is entirely possible form words. When they contain truth and are used with purpose we can clearly feel the difference.
The state of the media today is abysmal and we as a society have allowed this abysmality to take place.
Journalism these days does strive to inflame the reader which is hugely imposing. There are 2 general reactions to this – one is taking the bait and getting hooked in emotionally and the other is apathy towards the media and the way things are reported.
Youtube is part of the new media and there is a study that shows that Youtube’s suggestion algorithm recommends more and more extreme content. If you ask about Vegetarian food after a while you get shown Vegan food as a simple example but the same is true for politics and all other areas.
The algorithm’s main point is to keep you watching and they found this pushing more extreme content works which means they can sell more advertising.
I am not sure how to put into words just how I feel about this level of irresponsibility by google, the owners of youtube.
I recently found a newspaper article from January 2018, a paper had set in journalists undercover to an event and because of what they uncovered, the event was dispended and the horrible things that happened there which had previously remained secret where exposed. To me this was a now rare example of the power the media has to work on behalf of humanity to expose the lies and corruptions rather than taking part in it as it so often does now. The media has an incredible responsibility and potential.
“Mayhem” is a great word to describe the kind of storm the media produces incessantly. Every story is spun and exaggerated to whip the world up into a frenzy. And because it’s not simply factual but laced with opinion, emotion and exaggeration, we can’t pinpoint what is actually true anymore. The world is in trouble and we need to factually know what is happening so we can act on it – not be spun an incredible story that simply stirs our emotions.
So true Meg. The media can offer a great service in shedding light on what is actually happening so that people are kept aware of the true result of our choices in life. Unfortunately the current state of play is a long way from such a responsible and accountable relationship with what is offered to the masses, and us the public seem by and large content to remain ignorant of the truth of what is going on in our world.
You mention about us becoming numb to the horror – one of the reasons is because we feel so disempowered and helpfulness to do anything about it. The truth is that simply by opening our eyes and ears, not accepting the lies and expressing the truth we are doing all that is needed and far, far more than we realise.
Another issue may be that we are becoming more and more stimulated which per force numbs us or we have a break down. Or we don’t allow ourselves to get stimulated.
Yes absolutely: “People do deserve to know” and “People deserve to have the truth” – one that honours, unites and confirms the divine essence within us all, regardless of what topic and circumstance is being reported.
Speaking up with no expectations and no attachment to whether something changes or not is needed.
There have been many instances when I have been horrified to read articles published in newspapers as ‘news’ when I have known through first hand experience and personal contact that the contrary was true. And too often I see that facts that could be reported straight and to the point so that the reader is made aware of the situation, are embellished by the reporter, riddled with emotional twists and sensational innuendos. More and more I feel that instead of daily news these ought to be called “daily fabricated gossip”.
“Why have we made providing news a competition?” – GREAT question. The comparison and competition to sell between media outlets is enormous, and nowadays what sells in mainstream media are things with the most ‘shock value’, thus there is a constant effort to achieve this. This is a dangerous game for consumers too; if we are demanding this kind of news then the media will continue to make up more fabrications and publish lies.
We need to ask ourselves, how is the media we consume serving us? We like and trust certain programs, news organisations, personalities. But are our affiliations really serving the community or are we liking our favourite because they don’t ask us to question our beliefs and keep us in the comfort of these?
This just shows how competition is rife even with news when it is about the same thing!! When we make it about who gets there first instead of what is actually going on in the world let alone truly taking the time to get to the root of why is it going on in the world in the first place we know we have gone a long long way from where we should be.
What a different world it would be if we were able to celebrate journalists for being honest, trustworthy, reporting with integrity and honouring of the Truth. Especially as then humanity would be in a place where they are also all of those things due to the reflection.
‘Why are we worth so little as human beings that we have made it acceptable to risk our health or life for recognition?’ – This is such a great question and when you ask it like this it makes no sense what so ever, but you can see how as a society we have stepped further and further away from what we all really know we deserve, the truth not sensationalism stories at the expense of another human being.
News stories are like drug addictions that after time needs to be stronger to get the same effect. Or, we require a different flavour till even that doesn’t work. The real news is what we see and feel that is around us not what is presented to us with a hook hidden inside and expecting us to swallow it.
So often our conversation around the news enjoin with the banter rather than stopping to feel whether what is offered is the truth for all to consider. So often what is sold is a half -truth or non – truth to sell and sensationalise. When we make these conversations about truth we leave the door open to change and allow others the opportunity to either walk through or keep them closed.
Delivering the truth what an amazing opportunity the media could have instead of all the hype and sensationalism and fighting for the most coverage that happens and we ask for by not demanding the truth of ourselves firstly. A real discussion to be had and responsibility taken.
I watched a progamme recently that highlighted the fact that when Roosevelt was president and had a paralytic illness, journalists knew about it but chose not to reveal it as they knew of the negative consequences on how the nation would feel if they were to become aware of it. To me this is responsibility with journalism, so whilst we despair of the current system, we do know what integrity is within this field, but it is up to us as consumers to decide what we want from our media and to have the integrity in the first place that says no to the hype.
Imagine if the newspapers started publishing the truth – now that would be NEWS!
I have recently had to go through a lot of newspapers, and the different spins and takes on the same subjects you can find across different papers is huge. No more or less than if I where to put pen to paper, why is it we put so much store in what is written in a paper? So much of our understanding of life, the world and how history happened in the last century or so, comes from the news – how much do we hold true to the responsibility of that role?
“If We choose to remain deliberately ignorant to the harm being caused through the media industry, then We remain part of the cause.” This is very true. What we ignore we give a licence to continue.
Absolutely, we have allowed ourselves to be lulled to sleep and not address the first sign of deviation from their actual role in society leading us to an era where anyone can say anything and call it proven because it was published in some media.
The media has become a fight for publicity – with everyone competing for readership and ratings and using that as their marker of success – but what if a marker of success was delivering the truth and allowing people to be informed without the competition or bias?
‘People deserve to have the truth.’ the power in this simple statement is deeply profound, we – all the people – deserve the truth, yet everything in society is the opposite of that truth.
In everyday life – do we see the truth? Or do we settle for a surface story that vaguely covers sections off? If the answer to this second part is yes, is it any surprise our media behaves the same way? We always have an opportunity to go deeper to the heart of life and energy. Thank you Suzanne.
I haven’t bought a newspaper or a magazine for years but recently whilst stuck at home due to adverse weather conditions I found myself tempted by one of those gossipy celebrity magazines on the shelf at the supermarket – just to amuse and distract myself… I can see how easily we are tempted by sensationalism, drama and other peoples tales of woe, it can be quite hooking and like you say Suzanne, we perpetuate it by buying it – so let’s stop buying it, but first we have to fill our lives with so much love and purpose we don’t need the distraction anymore.
” Why are we worth so little as human beings that we have made it acceptable to risk our health or life for recognition? ”
This is a great question , even in simple day terms , people do stunts , have unnecessary surgery where they could die so they can get that extra bit of recognition.