Do or Do Not.

Mass (media) hysteria

with 3 comments

More reasons why I hate the American media: the hysterical exploitation that accompanies the sort of news coming out of London today. I present to you screenshots of four of the major news outlets in the U.S.; note the tone of the coverage and the photo choices designed to be as prurient as possible.




Now compare and contrast that coverage with the home page of the BBC–the major news organization in the city where the bombings took place.

And there you have one of the many very good reasons I decided not to become a journalist.

Written by Allen

July 7th, 2005 at 2:49 pm

Posted in Media,Politics

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  • http://roar.thunderdog.com/ Terry

    I hear what you’re saying, truly! And that whole glamorizing misfortune, especially through the use of disturbing visual imagery, makes me wanna puke, especially because it’s for monetary gain and profit–selling advertising. However, there are a LOT of differences between the American and English cultures, and this fact is manifest in many venues, the media among them. The American media have never been known for subtlety. The stereotypical American personality of ALL AMERICANS reflects this lack of subtlety: we are bawdy, we are overly proud, we glorify violence, we tend to be rather dramatic. So…. it’s not a very surprising revelation, this difference in coverage.

  • http://museoffireblog.blogspot.com Jeff Newberry

    Wow. You are so right.

    The older I get, the more I hate American media, as well. Terry’s right. CNN or FoxNews, despite either political affiliation–they all follow one rule: if it bleeds, it leads.

    Thanks, Allen. This is insightful.

  • http://mistersnitch.blogspot.com/ Mr. Snitch!

    Isn’t ‘barbaric’ terrorists redundant? Or are there some refined, constructive terrorists who we don’t hear about because they get snubbed by the bloodthirsty press?

    Isn’t ‘bloodthirsty’ press redundant?