Media sewer

I have come to the conclusion (it wasn’t difficult) that the news media in this country are not only worthless, they are stupid. I would also add dangerous, but that may be a side effect of stupid. I’ll also add heartless and venal. There’s nothing like a mass tragedy to inspire the festival of exploitation. If we thought that sex sells on TV, it doesn’t hold a candle to the way death sells on TV. Doesn’t much matter who they have to climb over to get those coveted ratings. Dead bodies and grieving families included.

Even when we try to avoid the feeding frenzy, the networks make sure that we are still tuned into it. I tried to sit down last night to watch a couple of non-news shows. The network kept running ads about the Virginia Tech tragedy and the upcoming specials and coverage. Complete with special theme music and graphics. No new news to be offered, but a look back at the events.

The victims are hardly cold and not even buried yet, but the media are already looking back. At what? The the same damned videos that tell us nothing new and a raft of new talking faces to expound on speculation and opinion and a rich tapestry of blame.

There is no dignity left in the media. I am appalled at the way they are exploiting the parents’ grief and even the victims. I am appalled at the nearly 24 hour coverage of a tragedy that goes to extra lengths to find every possible angle to exploit. The truth and dignity have nothing to do with it. The more outrageous the claims, the better the festival is. Keeps people glued to the tube. And that’s the point, isn’t it?

My television remains off for the next week. If nothing else, this should be enough to convince me to keep it turned off permanently.

I am so disgusted and sick that I can hardly verbalize it. What I can verbalize is my utter hatred of the media. It’s deep and abiding. I don’t anticipate that will change any time soon. As long as people continue tuning in to the Festival of Death, the media will continue to exploit it. It’s what we’ve come to expect, it’s what we’ve been trained to accept. It passes for news, but it isn’t. It’s ghoulish, indecent, and calculated infotainment. I hate them, I hate them, I hate them....