So we've been learning in our JRN 300 class that there are certain elements of an article that constitute it being newsworthy. And while this changes from media outlet to media outlet, there ought to be some emphasis on most (if not all) of these categories in every story. I assume those who read this, know of the groups I refer to, but just for the sake of argument they are the following: timeliness, impact, prominence of people involved, proximity, conflict and novelty.I look at these crucial news elements, thinking hard about their meaning and then I turn my head to see how all of them correspond to today's entertainment "news". The difficult and harsh reality that I find is that most of the elements are there. Quite plainly. Take Britney Spears for example. The negative things that are occurring in her life are happening now (timeliness). She is a celebrity, which constitutes her actions to merit coverage in entertainment news (prominence of people involved). While many of us may not know Spears personally, the "superstardom" she once held was due to the perpetual presence she had in our lives via music, television appearances and even conversations that we overheard in line at the supermarket. Thus, what Britney does in some way affects us (proximity). And needless to say, Spears' situations are strange and problematic (conflict and novelty).
The difficulty I find comes from the writers and photographers who choose to display this inforamtion. When we look at these people, we judge them by their merits as journalists. Hence the journalistic elements--as authors Bill Kovach and Tom Rosentiel put it-- must be the measuring stick here. Though Britney's stories "delight and amaze" us, how do they give any information to better our community? Has anyone written on the devastation that comes with those who suffer from mental illness based on Spears' story? Roy Peter Clark, the senior Scholar at the Poynter Institute answers this question and raises many other points in his column on the poynter website. I urge you to read it.
Entertainment news, I feel, could be doing so much more.
3 comments:
Interesting post. And you are right, Roy Peter Clark's columm makes very good points about journalism. Everyone should read it.
I think this is a great post. American culture today is so absorbed in celebrities that they consider the newest pregnant actress or arrested actor the big news, instead of paying attention to important things like how the primary is being covered, and which candidates have one a primary so far. I think it is important that besides covering the celebrity happenings, media needs to focus on the drawbacks of the news. Having Dr. Phil get involved in the Britney Spears situation was a good start, but he was later ridiculed for trying to help her. I just don't understand how people can be so obsessed famous people who don't know what is going on outside of Hollywood. Meida needs to cover people who are good for society.
Britney Spears never finished high school. So intellectually, she's still about 16 years old. Forrest Gump had more sense.
Post a Comment