Don't Blame Michael Jackson For All Of The Endless Media Hype And Sensationalism - Blame The Hyper Competitive MSM!
Think back to September 11th, 2001. For weeks after the events of that day, all of the big North American TV networks, NBC - CBS - FOX - CNN - MSNBC - CTV - CBC - lost their minds and saturated us day and night with their single topic programing.
We saw the same when Britain's Princess Diana died. Days of torturous, unabated media frenzy.
Now the most recent episode of media compulsive disorder has centered around the death of a popular singer/dancer. Unfortunately, many people who became sick of the whole MSM obsession, turned their frustration and anger against the guy who died. Not too bright if you ask me.
The wall to wall coverage that we have witnessed over the last two weeks is a symptom of the extremely competitive and highly dysfunctional free enterprise market that exists in media. CNN wants you to watch them. NBC is desperate for you to turn to their broadcasts. FOX wants you to watch their programing. On and on it goes.
Sweeps and viewer surveys dictate the rates and sales rationale for the networks to attract advertisers. They need you to watch their product. Desperately.
The fact that viewers do not turn this mindless MSM jabber off is because so many people are addicted to the medium and television sets are turned on most of the day in many homes.
It is just a matter of time before the next story comes along and starts another MSM feeding frenzy. I wonder what it will be? Regardless, it WILL happen and whatever it is, we will be lambasted once again for endless days by the MSM - all of whom are in competition with each other for your eyes and ears so that they can sell advertising to their sponsors.
If you don't like the hyperactive and insane coverage that we just witnessed on the Jackson death, blame yourself for not turning your television off.
Adweek H/T to Neal R!
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I couldn't believe how much coverage was given by Newsworld to the death on the day after.
It went nearly non-stop for 3 or 4 hours. I wanted to e-mail them and ask them to do some news reporting for a change.
No longer is it a "film at 11" society. Blogs and the like have made everything instantaneous and we now lack the ability to sit still long enough to digest quality information.
Instead of meaty newscasts, we're getting kibbbles 'n bits 'n bits.
The National has been changing to this kibbles 'n bits during the last year and it's getting on my nerves.
Oh well, with the internet I can always read the National rather than view it.
Posted by Anonymous | 3:20 pm, July 08, 2009
When something like the Jackson death occurs, I can see that it is 'news' for that day and if they wanted to do some fairly extensive coverage for the day of the event ... fine. But this went on 24 hours a day for nearly 2 weeks. Anyone who could be found with an opinion on MJ could get themselves on one of the major news networks.
You have to wonder about the program directors or news directors who make the decision to pull all other items off the hopper and go with only the one 'big' story. Do they do this because viewers are actually demanding it or do they do it because, well, they assume it is what they are expected to do?
Posted by leftdog | 3:46 pm, July 08, 2009
You just know that they were all quietly crossing their fingers in the hopes that MJ's death would be declared a homicide and that a trial will follow. Because the only thing the MSM could possibly love better than the man's death would be the murder trial. If you thought OJ was over the top, you ain't seen nothin' yet!
Posted by Partisan Hobo | 8:11 am, July 25, 2009