Even for the exceedingly low standards applied to the American press, in these past few weeks our media machine has outdone itself. The public has been exposed to an uncommon amount of sensationalized, dubious news reports surrounding topics like insurance coverage for contraception and the Invisible Children documentary about Ugandan warlord Joseph Kony. Although not altogether uncommon, this round of media malarkey is especially destructive for what it covers up—the civilian killings in Afghanistan, a pressing transportation bill in the house, Voter ID laws, and more. Sensationalism has become a natural part of our media’s culture, as people follow trends instead of properly informing themselves. We must commit to consuming thoughtful, competent media and shaping a society where others do the same.
Attention given to these topics is not wholly destructive. It is an achievement in itself that the largest ever viral video isn’t about some dumb cat or a teenage pop sensation; it focuses violence in Africa. The problem is the nature of the coverage—abbreviated versions of events shared on social media that rarely present the facts users need to make informed decisions. In the Kony coverage, for example, focus has been placed on a military that likely isn’t even in Uganda anymore, instead of on that nation’s catastrophic nodding sickness epidemic. Even when mainstream media gets the story right, it seldom digs deep enough to cut through the political crossfire on a contentious and emotional issue like contraception. When we compare what gets coverage to what legitimately affects our nation and world, it is clear that we need a priority shift in the media.
Media companies are not about to make this change out of altruism. While the mainstream media and social networking are at fault in this round of sensationalism, they are simply doing their job. These corporations exist only to make a profit, and will continue to feed us exactly what we ask for in the news. There’s no revolution in the media industry coming. Changing the media market is the only feasible solution.
It is up to us to make smart choices and create a culture of discernment when it comes to media. Luckily, there are numerous smart alternatives to commercialized news. Public radio and television, many national newspapers, magazines on both sides of the political spectrum, and journalism-research institutions like ProPublica are all readily available on campus or online and offer more news and less entertainment than the mainstream.
Our career paths as Georgetown students will likely take us to positions where we interact with and consume news. Any of us with a problem with the press today must look inward at our own choices and investigate methods to educate others and spurn sensationalism in favor of quality reporting. These issues should not spark a practice in media criticism, but a critique of American society and why it encourages the news that it does.
