Does Anyone Else Find It Depressing/Sad...

[Woodsprite]

...News is news. Charlie Sheen or not, it isn't like television news is the only news out there. Watch television when you want to see what the news stations have to offer, and find other resources to find out other bits of news that you want to find out about.

It's not that hard... but for some, apparently, it is. And thus, that makes T.V. the evil bad baddies.

to that.^

[Human No More]

Yeah, it's stupid, but what annoys me even more is this ridiculous scaremongering.
Woodsprite, I agree, but you have to admit he has been getting far more coverage than he deserved (and I say that without even owning a TV).

[Sothis]

::shrug:: The news media will report whatever they think people are interested in hearing about. Not every story will be "serious business," all the time. If you don't like hearing/reading about Charlie Sheen, then don't watch those stories or read those articles.

I'm not personally following the Charlie Sheen drama, but some people DO want to hear about it, and I don't see why my preferences should invalidate someone else's. "Newsworthiness" is a subjective quality, which is why there is a wide selection of news outlets to satisfy a wide diversity of audiences.

Also, for the record, the NY Times ran waaay more headlines about Libya than about Charlie Sheen. Most would consider NY Times part of "mainstream media," seeing how it's the single most popular American online newspaper, and the third largest American print newspaper. Granted, I'm sure there are other mainstream news outlets that focus more on the "trivial" stuff. I guess my point is: I feel like "mainstream media" is too broad a group to make sweeping generalizations about their "priorities."

Don't get me wrong... I agree that there's lots of weaknesses and catch-22s associated with how news reporting is done. I just don't find it very productive to shake my fist at the media for sometimes reporting stuff I don't personally find interesting.

[Human No More]

Originally Posted by Sothis

::shrug:: The news media will report whatever they think people are interested in hearing about. Not every story will be "serious business," all the time. If you don't like hearing/reading about Charlie Sheen, then don't watch those stories or read those articles.

I'm not personally following the Charlie Sheen drama, but some people DO want to hear about it, and I don't see why my preferences should invalidate someone else's. "Newsworthiness" is a subjective quality, which is why there is a wide selection of news outlets to satisfy a wide diversity of audiences.

Also, for the record, the NY Times ran waaay more headlines about Libya than about Charlie Sheen. Most would consider NY Times part of "mainstream media," seeing how it's the single most popular American online newspaper, and the third largest American print newspaper. Granted, I'm sure there are other mainstream news outlets that focus more on the "trivial" stuff. I guess my point is: I feel like "mainstream media" is too broad a group to make sweeping generalizations about their "priorities."

Don't get me wrong... I agree that there's lots of weaknesses and catch-22s associated with how news reporting is done. I just don't find it very productive to shake my fist at the media for sometimes reporting stuff I don't personally find interesting.

Perfectly said

[tm20]

nothing on charlie sheen over here. i think its just america, alot of idiots over there would rather watch that sort of stuff rather than more important issues.

[Sothis]

So you're saying Australian media never runs entertainment news? Interesting...

[Ashen Key]

Originally Posted by Sothis

So you're saying Australian media never runs entertainment news? Interesting...

Oh, it does. But something like Charlie Sheen losing it would really only hit on a REALLY slow day - he's not THAT famous, and also American. And combination of a bunch of natural disasters in the region and our government (both state and federal) doing...INTERESTING things at the moment, the general media has pretty much moved on, as far as I can tell.

[Sothis]

Originally Posted by Ashen Key

Oh, it does. But something like Charlie Sheen losing it would really only hit on a REALLY slow day - he's not THAT famous, and also American. And combination of a bunch of natural disasters in the region and our government (both state and federal) doing...INTERESTING things at the moment, the general media has pretty much moved on, as far as I can tell.

Oh, I know. What I meant is that tm20's comment makes it sound as though Australian news doesn't even report on Australian entertainment news, ever. It totally makes sense that they wouldn't report on Charlie Sheen, specifically. But this:

Originally Posted by tm20

i think its just America, alot of idiots over there would rather watch that sort of stuff rather than more important issues.

makes it sound like watching "that sort of stuff" is a solely American affliction.

I'm finding myself in an odd, devil's-advocate-y sort of position... I'm actually quite critical of American media and American society in general. But I guess it feels different when it's myself or my (American) friends going "WTF, our country is so messed up; we need to do better." People from other developed countries pointing and generalizing and going "you idiot Americans" leaves a different taste in my mouth. But don't worry, I know tm20 didn't mean anything personally.