Patrick Goldstein, a writer for the LA Times, has called me a busybody. He’s called you a busybody too. Ironically if I were a busybody, it would be his fault, or at least the fault of the industry he works for–the media.
When the story first came out that the best golfer on the planet wrecked his vehicle in the middle of the night, I thought, “Hmm, probably some family squable of some kind. Bet he’s having an affair. Hope the media leaves his poor family alone.”
For the past several days, the newspaper, the web, the radio, the news and even Jay Leno has crammed this story down our throats. And then Mr. Goldstein has the audacity to call us busybodies because every American on the planet wants to know more. Sorry, Pat, but your logic is faulty and unfair. I’ve already lived with enough family drama of my own. I could care less about some billionaire golf pro who can’t keep his zipper up. No one I’ve talked with lately has even brought this non-story up in conversation. The small city I live in already has a rich, powerful man cheating on his wife headline–U of L basketball coach, Rick Pitino. And the Lord knows we’re sick of that local fiasco.
The media is the busybody. They’re the ones going after stupid celebrity stories when all I want to know is why we’re still fighting a shameful war in the Middle East with thousands of American men and women losing their lives. The media is a whore for busybody news and Pat G. is one of its many pimps. I agree with his point that we need to leave the personal lives of celebrities alone. I couldn’t agree more and I know many more Americans who agree with me. He simply does not have the right to conclude that Americans are busybodies for this slop.
It’s like dangling some candy in front of a small child, giving it to her, then yelling at her for eating something that will rot her teeth out. It’s like taking a funnel, shoving it down the throat of a recovering alcoholic and then chastising him for falling off the wagon. Someone who works for the media is nothing but a self-righteous hypocrite when he or she blames Americans for being interested in celebrity busybody stories. That’s all the media offers these days. Look at busybody reporter April Ryan who kept asking White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs questions about those attention sluts who crashed some state dinner. This is another non-story that just won’t shut up. President Obama is sending thousands of more people to Afganistan and she’s asking questions about that? I think I’ve proved my point.
In my opinion, the media creates these stories to get the brainless masses to watch. It’s all about profit. Journalism has degrated itself to People Magazine status all across the board. Whored itself out. I challenge every newscast and newspaper (the sinking ships of journalism) to avoid at all costs, stories about Brittany Spears shaving her head, Michael Jackson being a hero and prophet (please), and who is going to be in the next big movie. No one will miss it. Trust me.
Tags: April Ryan, Patrick Goldstein, Rick Pitino, Robert Gibbs
December 5, 2009 at 6:40 pm |
I do think the media reports, and often creates, these stories because they know that is what the public will listen to, and then start talking about. That vicious circle creates the need for more news to be reported, and the rumor mill to start. I do think many news programs and newspapers run stories more suitable for TMZ and People. I wonder if much of this is generational? Regardless, I think it will continue, because as you point out, there’s a profit to be made from stories such as these.