The Media’s Curious Lack of Curiosity
The health care bill finally squeaked through the House of Representatives this week after a contentious debate that’s lasted for more than a year. The bill, which starts to bring health care in the United States up to a par with many other civilized nations, is too complex for most people to comprehend, and I suspect most haven’t read even a summary. I have not.
Anti-health care protest on Capitol Hill, November 2009. Photo by Jose Luis, AP.
The media was there, too, to capture the demonstration theatre … TV cameras rolling on the shouting wackos, many of them holding professionally printed signs. But, no reporter bothered to do any basic journalism to find out who has been behind the protestors.
Isn’t anyone else curious besides me? Who has organized the protestors for these months of demonstrations in Washington? Who paid for them to get to Washington? Who paid for their meals and lodging? Did anyone give them some walking around money to be there? What do the protestors do for a living? Or, are they professional protestors? It’s easy stuff to find out, and all it takes it being curious … because a bigger story is often in learning who’s behind such a completely screwball series of performances for such a long time.
But … today’s media is not curious. They don’t ask questions. Heck, much of the time they just interview each other, as if any of them knew anything.
It’s no surprise that there has been a proliferation of front organizations spring up in Washington, all with warm and fuzzy names, like “Ordinary Citizens Just Trying to Earn an Honest Buck” or the “American Alliance for Pure Water and Clear Skies.” I made up those names, of course, because I don’t wish to be sued. But such outfits are often backed by deep pockets with evil intent.
I guess I need to ask this question to the so-called reporters of today … aren’t you afraid of acting like second lieutenants to the devil by not asking questions and becoming, by default, accomplices?
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David, it is so sad.
It appears that the reporting I learned about a few decades ago at Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism is dying a slow and painful death.
I’ve begun reading a book called “The Mind of a Journalist” by Jim Willis, who lists six restrictions to reporters’ independence — from the influence of the marketing department to the threats of libel suits.
So I don’t want to blame the journalists if its the publication management that disallows the gathering and reporting of facts, which may further shrink the bottom line.
Maybe we will have a growing number of influential “independent” bloggers who can and will tackle the hard news?
They might have to be independently wealthy, though, right?
I am not sure what to make of what has been happening in our country. I know we are polarized and angry, and I know we demonize those that do not agree with us. I am sure many of the protestors who went to Washington are not racists, but it appears that fear is the operative word. People are afraid, almost irrationally so. But I agree, what is striking, is how journalists – print, television, blogosphere or whatever, have and have not covered it. You raised salient points and I think we deserve and are entitled to answers. I also think the question you ask must be answered by journalists, no matter what side you happened to have been on or are still in this debate, and I use that word loosely.
I think the problem is, there’s more drama in sitting around speculating about why someone might be upset than actually sitting down and asking them. The stuff we make up in our heads is always way more exciting/stressful/dramatic than reality. Real life is so…boring. It’s also far easier to speculate than actually talk to people (think of the preparation and research! Gah!
I’m not going to paint every journalist with the same broad stroke, but this behaviour is rampant among the media today. It’s the primary reason why I can’t be bothered to tune in to CNN or FOX (or, sadly, even CBC and CTV up here in Canada, they are following the same path). The news is so much about creating drama and speculation and fear to attract viewers and please advertisers that the essence of providing information to the people has been almost completely lost.
I’ve been watching with great interest the health care reform in the U.S. (but I haven’t read the bill either). But you’re right, David – wouldn’t it be great to put a muzzle on the pundits for a while and let the people talk.