Tuesday, May 14, 2013

Coffee Chatter

We had an hour of chatter this morning over coffee and vacillated over whether or not we really care anymore about what is going on in this country.  Of course, deep down we do care or we wouldn't talk about the stuff we supposedly don't care about.

We talked about the state of the media mainly.  Some of the group has decided that the national broadcast news shows now resemble more than ever the local TV news shows we have all grown to loathe.  Why are the big outlets constantly doing stories on murders, rapes and local violence?  Because they are finding it it cheap to do.  And then the stories that are easy to cover, like Angelina Jolie's double mastectomy, will consist mainly of talking heads for the next three weeks.  Well, we do need to keep abreast of these things I guess.

I can assure you that the people who got blown up in that Texas fertilizer explosion and those who lost everything might wonder why no one cares about their victimization at the hands of no safety regulations.  Now, if Angelina had been shooting a movie nearby then it would get attention.

We also lamented the deepening silliness of a visual TV newscast now essentially turning themselves into radio stations as more than 50% of their content comes from phone interviews with news makers and the other 50% from dash cam and security cameras.    Finding a job as a videographer must be tough these days.

And those reporters who never actually do journalism but rather rely on man on the street interviews than talking with  knowledgeable people....well what can I say?  Their teeth are white and lipstick bright!

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

The Eagles said it best:
I make my living off the Evening News
Just give me something-something I can use
People love it when you lose,
They love dirty laundry

Well, I coulda been an actor, but I wound up here
I just have to look good, I don't have to be clear
Come and whisper in my ear
Give us dirty laundry

Kick 'em when they're up
Kick 'em when they're down
Kick 'em when they're up
Kick 'em when they're down
Kick 'em when they're up
Kick 'em when they're down
Kick 'em when they're up
Kick 'em all around

We got the bubble-headed-bleach-blonde who
Comes on at five
She can tell you 'bout the plane crash with a gleam
In her eye
It's interesting when people die-
Give us dirty laundry

Can we film the operation?
Is the head dead yet?
You know, the boys in the newsroom got a
Running bet
Get the widow on the set!
We need dirty laundry

You don't really need to find out what's going on
You don't really want to know just how far it's gone
Just leave well enough love
Eat your dirty laundry

Kick 'em when they're up
Kick 'em when they're down
Kick 'em when they're up
Kick 'em when they're down

Kick 'em when they're up
Kick 'em when they're down
Kick 'em when they're stiff
Kick 'em all around

Dirty little secrets
Dirty little lies
We got our dirty little fingers in everybody's pie
We love to cut you down to size
We love dirty laundry

We can do "The Innuendo"
We can dance and sing
When it's said and done we haven't told you a thing
We all know that Crap is King
Give us dirty laundry!

Anonymous said...

Sensation, scandal, rumor; otherwise referred to as freedom of the press.

Anonymous said...

Here is a perfect example of an important public issue deliberately ignored by the media: http://m.theatlantic.com/national/archive/2013/04/why-dr-kermit-gosnells-trial-should-be-a-front-page-story/274944/