My problem with the media (Editorial)
More stories from Sarah Payne
Why is the media obsessed with celebrities?
“Renee’s Shocking Plastic Surgery.” “Kim’s Nightmare: Divorce Battle Over Baby North.” These headlines, among many others, are the biggest stories in magazines at grocery store checkout lines. Even our newspapers–which are supposed to inform us about things that are going on–are focused on events that have very little significance. These low-importance topics feature anything from random events to reputation-ruining stories.
As a student journalist, it’s not my goal to sell people out. I try not to include quotes from people that would make them–or someone else–look bad, unless it’s relevant to the story. The purpose of journalism is not to ruin people’s reputation. Journalists exist to inform and educate–at least, that was the purpose when journalism first started up in America.
Now, however, journalism seems more like a mode of entertainment. The biggest headlines generally feature breakups, babies, and scandals relating to popular celebrities. These headlines prove that celebrities, too, have issues. They provide distraction from our own problems.
But are they important? In the grand scheme of things, does the divorce of a favorite celebrity couple really impact us in any way? No; so why, then, does the average American know more about who Kim Kardashian is currently married to than they do about everything going on in the Middle East–or even our own government? Because that’s what the media makes out to be important.
Before Internet, before cell phones, before television even, newspapers were the prime source of information. And that information usually included events that the general public should know about or happenings on a broader scale that could affect them. Now that journalism has taken a different form, and information is so much more accessible, people are fed different bits of information, and now that’s what we expect and want.
Citizens, especially young adults and teenagers, have acquired a great deal of ignorance and general disinterest when it comes to events that could affect their future. This is partly due to what journalists choose to report on.
Sure, it’s interesting to see what famous people are up to this week. But I think that journalists–students and professionals–should start reporting things that make a difference to others, instead of selling secrets and exploiting celebrities.
Disclaimer: Articles designated as “Editorial” represent the views and opinions of the author, not the 2014-2015 Periscope staff, CHS Administration, or the CHS student body.
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Sarah Payne is in 10th grade. She works in Periscope as a Perspectives Writer. She reads, writes, and watches movies. Her favorite book is the Hobbit,...
Julia Vichnevetsky • Mar 25, 2015 at 9:42 pm
I honestly hate all those magazines. I don’t care what celebrity is pregnant or divorced or where they were that day; celebrities are people, and I don’t constantly need to know what is happening to them. These things are not important in life, and journalists should really focus their attention on more important issues.
Rachel Day • Jan 16, 2015 at 10:14 am
I totally agree with this article. Why does society care what these other people are doing with their lives? Most of the things in those magazines are not true anyway, and yet people get caught up in it. People care too much about celebrities when they should be caring about the people that can actually make a difference in the world.
Sarah Ann Jensen • Jan 13, 2015 at 2:22 pm
I think that it also comes down to what people want. I think that society has gotten to the point where they do not want to have to worry about the big issues, and cannot handle the reality that the rest of the world is living in. I do believe that journalist should not give them what they want though, it is still there duty to report the news, good or bad, and wake the people up. Unfortunately, everyone wants to make money, and gossip sells; so, that is what journalists have turned to hold on to their careers. People may not want to hear about the horrible, tragic situations occurring around the world, but it something that we need to know. We cannot keeping living with our heads buried in the sand.
Kenleigh Peet • Nov 20, 2014 at 1:11 pm
I totally agree! A great portion of journalism today is not investigating important people or events, but spying on and interrogating the big names that everyone knows are famous for being famous. Not once have I felt the need to buy a magazine because I knew it would all be disgustingly invasive stories about people that I don’t know. Magazines and newspapers both seem to focus on the negative things happening both in the world and in the lives of celebrities, especially political ones. Gossip may make one feel good for a day, but knowledge will allow one to know when gossip is important forever.
Julia Pantleo • Nov 7, 2014 at 10:13 am
This is so true! Journalists today also are given somewhat of a bad reputation nowadays, too. When most people think journalism, they think of sneaky reporters digging their noses into celebrities private life. We need to change this image, and start reporting things that will effect America; more important things then “Shocking: [insert celebrity here] gained 10lbs this summer” should be the headlines.
Madelynne Staley • Nov 7, 2014 at 8:05 am
I completely agree with this. Not only is this type of journalism (the extreme focus on celebrities) generally irrelevant compared to bigger issues in the world, but extremely disrespectful to those involved. I think the media sometimes forgets that celebrities are people, and while some may have chosen to be in the industry, they certainly did not choose to have their personal lives plastered in magazines across the country. As stated in the article, journalism should not be about ruining people’s reputation, but keeping the public informed about the world we live in. Great job!