March 24, 2007: Social Journalism Crosses Line, Causes Celebri-spiral
Social issues are to journalists what buying domain names were to dot com'ers a few years ago. They are all the rage. You better get a good one now! In fact, get several, just in case. It's smart business, especially in a media environment where lines have blurred between reporter and story.
According to a recent USA Today article More Reporters Embrace an Advocacy Role:
The "social journalism" that made Oprah Winfrey an international fairy godmother is the new rage in network and cable news, and it's expanding to other media. Increasingly, journalists and talk-show hosts want to "own" a niche issue or problem, find ways to solve it and be associated with making this world a better place, as Winfrey has done with obesity, literacy and, most recently, education by founding a girls school in South Africa.
But is this a good trend? I am on the fence about it. On one hand, this is not Paris Hilton hawking Heiress Rights. The causes in question are legitimate. In today's media-mad world, this might be one of the few ways for important issues to reach the spotlight; I.e. fight for your airtime amid the scandals and the trash by becoming your own celebrity angle of your own story-or at least be part of it. Ann Curry, Bob Woodruff, Katie Couric, Tim Russert, Brian Williams, Anderson Cooper...they are all doing it. On the other hand, who will remain the objective voice amid the spin, hype, and advocacy?
What do you think?
posted by Dave Singleton @ 7:23 PM
2 Comments:
the only thing that doesn't spin anymore are records on a turntable
the viewer, as always, is in control
but if we're going to have spinners, Katie, Anderson and Tom Roberts - move to the head of the line - you guys are hot
The viewer has no idea that she's in control. That's the problem.
Post a Comment
Subscribe to Post Comments [Atom]
<< Home