Scoop! Journalists kill free will!
Of course, I am playing devils advocate when I argue against the notion that the media informs popular opinion. I know the media and their current “story” inform our perceptions and aspirations. However, lately I’m getting sick of hearing two prevalent social cop-outs. Both of which blame the media for the individuals own absence of back bone.
The first, which I particularly love to unleash some verbal martial arts on, is that the media is solely responsible for every social or political inadequacy in this country, from teenage pregnancy to the recession. It seems that grown adults are satisfied these days to conduct every mildly inebriated debate in the following format; slurp of socially aspirational brand of alcoholic beverage, summary of overstated, obvious and bland social observation, cowardly conclusion that “the media are to blame”.
The second is that, “the media” is a term to describe a group of illiterate morons who produce copy of no interest to anyone. Yet it informs our every thought and decision? Why do newspapers contain so much celebrity gossip? Why is news watered down with simplified opinion and debate from people that are not specialists on the subject? The answer is as old as commerce and as simple as supply and demand. The media are giving the Great British public what they want, there is no point trying to sell highbrow intellectual debate to a nation of Neanderthals with grazed knuckles and a Holly Willoughby obsession.
Once I come down from my deliberately argumentative rant I can quietly acknowledge the fact that the media could be a little more innovative and provide a more well rounded and informative view of society. Every industry should strive to perform its role as best it can, and the media has more social responsibility than most industries. But why don’t we ever look at ourselves for the solutions to some of societies short comings? Why is someone else always to blame for the way we behave?
If the media is currently to blame for binge drinking, is the alternative daily indoctrination with a list of secular commandments to keep us on the straight and narrow? We weren’t overly chuffed with “thou must not smoke indoors” and that came from that great moral advocate and role model of our time, The Government. What an absolute crock of shit. I’m sick and tired of everyone’s discontent and inability to recognise that we are all at least a little responsible for making the bed we lie in. Take some fucking responsibility for your own life, country, society, planet and if you don’t like it change it. All your whinging is doing is causing the next generation of journalists to resent you, maybe even hate you, take great pleasure and comfort in your ineptitude and respond with ill-conceived frustrated rants like this one!