war coverage- an extension of reality tv?

Donkey · 04-05-2003, 01:43 AM

Although reality television doesn't offer much intellectual stimuli, I am guilty of enjoying it.

The war coverage of this situation is unprecedented in the history of television. We have channels that are devoting 24 hour coverage of the war without new and informative information.

This whole idea of the embedded journalist seems like a glorification of war.

Do you think the coverage of this war is an extension of our country's facination with reality television and that the networks are capitalizing on this?

Sorry, I don't have any articles to post.

Jaggie · 04-05-2003, 02:26 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Donkey
Although reality television doesn't offer much intellectual stimuli, I am guilty of enjoying it.

The war coverage of this situation is unprecedented in the history of television. We have channels that are devoting 24 hour coverage of the war without new and informative information.

This whole idea of the embedded journalist seems like a glorification of war.

Do you think the coverage of this war is an extension of our country's facination with reality television and that the networks are capitalizing on this?

Sorry, I don't have any articles to post.

I fully agree with you. Although the coverage is spectacular and amazing, I find it repulsive how glamorized they have made it.

The Omega Concern · 04-05-2003, 03:40 AM

i think too many of the broadcastors are gushing a bit much at the attention.

It would be better if the Pentagon would just tell us what they want to when they want to and let us know when we win.

before you flame that...the opposite of it is what's happening now (pretty much) and thus we have this discussion.

glorified? mmmm...i guess at times, yah, the coverage has been and I'm thinking about Syria, Iran, and North Korea and...this is not a good trend (the media part...the war part is destined with the only hope that it gets sidetracked by fate).

DeviousJ · 04-07-2003, 06:38 PM

Definitely - entertainment television and serious news reporting have been gradually moving toward each other for a while now, and it's done nothing but desensitize people to anything they could possibly see on TV

Ugly · 04-08-2003, 03:04 PM

just did a presentation about this a week ago. basically, tabloid TV style has been co-oped by the regular news media. I think a good illustration of this is the style of Tabloid TV (think the "Babysitter and the Beast!" bit from the simpsons when homer got sued for sexual harrassment) it gives it its little title and tries to drum up sympathy for the victim, the anchor (litterally meaning solid - something for the audience to hold onto) is there to ask the tough questions ("So, Mr. Simpson, you admit that you grabbed her can!") and have the audience identify with the victim. There was this bit on News NIght when those US soilders got kidnapped and images shown on TV. Then Arron Brown whips out the mother of one of the people who was shown (Karl Hudson or something, I believe) and asks her, tenderly "How did you feel?" "When was the last time you saw your son?" "What can you tell us about him, as a person?" That was not news, it was exploiting someone's pain and personal loss for pop-corn mass-sympathy generating entertainment. Its a mc-information sympathy trip, you get a bite, cry along with the mother then go watch The Bachellor.

hmmmm, that probably made more sense in my presentation, but hey...

04-05-2003, 01:43 AM	#1
Donkey Ownz Location: Roseland and Alabama Posts: 823	war coverage- an extension of reality tv? Although reality television doesn't offer much intellectual stimuli, I am guilty of enjoying it. The war coverage of this situation is unprecedented in the history of television. We have channels that are devoting 24 hour coverage of the war without new and informative information. This whole idea of the embedded journalist seems like a glorification of war. Do you think the coverage of this war is an extension of our country's facination with reality television and that the networks are capitalizing on this? Sorry, I don't have any articles to post.

04-05-2003, 03:40 AM	#3
The Omega Concern Banned Location: stay, far, away Posts: 8,997	i think too many of the broadcastors are gushing a bit much at the attention. It would be better if the Pentagon would just tell us what they want to when they want to and let us know when we win. before you flame that...the opposite of it is what's happening now (pretty much) and thus we have this discussion. glorified? mmmm...i guess at times, yah, the coverage has been and I'm thinking about Syria, Iran, and North Korea and...this is not a good trend (the media part...the war part is destined with the only hope that it gets sidetracked by fate).

04-07-2003, 06:38 PM	#4
DeviousJ CORNFROST Location: GUREITO DESU YO Posts: 24,891	Definitely - entertainment television and serious news reporting have been gradually moving toward each other for a while now, and it's done nothing but desensitize people to anything they could possibly see on TV

04-08-2003, 03:04 PM	#5
Ugly Immortal Location: Don't be too proud of this technological terror you've constructed Posts: 21,249	just did a presentation about this a week ago. basically, tabloid TV style has been co-oped by the regular news media. I think a good illustration of this is the style of Tabloid TV (think the "Babysitter and the Beast!" bit from the simpsons when homer got sued for sexual harrassment) it gives it its little title and tries to drum up sympathy for the victim, the anchor (litterally meaning solid - something for the audience to hold onto) is there to ask the tough questions ("So, Mr. Simpson, you admit that you grabbed her can!") and have the audience identify with the victim. There was this bit on News NIght when those US soilders got kidnapped and images shown on TV. Then Arron Brown whips out the mother of one of the people who was shown (Karl Hudson or something, I believe) and asks her, tenderly "How did you feel?" "When was the last time you saw your son?" "What can you tell us about him, as a person?" That was not news, it was exploiting someone's pain and personal loss for pop-corn mass-sympathy generating entertainment. Its a mc-information sympathy trip, you get a bite, cry along with the mother then go watch The Bachellor. hmmmm, that probably made more sense in my presentation, but hey...