Korean Job Discussion Forums

[VanIslander]

Richard Gere kisses an Indian at an event to raise awareness.

U.S. Prez Bush dances to African music at an event to raise awareness.

Do you know what social causes those people dedicated a moment of their time to pull a publicity stunt to help promote?

I didn't and I saw CNN's coverage of it, reported three different ways over this last week. I had to look it up on the 'net. Such events are staged to try and get media attention to the cause, not just the celebrity. CNN has lost any sense of social conscience. It would only have taken a second to mention the CONTEXT in which Gere kissed her and Bush danced, a context which not only is part of basic information about what happened but also provides a public service to a non-profit social cause.

Yet, yet... CNN shows Hawkings spinning without gravity, the context of which didn't need to mention the name of the private for-profit company and the fee they charge, Zero Gravity Corp and the ride is $ 3700. I know that without reading up on it at all because in two different reports written up and shown by CNN this info is front and centre.

So instead of focussing on Hawkings life of science and condition the spin gave free advertising to boost profits of a private corporation, yet mentioning charity causes and social awareness in other stories just doesn't happen typically.

Since when did journalists decide that giving a plug for a private company's profits (including details of price, location and name) seem as more relevant that the context of a charity event or social cause? I was a journalist for several years and I'm surprised that CNN got it butt-backwards. Sign of the times I guess.

BTW, Gere was at an event to raise awareness of the need for condom use in India and Bush was part of celebrations of World Malaria Day, working to reduce preventable fatalities to children worldwide, the former is directly relevant to his kiss and the latter would have been worth mentioning at least in passing, since that is why they covet having the world leader's particiption in the first place, not just to profile his funky chicken routine.

[Natalie]

Well, loud-mouthed sensationalism wins over real coverage. I watch the news, but always with a cup of salt. Its frightening how little we are told and how biased media images are. I also saw Bush dancing. I was at the gym at the time with my headphones on, so was only watching CNN images and pretty much took in as much as I would have had I been listening too. I must say I laughed out loud at his twitty dance, almost fell of my treadmill
God, he's such an ignoramus, its hilarious.
Anyway, I agree with you VI, but it doesn't surprise me much at all. The media is after all the primary tool for shaping public opinion and its primary method is marginalizing or dismissing facts - there never has been and never will be real objectivity. Read much Chomsky?

[jeffkim1972]

Never watch the TV news on major broadcast channels for your source of information.

Even perspectives from academic professors have some bias towards them after they've spent years pouring over every piece of data.

So to say TV is biased is as insightful a comment as saying Professional wrestling is fake.

Does the first surfboard count as white? It's a bit off-white/yellow.

[Natalie]

[twg]

The media is interested in only one thing: Money.

The civil war in Iraq is a bummer, so no one pays attention to it, it doesn't bring in as much money, thus it gets underreported.

Richard Gere having a public snog isn't a bummer, gets paid attention to, and brings CNN money.

Thing is, if people started demanding real coverage instead of the light entertainment they get, CNN, FOX, MSNBC would all change over night. So really, the public has no one to blame but themselves.

[Natalie]

[jeffkim1972]

[Alyallen]

I'd rather read then watch the television news...

How else would you learn something interesting like this...