Enemy of The People
Can it be news, if it's not entertaining?
Press is a 6 part series on Masterpiece Contemporary PBS
It's one thing to be a drama or comedy TV depicting a news program and another thing to be a form of news media performing as a reality show.
There have been numerous movies and film depictions of news operations, both print and television. And it's easy to see why. The setting provides the elements necessary for the dramatic arc.
The grouchy editor, who is often a shapeshifter which alternately stands in the way of the truth-seeking reporter and then champions them to the publisher, who forgets what news operations are for.
Then there is the competition, which drives the narrative between the battle-weary old-timers and the young idealistic reporters, often women.
Then there is the "deadline" the ticking clock that increases the tension.
We are conditioned to receive our information in story form. As Don Hewitt, the legendary producer of "60 Minutes" always reminded his producers and reporters, "Tell me a story".
The difference between the TV drama newsroom and the real newsroom is that the newsroom has to base the story on the real facts in the story they are telling us. Bio-Dramas often start out with the warning "Based on real experiences" You know, "there was a boy and one day he fell into a well. Everything after that must be entertaining."
In the PBS series "Press", the script really investigates the tension between reality and entertainment. Boring news, that might not be as entertaining as it is important, is shuttled to the back pages or not covered at all.
However, the latest hijinks of the "I'm famous for being famous" will be guaranteed front-page coverage along with as much speculation that can be tolerated. This is all followed by a lot of "he said, she said" corroborated by unnamed sources who were in the room or maybe the loop.
Unfounded accusations lead to lives being ruined and communities shattered. This is done in the quest for more newspapers sold or eyeballs on the online version.
The deadline is eliminated by online news, The life of a story starts out with a rush to publish. This shortens the time it takes to fact check a story. Getting the story out first is more important than getting it right.
And now, instead of a deadline, we have the "news cycle". This cycle might be defined as the big story of the moment is only good until another bigger story takes it off the "frontpage".
Right now the debate about the polarization of the United States into two tribes has an element of controversy about the media being biased. The current President of the United States has repeatedly called the press, "The Enemy of the People." Cable contributor Fox News is clearly carrying water for the Republican Party. MSNBC and CNN can be put into either camp depending on the issue and their on-air personality.
One of the biggest battlegrounds forms on what is fact, what is a lie, and is there anything in between? Substantiated facts are difficult to dispute. There is an alternate facts argument. Alternate facts almost always are falsehoods or defections, such as "Everybody knows" or "What about". You can fill in behind those with whatever you think will float. The problem is the alternate facts take time to check out and that is part of what the presenter of alternative facts wants. This is similar to the tactic of a magician getting you to look away while he performs his sleight of hand.
In most cases, alternative facts are also cover for the true believers, who don't want to believe the worst about their champions. They need something to believe. If the facts prove them wrong then the facts must be wrong and the person that delivered the bad news is wrong. In addition, the reporter a person not to be trusted. They are, let us call them, an enemy of the people.
It is interesting that Fox News is often in conflict with their Opinion co-workers. The people that work in the news division have a different objective than the people that are featured as knowledgable people with inside information. Fox News is staffed by journalists that feel or are required to have facts to back up their statements. The others can hide behind the conspiracy and innuendo statements. This happens on other similar news providers such as MSNBC and CNN, but the Fox situation is making the news because of Fox's reputation as a staunchly conservative organization.
I think that very often we confuse the reporter with the columnist. Reporters are required to present the facts in the story. On the other, columnists or pundits, who will offer their opinion. One source, the reporter, can tell you what movies are playing at the local theater and what time they are showing. The columnist is going to tell you what he thinks of the movie after they see it. As consumers, it's up to us to remember this distinction.
Can it be news, if it's not entertaining?
Press is a 6 part series on Masterpiece Contemporary PBS
It's one thing to be a drama or comedy TV depicting a news program and another thing to be a form of news media performing as a reality show.
There have been numerous movies and film depictions of news operations, both print and television. And it's easy to see why. The setting provides the elements necessary for the dramatic arc.
The grouchy editor, who is often a shapeshifter which alternately stands in the way of the truth-seeking reporter and then champions them to the publisher, who forgets what news operations are for.
Then there is the competition, which drives the narrative between the battle-weary old-timers and the young idealistic reporters, often women.
Then there is the "deadline" the ticking clock that increases the tension.
We are conditioned to receive our information in story form. As Don Hewitt, the legendary producer of "60 Minutes" always reminded his producers and reporters, "Tell me a story".
The difference between the TV drama newsroom and the real newsroom is that the newsroom has to base the story on the real facts in the story they are telling us. Bio-Dramas often start out with the warning "Based on real experiences" You know, "there was a boy and one day he fell into a well. Everything after that must be entertaining."
In the PBS series "Press", the script really investigates the tension between reality and entertainment. Boring news, that might not be as entertaining as it is important, is shuttled to the back pages or not covered at all.
However, the latest hijinks of the "I'm famous for being famous" will be guaranteed front-page coverage along with as much speculation that can be tolerated. This is all followed by a lot of "he said, she said" corroborated by unnamed sources who were in the room or maybe the loop.
Unfounded accusations lead to lives being ruined and communities shattered. This is done in the quest for more newspapers sold or eyeballs on the online version.
The deadline is eliminated by online news, The life of a story starts out with a rush to publish. This shortens the time it takes to fact check a story. Getting the story out first is more important than getting it right.
And now, instead of a deadline, we have the "news cycle". This cycle might be defined as the big story of the moment is only good until another bigger story takes it off the "frontpage".
Right now the debate about the polarization of the United States into two tribes has an element of controversy about the media being biased. The current President of the United States has repeatedly called the press, "The Enemy of the People." Cable contributor Fox News is clearly carrying water for the Republican Party. MSNBC and CNN can be put into either camp depending on the issue and their on-air personality.
One of the biggest battlegrounds forms on what is fact, what is a lie, and is there anything in between? Substantiated facts are difficult to dispute. There is an alternate facts argument. Alternate facts almost always are falsehoods or defections, such as "Everybody knows" or "What about". You can fill in behind those with whatever you think will float. The problem is the alternate facts take time to check out and that is part of what the presenter of alternative facts wants. This is similar to the tactic of a magician getting you to look away while he performs his sleight of hand.
In most cases, alternative facts are also cover for the true believers, who don't want to believe the worst about their champions. They need something to believe. If the facts prove them wrong then the facts must be wrong and the person that delivered the bad news is wrong. In addition, the reporter a person not to be trusted. They are, let us call them, an enemy of the people.
It is interesting that Fox News is often in conflict with their Opinion co-workers. The people that work in the news division have a different objective than the people that are featured as knowledgable people with inside information. Fox News is staffed by journalists that feel or are required to have facts to back up their statements. The others can hide behind the conspiracy and innuendo statements. This happens on other similar news providers such as MSNBC and CNN, but the Fox situation is making the news because of Fox's reputation as a staunchly conservative organization.
I think that very often we confuse the reporter with the columnist. Reporters are required to present the facts in the story. On the other, columnists or pundits, who will offer their opinion. One source, the reporter, can tell you what movies are playing at the local theater and what time they are showing. The columnist is going to tell you what he thinks of the movie after they see it. As consumers, it's up to us to remember this distinction.
Well stated.
ReplyDelete