Alain Jeannot
21 July 2011
In order to motivate targeted readership or audience, the information needs to be captivating. Hence, it all lies in the nature of the issue being addressed and the way it is displayed. Some fields such as sex and violence draw more interest than others but they might be knotty to society if they are not properly harnessed.
While most media outlets exercise care in their choice of information and the way it is addressed, some of them have the tendency to fish into the easy but yet troublesome waters of unbridled sensationalism centered on sex scandals, crime and violence.
Despicable and vice- ridden individuals rise from obscurity to unhealthily seducing notorious stardom by being suddenly publicized in headlines and colourful front pages thanks to their appalling misdeeds.
We have become used to seeing them posing unashamed, wearing large smiles and looking happier than you and me. Would we then be surprised that they might be mistaken as tempting role models? Mere profitability does not justify the force- feeding of bad news on the community. The downsides are too problematic to take chances. For instance , the UK seventh report session of the House of commons and home affairs committee on knife crime ( 2008-2009) claims that ? negative media portrayals of young people as ? feral youths,? when the vast majority are law- abiding, can add to a sense of being under attack . It also blames the sensationalist media coverage of stabbings for the arms race which has followed this misperception.
The report furthermore argues that a ?potential impact of heavy media coverage of knife offences is that it can serve to glamorize knife crime.? This finding does not only stand exclusively for knife crime but might also be applied to other offences. Being a bad boy has so much been glamorized that being portrayed otherwise is out of fashion. As long as this applies to language or outfits it does not impact that much on society but when it comes to potentially hazardous behaviour , the outcome is different.
I sometimes ask myself whether excessive media attention to tantalizing reports on home- made pornographic clips has not contributed to the boom in such activities over the recent years.
Media influence is so strong that the World Health Organization has conceived clear recommendations to media professionals concerning the coverage of suicides.
Ignoring such advice like avoiding the publication of pictures or letters of suicide victims and giving details about the methods they have been using contributes to putting suicide prevention at stake.
As far back as in the mid-nineties, the US advisory council on violence against women claimed that, ?The media industry represents much more than television and film stars. It is the most influential source of information for millions of Americans. Before we can change people?s attitudes about violence against women and prevent violent behavior, we must not only change the way violence is portrayed in the media, but also educate members of the media who report on domestic violence and sexual assault crime.?
Responsible reporting seems to be more undermined by product marketability than by reporters? education. Whatever it might be, given the powerful influence of media in a world which looks upon it to build its opinions and determine its choices , promoting the ethically correct information is more than ever a significantly worthy challenge for society .
AllAfrica ? All the Time
More here:
Mauritius: A train which arrives on time is certainly no news for the media
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.