I work as a part-time journalist as well as a romance author
and am I aware that scintillating stories and descriptions allegedly sell books
and papers… but I totally detest the concept of “Yellow Journalism”.
“Yellow journalism and yellow press are American terms for journalism and associated newspapers that present
little or no legitimate, well-researched news while instead using eye-catching
headlines for increased sales.[ Techniques may include exaggerations of news events, scandal-mongering, or sensationalism.” (Wikipedia)
I want to read or watch the news for facts, details and not
just to see people crying or in misery. The recent tragedy in Miami was used by
media to attract viewers and readers. It is horrible and sad news about all the
people who perished, but very little, if any, news was shared about the heroes
who combed through the piles of what was once a building to rescue LIVING
beings. Crews came from many places in our nation, they combed through the
rubble for, in some cases, people they had never even heard of. Others provided
food and shelter to those who lost their home.
We heard very little, if anything, about the efforts of
rescuers, those who came to offer aid, and tales of families who were fortunate
enough to be reunited. I scoured several articles and while I know I didn’t get
to all of them, there wasn’t a single mention of the people who were actually
saved by heroes. Yes, the tragic facts were that people died, it was unexpected
and heartbreaking and by all means important. BUT people also survived and
helped others to survive and that is news too.
How many times have TV reporters shown up, reported on the “story”
and then lengthened their broadcast by thrusting the microphones at crying
witnesses and simply asking, over and over again, “How do you feel?” As a
former first responder I can tell you that seeing someone die in a tragic
accident NEVER feels good… so why keep pressing those who are emotionally
hurting to boost ratings with their despair? Stick to the facts, good and bad,
to me that’s news.
A few decades ago my husband was working as a news photographer for a local newspaper. Part of his job was to listen in on emergency channels and photograph news events as they were happening. There was the one day he came across a devastating house fire. The family, including children and pets, all made it out alive thanks to the heroic actions of the responding firefighters. The house and everything they owned, in the material sense, was gone.
Mark took dramatic photos of the parents hugging their
children with tears running down their faces. He had shots of firefighters
covered in soot and still entering the house to save whatever and whoever they
could. When he got his photos back to the newspaper editor, the first question
the man asked was “Did anybody die?” Mark answered, “No the firefighters saved
them all.” The editor gave a simple answer which absolutely stunned my husband,
“Too bad. That won’t sell.”
Please, News Editors for newspapers and TV media, give us
news and facts, not sensationalism. We have enough soap operas and TV dramas to
fill our appetites for scandals and tears. Let’s celebrate some of the good
that happens, the heroes that come through for us, and the tragedies that “could
have been worse” if not for the quick actions and selflessness of others.
