News or Not?

News used to be about informing people about important issues and stories of the day. It is now becoming a buffet of things that people want to know for whatever reason. The demand for ratings and ad revenue drive most of what we see broadcast as "news". Here is a small sampling of stories in the last week:

$15,000 of underwear was stolen from a Victoria's Secret store in the Newport Mall in Jersey City.
You bet they have brassieres on that page.

A Xenoglaux has been found in a Peruvian preserve.
Also known as the "long-whiskered owlet".

In an effort to prevent unnecessary deaths of migratory birds, two skyscrapers will turn off their lights during "peak migration hours".
You can donate money to the cause on your Minnesota State tax return form, or call the Audubon Society at 651-739-9332.

Don King attended the Pope's general audience in the front row this month.
"Afterward, King announced that the pope will be fighting George Foreman in Las Vegas for the World Boxing Organization heavyweight crown."

An eBay auction listing a George Foreman Grill owned by Manny Ramirez was pulled after reaching a high bid of $99,999,999.00.
Well, that's a relief. Too bad it wasn't Anna Nicole Smith's diaries. They sold for over $500,000 on eBay.

"Berlin Zoo's irresistibly cuddly baby polar bear made his public debut Friday."

A Man in the state of Maine that captured a mouse three times had to retrieve his dentures from behind a wall when the mouse took them as part of the most recent escape.

Gay Police told not to sway their hips, or risk being fired (in the Philippines).

Sex workers in British Columbia seek to form a co-op to provide training and health services.

Humuhumunukunukuapuaa ousted in Hawaii. (the state fish).

The list could go on. Is this stuff really news? What is the purpose of news supposed to be?

Writing sensational headlines and misleading stories were part of the newspaper wars in New York City 100 years ago. They called it "Yellow Journalism". Are things getting better or worse?

Comments Welcome

Headline Writing Gone Awry

In Florida, supporters of those with hearing loss went to the state capitol to petition the government for extended services for the deaf and hard of hearing.

Advocates are pushing for state licensure of interpreters, improved educational services, better access to emergency preparedness plans, increased use of captioning for films and television broadcasts and increased funding for direct services, according to a written release.

The headline for the article: "Deaf plan silent protest at Capitol".

Aren't things always silent for the deaf?

Comments Welcome

Is Soccer a Communist Sport?

This is from James Taranto's Best of The Web Today, on August 25, 2005 quoting reader Eddie Staples:

While I certainly sympathize with your attitude toward this "sport" implicit in the name you give it, I think the appropriate disdain can only be shown by calling it what it really is: communist football. Consider:

No one understands the rules.

Workers are prohibited from using the tools that would let them be more productive (hands).

From time to time petty bureaucrats (officials) interfere with play in such a way as to limit production.

Players, coaches, officials and fans are all fully involved (employed) and yet output is miniscule.

Any production is met by celebration all out of proportion to its objective value.

Followers are slavishly (religiously?) devoted to the system and their own brand of it and resort to violence at any criticism of either.

Bravo.