There is a problem with emphasis. There are a number of issues with which the general public have a profound interest. This is reflected quite specifically in the media which purports to provide the facts which are of concern to the public, and will also provide an analysis of those facts. The analyst or pundit will then express a view he or she believes should be the public view.
Some elements of the media provide polls which purport to show what percentage of the public is concerned with a particular issue, as well as the view that section of the public seem to express in relation to that issue. Analyst will of course analyse the public’s view which they will state, as a result of the poll, is a matter of fact.
At present, the media does not know which way to turn. There are too many matters demanding attention which are truly in the public interest, as well as a number of matters the media feels should be of public interest despite the fact that they are purely personal issues of importance only to the parties concerned.
We have a catastrophic war in Eastern Europe, with the potential to escalate into greater conflict, being a contributory factor to a rise in inflation seriously affecting a great number of nations’ economies; a white supremacist neofascist populism that is causing serious disruption and violence in the United States, as well as becoming a considerable threat to democratic government in a number of western countries, together with racism and misogyny surfacing in many police, military and security forces round the world.
In the United Kingdom alone, we have aggravating and appalling problems with MI5 security; admissions through apologies of criminal racism by the police force; a crippling cost of living crisis; a government bereft of ideas, led by a slippery serial liar with a cabinet of totally incompetent sycophants. It is as if the ministerial codes are non-existent and no one is accountable. This is a government intent on breaching the rule of law, despite its commitment to international treaties. It also expects to pass anti-constitutional and repressive legislation, together with a cruel, inhuman and probably illegal immigration bill. The boundaries of integrity and dedicated public service are non-existent. As a result, fraudulent criminal activity is on an epic scale throughout the country.
As to other matters put before the public we have actors and footballers’ wives in personal law suits, involving lottery winning sums of money, the outcome of which matters not one jot compared to finding solutions to the current world in crisis and the real interest of the public.
So the headlines newspapers present, to entice a readership, reflect the editors’ view of what importance they place on the public interest. Saturday 21st May 2022 is not a brilliant cross section of interests, but they are weekend editions. The cost of living does make a couple of papers, the Guardian focuses on racism, but all in all it’s what one expects from the tabloid format, pictures, splashes of colour and large bold type headlines, signifying little.
Indeed this comic book approach to front page cover has become the norm, but without the artistry of Stan Lee, Jack Kirby and Steve Ditko. At least they knew they were presenting fantasy and entertainment, a world of super heroes and villains, all of whom had a degree of integrity and honesty about what they did and how they lived. I include the super villains in this. There is a code of behaviour reflected in their stories that far exceeds the display by current politicians. Perhaps that is why they have become so popular. Newspapers, however, are not meant to be comics, which is probably why readership of hard copies is in decline. I am not so sure about online editions, which for some reason, feel it needs a similar approach with colour and bold type.
Television News is equally pandering to a type of presentation that reflects advertising campaigns rather than just news and comment. Do we really need the “Coming next” internal trailer advert during a news broadcast, particularly on BBC channels which have no adverts except for their own programs? Is it subliminal advertising? Do we need to be told that there is a fresh piece of news or juicy item coming up in a couple of minutes, so stay tuned to this channel, do not press the remote? Why is this kind of programming so essential and endemic to television generally? Is it all just entertainment, regardless of content, so advertising techniques are paramount to programming? Is the public so lacking in concentration that it now has the attention span of a gnat?
There are serious crises within the United Kingdom that demand a leadership that knows what it is about, has a distinct plan of action that is researched and backed up with clear and rational thinking. It is not about optimistic promises of fantasy futures, but a specific vision of the reality before us and the possible routes to acceptable solutions. Serious thinking is unlikely to emanate from a mendacious clown and incompetent cohorts. We have to accept the present disastrous mistakes of Brexit, nationalism and isolationism that seems to pervade the current government; this government which consist solely of bluster and obstinate juvenile posturing to defend the indefensible.
Such serious media as we have should reflect that. What is in the real public interest is for some semblance of mature government, showing an intelligence and capability to draw together those who would best serve the interest of the nation as a whole. That may involve a very divergent group of people, not necessarily aligned with a single political party, but a group that has an ear and an eye on the general public, its requirements and needs. This present shower needs to be mopped away and a general election called as soon as possible. That is what the media should be concentrating on, calling for job applications from people qualified and willing to take on the public service jobs of governing. We need serious people, not one track and one trick prima donnas like some we have seen in the past and continue to pester on the side-lines. There may well be such people in the current parliament. If so, they should step up, step away from party lines and speak out for real democracy and practical human solutions, which are not necessarily business solutions. Public service is about looking after people, nothing should distract from that. Being human, after all, is not a business. It is what we are. We need to remember that.
No comments:
Post a Comment