Last night on the local news I saw a story about new gourmet uses for cereal. The story featured a guy making a recipe called Captain Crunch Crab Cakes. The guy doing the cooking also has written a cookbook of recipes that use cereal, the cover of which appears prominently for a few seconds on the TV screen during the story.
Obviously, this story is not news. What this story is is a thinly disguised advertisement for this guy’s book. And what’s really bad is that it made me want a bowl of Captain Crunch. I’ll bet some people who saw this story are at the store today buying Captain Crunch.
Out of curiosity, I googled the recipe name and found that lots of TV stations have been airing this “news story” in the past few weeks. My guess is that this type of thing is rampant, and now I have to wonder how much of the “news” is really news or just advertisements dressed up as news stories. I found one website that has researched the use of “video news releases” on local news broadcasts, and it’s really interesting. I’m definitely going to watch the news with a more critical eye from now on.
A few months ago, we learned that the defense department was paying Middle Eastern newspapers to print stories that were favorable to the U.S. war effort. It’s a fact that our government spends millions of dollars on public relations in an effort to shape public opinion. If the corporations are paying companies to create “news stories” for broadcast on local news stations, I wonder how often the government does the same. How much of the news that we see is factual and how much is clever advertisement designed to make us have favorable opinions about what government is doing?
Am I the only one who is having trouble believing what I hear on the news?
7 comments:
I gave up watching tv news a while back--all of it is biased--I get what news I want off the internet--I am sure it has some bias built in, too--but at least I get to choose what stories I read.
I also cancelled my newspaper.
Perhaps I live in the land of clueless?
Nah. I get most of my news off the internet as well. I read stuff on the internet and then hear it on the TV news a week later.
I can't stand watching TV news and haven't been able to for a very long time. Rather than go into details why, it is best summarized for me by Don Henley's Dirty Laundry.
I make my living off the evening news
Just give me something, something I can use
People love it when you lose, they love dirty laundry
Well, I could've been an actor, but I wound up here
I just have to look good, I don't have to be clear
Come and whisper in my ear, give us dirty laundry
Kick 'em when they're up, kick 'em when they're down
Kick 'em when they're up, kick 'em when they're down
Kick 'em when they're up, kick 'em when they're down
Kick 'em when they're up, kick 'em all around
We got the bubbleheaded bleach-blonde, comes on at 5
She can tell you about the plane crash with a gleam in her eye
It's interesting when people die, give us dirty laundry
Can we film the operation? Is the head dead yet?
You know the boys in the newsroom got a running bet
Get the widow on the set, we need dirty laundry
You don't really need to find out what's going on
You don't really want to know just how far it's gone
Just leave well enough alone, keep your dirty laundry
Kick 'em when they're up, kick 'em when they're down
Kick 'em when they're up, kick 'em when they're down
Kick 'em when they're up, kick 'em when they're down
Kick 'em when they're stiff, kick 'em all around
Dirty little secrets, dirty little lies
We got our dirty little fingers in everybody's pie
Love to cut you down to size, we love dirty laundry
Kick 'em when they're up, kick 'em when they're down
Kick 'em when they're up, kick 'em when they're down
Kick 'em when they're up, kick 'em when they're down
Kick 'em when they're stiff, kick 'em all around
We can do the innuendo, we can dance and sing
When it's said and done, we haven't told you a thing
We all know that crap is king, give us dirty laundry
This song was released in 1982, but so appropriate still.
Tony
I remember that song. Somehow I connect it with Miami Vice, but I don't know why.
It's true though; the news media thrive on "dirty laundry." That's what gets the ratings.
I have heard stories about people paying for a chance to pitch their products on the TV news, especially the morning shows.
For actual news, I think we're far better off reading a newspaper or looking at a reputable online site, like my blog.
Mugsy, I appreciate that you are honest enough to ask people to visit your gift shop rather than trying to trick them into buying your products.
The new portrait is great, by the way.
Thank you, JMG. The Today Show will be doing a special expose on my new store tomorrow morning.
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