Sorry...
(AP)
A lot of people in the news media – especially in television and radio – owe you an apology.
They think so little of what you’re interested in that many of us led our newscasts overnight and this morning with the release from prison of heiress and would-be celebrity Paris Hilton.
When a story is first in a newscast, we’re saying we think it’s important. We’re saying we think it’s something you need to know about it.
Can any of us say we need to know about Paris Hilton’s release from jail after serving a few weeks for a motor vehicle infraction?
Would you change channels or stations if the Paris Hilton story wasn’t first up on the news?
I’m not saying the story isn’t of interest to some people. It’s part of the flaw in human nature that we feel drawn to stories about rich and/or famous people who screw up.
And I’m not saying the Hilton story shouldn’t be reported at all. It’s standard practice to end a newscast with what we call a “kicker” – something from the lighter side of the news.
But should we make it the lead or one of the top stories of a newscast when the U.S. has 156,000 troops at war in Iraq?
Of course, if you – the news audience – really care more about Paris Hilton than the situation in Iraq, maybe it’s you who owe us an apology.
Best-selling author Mitch Albom on his first nonfiction work since "Tuesdays with Morrie."
Far more troubling is how conservative narratives so easily become "fact", even long after they've been debunked. How many times can our government claim we had to invade because Saddam didn't let inspectors in, when the President called for the UN Inspectors to leave during his national address? Why have insurgents in Iraq suddenly become "Al Qaeda"? No wonder 40% of the nation still thinks Hussein was behind 9/11.
Paris Hilton is no threat to democracy. Shutting out dissent and mainstreaming Coulter is.
The cost today of Bush and Cheney%u2019s ongoing occupation of Iraq is:
$437,903,854,791
Does this make cents?