Last week the New York Post published an AP story about a deer that jumped into a lion exhibit in a Washington D.C. zoo. The headline read “Lion kills baby deer as D.C zoo visitors watch” The AP article says the deer escaped from the lions alive but it couldn't survive it’s injuries so was later euthanized. So yes, the deer was attacked while visitors watched and yes, the deer did die but was not killed in front of visitors as the headline implies.
The New York Post is known for its sensationalized headlines. Compared to the famous “Headless Man in Topless Bar” (1983) the deer/lion headline is mild. We’ve become such syncs of the media it is hard to believe that the Post is still a top selling daily publication. The contorted headlines are the Post and other daily tabloids modus operandi, however these publication are hurting the credibility of all media. As we discussed in the first class trust in the media is on the decline. The Post is one of the longest running daily newspapers in our country but lacks quality journalism and practices questionable ethics. As long as papers publish tabloid style headlines we will continue to question the validity of all news. It seems as if this style of journalism is here to stay. So what, if anything, could bring down the tabloids? Will our insatiable desire for controversy and sensationalism keep papers like the Post in business? I don’t think so and it will all come down to business. Companies realize that portraying themselves positively with their advertising dollars is a way to keep and win customers. When advertisers decided to associate themselves with more reputable news outlets the tabloid newspapers will be in jeopardy. All for the better if it helps the media regain it stature.
No comments:
Post a Comment