I saw the title of this thread and thought "What else is new?"
True journalism is dead and has been for a long time.
I guess as a journalism major I am shocked that people havent realized this by now. Yes, we all go thru a course in journalisim ethics. There are legal requirements you have to learn about too, but journalisim is a truly cut throat business folks.
Its mostly about ratings, sensationalisim, demographics and very very very competitive. You have networks, papers, and websites all fighting for ratings, advertisers and attention. There are too many blogs, tv channels, websites, social networks etc all reporting. Almost anyone can report the news these days due to the internet. So yeah, the traditional media is feeling the pinch.
What ABC has done is no different than any other major media outfit in the U.S. I may not agree with it, but you have to understand that most people won't be that outraged. ABC will issue an apology and this story will be buried.
You wonder why certain cases get attention and others don't? Well the hard core truth is that news rooms are full of editors that determine which stories are gonna "sell". Thats why Natalee Holloway gets so much attention while a missing black mother in Harlem doesnt. Its not fair, but its true. Then there are certain outlets that have a political or social agenda. Thats a whole nother story.
Like someone said, the real question is which came first: The chicken or the egg. Did journalism change because of us or did we change because of journalisim. I think its society that changed. Tabloids make big bucks while straight and narrow outlets such as NPR dont generate a blip. So the mainstream media becomes more Tabloid and less traditional. They have to the pay bills folks. So if Tiger Woods gets over 500,000 hits on TMZ.com well then ABC, NBC, CBS, CNN, FOX etc would be fools not to jump on that bandwaggon. So they are gonna pay whoever for a text, picture, interview, video, whatever they can.
We as a society have become more cynical, more reactionary, more impatient, more into gossip oriented news. Especially the young people!! the 18-30 yr old cares more about gossip and sensation than "real" news. Real news is boring and old fashioned to my generation. The media has to get that demographic to buy what they are selling. Its all about instant news brought to you online, through your cell phone, IPOD, etc.
I love the media, but for every Anderson Cooper or Nancy grace there are a thousands of hungry, driven journalist out there trying to make a name for themselves and are looking for the big story that will get them recognized and promoted. Once you've reached that higher level then you have the luxury of being an investigative crusader or a big wig behind the scenes. But until then, you may have to bend the ethics a bit or do something that might poke at your morality, but if your conscience gets in the way of your job then journalism might not be the career for you! You have to stay objectionable always.
