A former broadcast journalist in Denver and I were having a conversation recently on media influence and its impact on developing minds. I mentioned that I was increasingly disillusioned with media’s inordinate focus on stories about people or events that run counter to most people’s values and priorities.”We used to joke,” he said “that some night the evening news lead would read ‘shuttle explodes, Pope dies, but first the Broncos!”
While I certainly accept that the rabid fans in Denver, New York, Chicago or wherever would want to hear the news in this order, I have always believed that the so-called fourth estate had a more of a responsibility to
inform than entertain.
Most adults have grudgingly accepted this change in philosophy and practice over the years. This is also one of the reasons why broadcast news viewership has slipped dramatically over the past decade.
My kids, ages 14 and 16, don’t watch traditional broadcast news. Neither do their friends. Of course they will when Charlie Sheen makes a fool of himself again or Miley Cyrus commits a youthful indiscretion.
My wife and I often feel like we’re competing with the rest of society to teach our daughters the values we believe they should possess. This includes an understanding about what is important if society is to thrive. We take the time to process what they see and hear and have had some healthy discussions.
I’d like to think that this is going on in every home, but I know it is not. But those who are coming of age are evolving in their ways of thinking. Shouldn’t we, as adults, be setting examples rather than preying on these developing minds with the immaturity of sensationalism?